PAGenWeb McKean County, Pennsylvania
Patrick & Ellen Murphy Family
of McKean Co. PA
Family of Patrick & Ellen Murphy of McKean Co., Pa.
Compiled by James P. Murphy (jpmurphy@jpmurphy.com)
With kind assistance of Bradford Landmark Society volunteers
August 2006
Patrick Murphy, according to the 1880 census, was born 1840 in Ireland and married Ellen Enright there in 1857. Sons Cornelius J. and Bartholomew J. were ages 20 and 18 respectively. They emigrated to the United States in 1870 and lived in the Garlock Hollow section of Foster Twp., McKean Co., Pa. Patrick was a laborer and Ellen, 46, a homemaker. No occupations were given for the sons.
The census of 1890 was destroyed by fire. The next one was 1900. Patrick is listed as an oil producer and as having been naturalized (year not given). His birth is March 1840. Ellen, a homemaker, is reported as 80, having been born in 1820 (error). Month of birth is not given. She has been married 43 years and has had two, three or four children (illegible) two of whom are living. The other household member is Bridget Dugan (sic) sister of Patrick Murphy. Born in 1844 in Ireland (month not recorded) and married with one child. There is no record of her husband in the household. She had been married for 34 years and immigrated in 1870.
The 1900 census has Cornelius J. Murphy in Butler Twp., McKean Co. His birth was December 1859; having emigrated in 1875 and having been naturalized. His occupation was "laborer – oil well." He was married to Betsy Curfman, b. October 1872 in W.Va. Her parents were from Ohio (father) and W.Va. (mother). No occupation is shown for Betsy. Their children were Henry J., 18; Leo, 14; Earl B., 11; and Merle B., 11 (twins).
Betsy Curfman appears in the 1880 Census of Reedy, Roane Co., W.Va., with her father, a farmer, mother and seven siblings.
The 1900 census has Bartholomew Murphy living in Lincoln Twp., Tyler County, W.Va.. His date of birth was April 1862; he emigrated in 1870 and was naturalized. His occupation was "oil field laborer." He wife was Harriet, born in New York in 1871. Her parents were from (illegible) and (illegible). No occupation is shown for her. Their children were Charles C., 10; George E., 8; and Arvilla, a daughter 2.
The Bradford Era of May 24, 1902 carried the following story on its front page:
FATAL EXPLOSION
Patrick Murphy of Rew City Instantly Killed – Boiler on a Lease Blew Up
Patrick Murphy, a well-known resident of Rew City, where he had resided during the past 20 years, was instantly killed shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday morning by the explosion of a boiler on the Hazelwood farm, near Summit. The unfortunate man was alone at the time of the accident and in consequence the details of the fatality are unknown. The explosion was a terrific one and was distinctly heard at Rew City which is over three miles distant from the scene. Nearby dwellings were shaken and in several instances windows were broken by the concussion. The boiler house was blown into atoms and the huge boiler was rent into a hundred pieces, the dome being carried a distance of 300 feet. Those employed on neighboring leases hurried to the place and discovered the lifeless body of Murphy stretched out on the ground within a few feet of where the boiler had stood. With the exception of a slight wound at the back of the head and a few scratches on the face the body was unmarked, death resulting undoubtedly from concussion. The remains were removed to the family residence at Rew City. Patrick Murphy was aged 64 years and had been a resident of McKean County during the past quarter of a century being employed principally in the oil business. He enjoyed extensive acquaintance among the producers, by whom he was held in the highest esteem. Deceased is survived by his widow, and one son, Cornelius Murphy. It is believed that the explosion was caused by a low water pressure in the boiler.
On May 26, the newspaper reported:
Funeral services over the remains of Patrick Murphy of Rew City, whose tragic death occurred on Friday morning, the result of a boiler explosion on his lease near Summit, were held at St. Bernard's church at 9 o'clock yesterday morning, Rev. William Coonan officiating. The burial took place at St. Bernard's cemetery.
A headstone in St. Bernard's cemetery reads:
MURPHY
Cornelius J. 1860 – 1933
Ellen 1830 – 1903
Patrick 1837 - -1901
Elizabeth 1874 – 1950
The 1910 census has Cornelius, 50, residing with wife Elizabeth in Bradford City. He is reported to have immigrated in 1870 and to have been naturalized. Occupation: "producer – oil wells (employed)." No occupation is shown for Elizabeth, age 37. Sons are Henry J., 18; Leo, 14; Earl B., 11; and Merle B. 11.
On July 25, 1903, Bridget Duggan ran the following announcement in the Boston Pilot:
OF the whereabouts of MICHAEL MURPHY. When last heard from in 1894, he was living at 263 10th Avenue, New York City. Any information of him will be thankfully received by his sister, Mrs. Bridget Duggan, Duke Centre, McKean Co., Penna.
This contact may have been sought to tell Michael Murphy about the death of their brother Patrick in May 1902.
The 1910 census for Duke Centre Village, Otto Twp., McKean County, has Bridget Duggan in the household of George Thomas. She is listed as 65, b. Ireland and having immigrated in 1870. Her relationship to George Thomas is mother-in-law. She was a widow with one child. George Thomas, 43, was born in Pa. He was an oil producer. His wife, Francis (daughter of Bridget Duggan) 44, was b. Ireland and immigrated in 1870. She was not employed. They had no children. Also in the household was John R. Thomas, 18, a nephew, unmarried, a laborer doing odd jobs.
The 1920 census of Bradford City has Cornelius, 60, b. Ireland, having immigrated in 1870 and having been naturalized in 1882. He was an "oil producer of crude oil – employee." Wife was Elizabeth, 47. Her place of birth and parents' births were the same as prior censuses. Their sons were Henry J., 27, married but no reference to his wife, a driller; Leo, 23 and single, a driller; Earl B., 21 and single, a rig builder; and Merle B., 21 and single, occupation (illegible).
The 1920 census of Deschutes Co., Ore., shows Bartholomew Murphy employed as a water well driller, b. Ireland and naturalized in 1881. Children same as 1900 W.Va. census.
The 1930 census for Bradford City (South Kendall Ave.) has Cornelius, 71, b. Ireland, immigrated in 1868 and naturalized. He was not employed. His wife, Elizabeth, 58, had the same birth and parental information as recorded earlier. There was no one else in the household. According to the headstone in St. Bernard's cemetery, Cornelius died in 1933 and Elizabeth, in 1950.
The 1913 Bradford City Directory under MURPHY lists:
Cornelius J. (Betty) oil prod, h 78 S Kendall Ave.
The Bradford Era on December 27, 1976, ran this obituary for Merrel B. Murphy:
Merrel B. Murphy, 78, of 75 S. Kendall Ave., died at 7 a.m. Sunday at Bradford Hospital. He was born in Summit, on Sept. 6, 1898, the son of the late Cornelius and Elizabeth Curfman Murphy. He graduated from Bradford schools and on June 14, 1927, he married the former Ruth Leaster, who survives. For many years he was an independent drilling contractor and oil producer, and prior to his retirement in 1967, Mr. Murphy was employed at Dresser Manufacturing Company for nine years. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church and the Retired Men's Club of Foster Township. Besides his wife he is survived by four sons. Joseph of Blasdel, N.Y., Fred of Bradford, Thomas of Nashville, Tenn. and Neil Murphy of Bradford, a daughter, Mrs. Colleen Allen of Angola, N.Y., 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, a twin brother, Earl Murphy of Bradford, and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the Cahill Funeral Home where a prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. A funeral mass will follow at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Church with the Rev. G. Carlton Ritchie, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette. Father Ritchie will recite the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. today. The Foster Township Retired Men's Club will call at the funeral home at 3 p.m. today.