In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1820, Liberty township
From Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905), Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894)
PETER MURPHY is widely and favorably known as the President of the Miami Valley National Bank of Hamilton. This institution was chartered January 27, 1888, with a capital of $100,000, and while it is the youngest financial institution in the city, it is also known as one of the most reliable and solid concerns of the county. This statement is proved by the fact that it now has a surplus of $17,000, and its deposits average over $250,000.
The gentleman who, since the organization of the bank, has been associated with it as President is a native of the county where he now resides, and was born in Liberty Township October 1, 1820, being a son of Cornelius and Elnora (Windsor) Murphy, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Grandfather Peter Murphy was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch descent. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, when still a young man, he emigrated to the United States, and sojourned for a time in Pennsylvania, where he married a lady born in the United States but of Irish parentage. From Pennsylvania he removed to Kentucky, thence to Ohio, and settling in Butler County entered a tract of Government land, on which he passed his remaining years. He was identified with the history of this county during an early period of its settlement, having come here prior to 1800. His life occupation was that of a miller of the soil.
The father of our subject was one of seven children, whose names were James, John, Peter, Cornelius, Isabelle, Sarah and Nellie. He was born in Pennsylvania and came with the family to Ohio, where he married a Miss Elliott. At hexdeath this lady left one son, Lewis, who became a money broker in Cincinnati, and engaged in that business until his demise. The second marriage of Cornelius Murphy united him with Elnora Windsor, and by their union were born the following children: John, deceased, formerly a broker in Cincinnati; Peter, the subject of this narrative; Cornelius, who engaged in farming near Bentonville, Ind., until his death; Eliza Ann and James, who died in infancy; Mary Ann, deceased, formerly the wife of Dr. J. T. Ellsworth, of LaFayette, Ind.; Margaret Jane, who married John L. Withrow, and died in Butler County, Ohio; Angeline, wife of Robert B. Withrow, a resident of Butler County; and Ellen Eliza, who first married Barkley Boyd, and afterward became the wife of William M. Boyd, of Hamilton.
The father of this family was identified with the history of Butler County from childhood until his death. At the time he came to Ohio with his parents there was not a brick building in Cincinnati, and other parts of the state were equally undeveloped. He was an industrious, energetic man, who led a busy and useful life. He followed farming pursuits with only a brief interruption, when for three or more years he was proprietor of a country tavern. As the result of his perseverance he accumulated a large and valuable property, which at his death was divided among his heirs. He was in his sixty-third year when death called him hence; his wife died at the age of about seventy-nine years. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Upon the farm where he was born our subject passed his boyhood years. He received his education in a typical pioneer log schoolhouse, which he attended a few months in the winter, and during the remainder of the year assisted in the work of clearing and improving the home farm. When about twenty-four years old he established domestic ties, being united in marriage with Cyrena Van Gordon, daughter of Benjamin Van Gordon, a pioneer of Liberty Township, where she was born. After his marriage our subject and his wife commenced housekeeping in a log cabin on his father’s farm, and for four years he engaged in tilling the soil. For two years ensuing he kept a store at Princeton, Ohio. In 1851 he was elected Sheriff of Butler County, and served two terms, the limit of office under the constitution of Ohio. He then purchased land near Princeton, Liberty Township, and gave his attention to farming and stock-raising until 1886, meeting with fair success in his undertakings.
Removing to Hamilton in 1886, Mr. Murphy assisted in organizing the Miami Valley National Bank, of which he has since been President. His landed possessions are large and include the ownership of a number of valuable farms, upon which his children reside. For fourteen years before coming to Hamilton he was a stockholder and Director in the First National Bank of this city. An ardent Democrat in politics, he has been elected upon that ticket to various responsible positions. Besides having served as Sheriff, he has represented his district in the State Senate for two years. From its organization he has been a Director in the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati, and each month meets with the board. For eighteen years he was a member of the Butler County Board of Agriculture, which he served as Director, Vice-President and President. For a number of years he was identified active with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The family residence is a conveniently arranged and comfortable above, situated at No. 415 North Second Street. Here Mr. and Mrs. Murphy hospitable receive and entertain their many friends, both in Hamilton and throughout the county. Their family consists of six children, as follows: Sallie Maria, who is the wife of.1. E. Anderson, of Preble County; Lewis I) the present Deputy Sheriff of Butler County; Cora E., wife of O. D.
Pocock, of Camden, Ohio; William E., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Preble County, Ohio; Harry, who resides on the old homestead; and Clarence, who is officiating as Probate Judge of Butler County.
As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
PETER MURPHY was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, October 1, 1820, being a son of Cornelius and Elnora (Windsor) Murphy, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Grandfather Peter Murphy was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch descent. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, when still a young man, he emigrated to the United States and sojourned for a time in Pennsylvania, where he married a lady born in the United States but of Irish parentage. From Pennsylvania he removed to Kentucky, thence to Ohio, and settling in Butler county entered a tract of government land on which he passed his remaining years. He was identified with the history of this county during an early period of its settlement, having come here prior to 1800. His life occupation was that of a miller of the soil.
The father of the subject was one of seven children, whose names were James, John, Peter, Cornelius, Isabelle, Sarah and
Nellie. He was born in Pennsylvania and came with the family to Ohio, where he married a Miss Elliott. At her death this lady left one son, Lewis, who became a money broker in Cincinnati and engaged in that business until his demise. The second marriage of Cornelius Murphy united him with Elnora Windsor and by their union were born the following children: John, deceased, formerly a broker in Cincinnati; Peter, the subject of this sketch; Cornelius, who engaged in farming near Bentonville, Indiana, until his death; Eliza Ann and James, who died in infancy; Mary Ann, deceased, formerly the wife of Dr. J. T. Ellsworth, of Lafayette, Indiana; Margaret Jane, who married John L. Withrow and died in Butler county, Ohio; Angeline, wife of Robert B. Withrow, a resident of Butler county, and Ellen Eliza, who first married Barkley Boyd and afterward became the wife of the late William M. Boyd, of Hamilton.
Cornelius Murphy led a life of industry and accumulated a large and valuable property, which at his death was divided among his heirs. He was in his sixty-third year when he died; his wife died at the age of about seventy-nine years. Both were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Peter Murphy passed his boyhood days on the farm. He was educated in the typical pioneer log school house. When about twenty-four he was married to Cyrena Van Gordon, daughter of Benjamin Van Gordon, a pioneer of Liberty township, where she was born. They began housekeeping in a log cabin on his father’s farm, and for four years he engaged in farming. For two years ensuing he kept a store at Princeton, Ohio. In 1851 he was elected sheriff of Butler county, and served two terms. He then purchased land near Princeton, Ohio, and engaged in farming and stock raising, which he followed with great success until 1886, when he removed to Hamilton and assisted in the organization of the Miami Valley National Bank, of which he became president and which position he retained until his death in 1897. For fourteen years before removing to Hamilton he was a stockholder and director in the Hamilton First National Bank. An ardent Democrat, he was elected upon that ticket to various responsible positions. Besides having been sheriff he was elected to represent his district in the state senate for two years. He was a director in the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati for several years. For eighteen years he was a member of the Butler county board of agriculture, which he served as director, vice-president and president. For a number of years he was identified actively with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Murphy was the father of six children, as follows: Sallie Maria, who married J. E. Anderson, of Preble county; Lewis D., now residing in Liberty township; Cora E., wife of O. D. Pocock, of Camden, Ohio; William E., who resides in Preble county; Harry, who resides on the old homestead in Liberty township, and Clarence, late probate judge of Butler county, and now a well-known and successful practicing attorney of Hamilton.
As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Peter Murphy: Charles M. Anderson (b. 1869)
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.