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From John Cardiff's Nornet -
The Late John Murphy Esq.
As briefly announced in last week's Reformer, Mr. John Murphy, one of the best-known residents for Norfolk, passed away at his home in North Walsingham on Saturday, 23rd May ult.
Deceased was born in the County of Kerry, Ireland, 13th Nov., 1842. His father, Patrick Murphy, came to Canada in March of that year, Mrs. Murphy following with her two oldest sons, Timothy and John, in 1843. The family settled in North Walsingham on the farm occupied by Mr. John Murphy at the time of his decease. It was here he grew from infancy to manhood.
In early life he engaged in lumbering. From 1861 to 1872 he was foreman-manager for Evans-Killmaster & Co. In 1867 he married Elizabeth Elsie Forbes, a native of Inverness, Hamfshire, Scotland. In the latter part of her life Mrs. Murphy was an invalid, but bore her suffering with Christian piety and submission to the will of God. She passed away in January, 1911.
Mr. Murphy was throughout his whole life a man of many activities, interested in every movement for the advancement of the community and county in which he lived. He was connected with the Norfolk Farmers' Insurance Company from its inception, was eight years its president, and for twenty years on the board of directors. He served for a great many years on the board of the County Fair and was president of the society for a period. He was also prominent in Farmers' Institute work. He was justice of the peace for thirty years, an issuer of marriage licenses for twenty years, and secretary-treasurer and school trustee for thirty-seven years.
In politics he was a Liberal. He was a delegate from the county to the great Liberal convention at Ottawa in 1896. He was vice-president of the Liberal Association of South Norfolk for a lengthy term, always a delegate to conventions, and often spoken of as a candidate. He was several times a councillor in North Walsingham.
In religion Mr. Murphy was a Roman Catholic, but, while loyal to his own views, he was ever tolerant of the views of others, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to members of all other communions.
The illness which finally terminated fatally was most prolonged attacking him ten years ago and incapacitating him from work. His slowly-ebbing strength was watched and his some-time sufferings borne with a calm fortitude and a beautiful trust in the surety of the Eternal.
During his long illness he was cared for by his daughter, Annie, a graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital, London. Besides Miss Annie, there are left to mourn his loss five sons and another daughter. They are: Margaret, wife of Mr. John J. Tighe, of Barons, Alberta; John H. J., with the Royal-Crown Co., Winnipeg; William, with the Knights of Columbus, Winnipeg; Leslie, with the Pauline Co., Winnipeg; Edwin E. and Francis, at home.
There are also two brothers, Jerry, of Ingersoll, and James, of Simcoe, and Mrs. McCarty, a sister, residing in London. The five sons were at his bedside when he closed his eyes in their last sleep. All seven children respected and appreciated their father, for it had been his one aim to bring them up useful, God-fearing citizens, and every necessary sacrifice had been made to fit them for positions of trust and responsibility.
It is upon the lives and work of such men as John Murphy that Canada's future is to be built. He has gone to his grave with the respect of all who knew him. May mother earth lie lightly on him.
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Rainham Builders
1842 - 1914 (71 years)