M. T. Murphy

As printed in 1906

M. T. MURPHY, superintendent of the extensive plant of Cooper, Wells & Company, the leading productive industry of St. Joseph, is a native of New Hampton, New Hampshire, born December 25, 1852. His parents, Dennis and Mary (Harrington) Murphy, were both natives of the County of Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1847, settling in Boston, Massachusetts, whence they later removed to New Hampshire. The father died in Andover, that state, when about forty-four years of age, and the mother's death occurred there-when she was fifty-one years of age.

M. T. Murphy acquired a common-school education in the schools of Lake village, New Hampshire, but has been dependent upon his own resources for his own living from a very early age. When a lad of only eight summers he began work in the hosiery mills of John Pepper, at Lake village, and subsequently was employed by Thomas Appleton in the same town. He applied himself thoroughly to the mastery of the work assigned him, and, having learned the business in these two mills, in 1870, he entered the employ of John C. Moulton, of Laconia, New Hampshire, as superintendent of the Guilford Hosiery Company. There he remained until 1876, after which he was in the employ of Frank P. Halt of the same town as superintendent from 1876 until 1882, when he went to Canada and built the plant of the St. Hyacinthe-Abel Hosiery Company, at St. Hyacinthe, Canada. Upon the death of Mr. Abel the name was changed to the Granite Mills, and Mr. Murphy was a charter member of the company owning this enterprise. He was also a stockholder and general manager from 1882 until 1896, and from the latter year until 1901 he was connected with several hosiery mills. In 1 90 1 he came to St. Joseph and has since been superintendent for Cooper, Wells & Company. His identification with the manufacture of underwear and hosiery dates continuously from 1870, and his long and varied experience well qualities him for the discharge of the onerous duties which involve upon him in his present connection.

In 1870 Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Margaret Cochran, of Newport, Vermont, who died in 1880, leaving three children. David; Ella, now the wife of A. W. Duber, superintendent of the Inter Colonial Railway, of Canada; and John M., who died in St. Hyacinthe, Canada, June 5, 1883. On the I St of May, 1883, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Miss Albena La Vigne, of St. Hyacinthe.

In his political views a Republican, Mr. Murphy has never sought or desired the emoluments of office as a reward for party fealty. His energies have been concentrated along the lines in which he embarked as a young tradesman and he is one of the leading men in this department of manufacturing activity in the country, recognized as authority on anything connected with the co-operative department of the business. His marked activity and enterprise have gained for him the prominent position which he has now filled for five years.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.