USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume I > Part 18
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Mrs. Murphey died November 30, 1890, surviving her husband for a period of
*This is a paper prepared by the Author. at the especial request of the Henry County Historical Society, and read by him before that body, at its annual meeting held in New Castle, April 25, 1903.
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something more than eight years. She was a remarkable woman, as her husband was a remarkable man, and it can be said of them that as they were lovers in the beginning so they continued to be until the end.
RETROSPECTIVE.
In portraying the life and character of such a man as Colonel Miles Murphey, it is certainly profitable to go back to the beginning of his manhood career and follow his course through to the end. His life was a busy one. Born on a farm and in a measure designed to follow bucolic pursuits he remained attached to the farm and to parental authority until shortly after he became of age. But the truth of history asserts that Colonel Murphey was not destined to spend his life in agricultural pursuits. He had from his standpoint taken a more ambitious view of the situation and his father, noticing his apparently set inclination, if not determination, advised the young man that as he did not seem to be cut out for a tiller of the soil he had better fix himself up, go to town and try if he could not find something to do that would be more suitable to his tastes and desires. To town he came and just at that time an incident occurred which in a way determined, probably for all time, the life and career of two of the then foremost young men of New Castle. The incident is as follows, and as your speaker has it from Judge Martin L. Bundy : "William Silver was at that time the leading merchant of New Castle. His store was located on what is now known as the Citizens' State Bank corner. He wanted a clerk. For this position there were two applicants, the one being the subject of this sketch and the other the late Judge Jehu T. Elliott. Very simple things sometimes determine events. In this case the application of Colonel Murphy was accompanied with the fact that he could, in addition to his own services, furnish Mr. Silver with one hundred dollars for investment in his business. A hundred dollars in those days was about equivalent to what a thousand would be now. It turned the scale and Colonel Murphy secured the coveted position."
In this connection is it not pertinent to suggest that such action on the part of Mr. Silver changed the whole course of life as it related to these two men and gave to New Castle and Eastern Indiana one of the greatest and most successful merchants, and to the town, county and State one of its best, brightest and highest members of the bar and the judiciary? With this incident is it not also at this time and for the preservation of the history of New Castle, proper to refer briefly to the confreres of Colonel Murphey ? 'Tis not a long array of names, but they all were for the most part, willing workers among the pioneers of our now beautiful, progressive and prosperous city. I mention Isaac Bedsaul, Dr. Joel Reed, Dr. James V. Wayman, Jacob Thornburgh, Henry Shroyer, George B. Rogers, Abraham Elliott, William and Eli Murphey. Jehu T. Elliott, John Powell, Asahel Woodward, Alan Shepherd, Wilson Clift. Wesley Goodwin, Alexander McDowell, Esquire Ross, Samuel Hawn, Jacob Brenneman, Martin L. Bundy. Adam Beam, John Shroyer, Rotheus Scott, Rene Julian, Jesse H. Healey, Jacob Elliott, David Macy, Nathan Livezey, Joshua Chappell. John Taylor. Thomas Ginn, James Iliff, William Wayman, Joshua H. Mellett, John Barrett, Lot Bloomfield, Ralph Berk- shire, Edmund Johnson, George W. Julian, Mathew S. Ward, L. D. Meek, David Bowers, Samuel Hazzard. Joshua Holland, Alexander Chambers, Jolin Alexander,
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Captain Pyrrhus. Woodward, Hiram Thornburgh, Miles L. Reed, John W. Grubbs, Isaac R. Howard, Samuel Roof, Samuel Dunlap, Samuel Pickering, Jesse Shelley, Winford W. Shelley, Samuel Hoover, Colonel Edmund Johnson and George Lowe. These names are of those who became a part and parcel of New Castle's then thrifty population in the years ranging from 1819 to about 1850. They have all gone before, except Martin L. Bundy and in the nature of things he must sometime follow. In the language of the early pioneer they have "blazed the way," and let us all hope and believe there will be a reunion of the old pioneers far surpassing in beauty of scene, in magnificence of conception, in happiness of hearts and in fullness of soul any and all earthly gatherings in which they participated and with which they were so familiar.
Miles Murphey, during the latter years of his busy life, was indeed and in truth New Castle's grand old man. He was everyone's friend, and to the call of the suffering, the oppressed and the distressed, no man responded more fully or more freely. He was the Christian gentleman. He believed in God and during a long series of years was steadfast, faithful and devoted to the church of which he was an honored member and which, in its early start, had him for its principal and most reliable support. The Christian Church of New Castle owes very much indeed to Colonel Miles Murphey and memory of his stewardship, his manifold labors, his Christian zeal, his unselfishness and his sacrifices for its good, for its welfare, should be kept green in the minds and hearts of all those who were workers with him or of those who have, since his death, taken upon themselves the labor of love, the devotion to and the work for the Master, for which he was so noted.
The home character of a man has much to do with the estimation in which he is held by his friends and neighbors. The home life of Colonel Murphey was exceptionally charming and delightful. His home was his castle. It was his place of rest and refreshment. It was where he most bestowed his love and affection ; a love and an affection that lasted for a period of more than fifty years. These years were not all glad sunshine, but even so, no wave of trouble, no lowering cloud, no cup of sorrow, was permitted to engulf, to overwhelm or to drown the love, the loyalty and the fidelity which dominated his household.
In personal appearance Colonel Miles Murphey was, probably, the most notably conspicuous figure among all his confreres. His was a commanding presence such as would and did, always attract attention. Tall and straight, until in the later years of his life his form was bent with the infirmities of age, lithe and strong, he was the personification of perfect, physical manhood. One who knew him well, referring especially to the time when he was Colonel of the Militia and his appear- ance on horseback, said : "I thought then and I think now, looking back to that period that he was the handsomest man I ever saw."
Colonel Murphey was, in the main, what we understand as a self made man. His education was such only as could be obtained at that time through the medium of the primitive country school, whose curriculum embraced principally the three R's, Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic. But, notwithstanding, with this meagre education, reinforced by a large gift of native talent, decided ambition and a determination to win, he rapidly forged to the front and soon became the well informed man, the advanced trader and the successful merchant.
In connection with others, Miles Murphey was the pioneer grain dealer
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and pork packer of New Castle. This in time induced the idea of a larger field of action and operation in these lines and. consequently, in 1862, the firm of Miles Murphey and Company opened a commission house in Chicago. This firni consisted of Colonel Murphey, Benjamin F., Robert P. and Leander E. Murphey. It is not necessary to follow the course of business as it relates to this venture. Suffice it that the firm for several years did a large commission business and during that period and for many years after, Colonel Miles Murphey was one of the most popular men in any way connected with the Chicago Board of Trade, and the members of that great commercial organization always held him in the very highest esteem.
Colonel Murphey at one time was regarded as probably the wealtiest man, not only in New Castle, but in Henry County. He met with reverses, not all through fault or neglect of his own, but, as his great fortune gradually slipped away from him he never for a single moment lost his courage. He never cried or whimpered, he never lost his rest or his sleep but bore it manfully, bravely, heroically and un- complainingly.
Colonel Murphey was a strong advocate of internal improvements and to that end gave freely of his time, his labor, and his nieans. He was influential in the building of the Whitewater canal extending from Cambridge City to Cincinnati and was a director in its affairs until 1849. In 1850 he, along with the late Judge Elliott, Judge Martin L. Bundy, John Powell, Daniel Bradbury and others became not only personally interested but completely bound up pecuniarily and otherwise in the building of the Cincinnati, Logansport and Chicago Railroad. Of the history of the building of this now great link in the greatest railroad system in the world, the Pennsylvania, Judge Bundy, the last remaining of them all, is best fitted to tell the story. Your speaker knows it to be a fact that but for his, Judge Bundy's stren- uous efforts in behalf'of all concerned, what remained of the fortunes of himself, Colonel Murphey, Judge Elliott, and others would have been swept away. And right here it is pertinent to state that the friendship which existed between these three was quite as close in loyalty and devotion, the one to the other, as that which is reputed to have existed between Damon and Pythias.
Colonel Murphey's last official position came to him at the very outset of the Civil War. The sounds of the guns firing upon Fort Sumter had scarcely died away when the strong but imperative summons of Indiana's Great War Governor, Oliver P. Morton, was flashed over the wires to New Castle, demanding the immediate presence of Colonel Murphey at Indianapolis to take his position as Inspector Gen- eral on the Governor's staff to which place he had been appointed April 27, 1861. As such officer Colonel Murphey directed and aided in the outfitting of more than 50,000 Indiana volunteer soldiers, consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery. It may be taken for granted that his work was well performed since no word of complaint or criticism was ever heard in relation to the matter.
My task, a pleasurable one, is well nigh finished but it is not complete. A full history of Colonel Miles Murphey, taking into consideration all of his life with the accompanying and really necessary side lights would make a large volume. He was a pioneer, the record of whose life is worth the preservation. He was a noble man in the strict sense of the word. His confidence in his fellow men was implicit. He was open in speech, in action and never, under any circumstance or under any
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provocation, permitted his temper to run away with his better judgment. He believed in the equality of men and in his social relations never for a moment sought to elevate himself at the expense of his friends and neighbors. He was the most hospitable of men and at his house the way-faring man though a stranger found welcome and to all no matter whom, the latch string to his door always hung outward. As the husband and father he was the most devoted and the most indulgent. No favor was ever asked and no boon ever craved that was not granted if within his power to bestow. Because of such men, of such pioneers, is seen the necessity for historical societies, for archives in which may be stored and kept their history and from which future generations may learn the worth and character of those who preceded them upon the stage of action and so learning to pronounce the verdict so often rendered : "They built better than they knew."
One thing further before closing. I desire to refer to the State of North Carolina and to East Tennessee with especial reference to the emigrants from these points to Eastern Indiana and the apparent influence said emigrants had upon the growth, morally, commercially and economically of this, the best and richest spot in our famed and favorite Hoosierland. They were indeed a hardy, thrifty body of men and women. They braved all hardships and to them we owe very much of what we are today. They hated slavery as they hated oppression of every kind and description and they delighted in doing good to their fellow men. In a general way I mention a few of these emigrants from the old north state and East Tennessee, as for instance: the Murpheys, Harveys, Elliotts, Mil- likans, Thornburghs, Shelleys, Holladays, Hoovers, Paynes, Rogers and very many others, collectively and individually, who, by their industry cut away the forests, tilled the soil, built school houses, erected churches and in other ways made it easy for their descendants to continue the work so well begun, until it can be said truthfully, the wilderness has been made to blossom as the rose. So all honor to the Old North State and to East Tennessee, not forgetting in this con- nection to say a good word for those once famous places : "Dobson's Cross Roads" and "Beard's Hatter Shop."
It is now twenty-one years since Colonel Miles Murphey died. Had he lived until now he would have been near the rounding out of a century. He lived to see vast, wonderful changes; he was a commander in the march of progress and improvement ; he was a builder ; he assumed great risks and in all and through all maintained his character, his credit, his honor, his loyalty to home, to town, to county, to state, to nation and to religion. Paraphrasing a couplet of a well known old song, it can be truly said of Colonel Miles Murphey : He was a fine American gentleman, one of the olden kind.
Probably the most conspicuous trait of Colonel Miles Murphey was his even, unruffled temper. Whether he abode in prosperity or dwelt 'neath adversity's wing 'twas always and ever the same. At one time when there seemed a strong probability that he might lose his entire fortune there were a number of friends in council during one day's forenoon. At noon the Colonel went to his dinner and not reporting to the afternoon conference as soon as he was reasonably expected and after those assembled had waited his coming for some time they sent for him and found that he was soundly, peacefully enjoying his accustomed afternoon nap.
Although not an extravagant dresser he was uniformly well costumed. He
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generally wore the best the market afforded. His son Dick (Leander E. Murphey) was the costliest dresser, I think, that, at the period referred to, ever lived in New Castle. His father, who indulged his every want and wish remonstrated with him one time relative to his extravagance in dress. The matter was compromised by the father accepting Dick's proposition that he (Dick) would only purchase a suit of clothes when the father had supplied himself in that direction, the agree- ment being for the following year. Soon the Colonel bought a fine suit of broad- cloth whereupon Dick did likewise and the Colonel discussing the matter said, "Well, well, Dick, you have just had a new suit." "That is true," says Dick, "but you know the agreement." The outcome of it all resulted in the fact that the total expenses of the year were not in the least curtailed.
No one better enjoyed a joke than the Colonel even though it might be at his expense. In his time it was much different from now in the method of travel and transportation. Because he had been to New York, Philadelphia, and Wash- ington City he was looked upon then as one who had been far away from home and who had seen very much of the outside world. Being in Philadelphia at one time he concluded a ride about the city of brotherly love would do him good, so visiting a livery, he was not long in securing the proper animal, as he thought for the occasion. The liveryman furnished him with a trained trotting horse, that is, a horse educated to go the faster the harder you pulled on the reins. The colonel mounted the animal and started under a steady pull and the pull increasing the animal kept going faster and faster until finally he had reached what might be termed a lightning gait. He (the Colonel) with his horse going like mad, was shortly the cynosure of all eyes. It was a hot day, the heat standing at about 100 degrees in the shade. The perspiration was streaming down his face; his linen coat was dripping wet and his trousers' legs, from the incessant bobbing up and down, had crawled up and up until the bottoms were away above his knees. By this time he had left the city, still going at lightning speed, when in sheer desper- ation he dropped the reins with the full intention of jumping from the back of the apparently unmanageable animal. The moment, however, the reins were dropped, that moment the horse stopped and so suddenly as to nearly unhorse the rider. The Colonel's own description of this famous ride was one among the most laughable I ever listened to and he enjoyed it apparently more than anybody else. Colonel Murphey was a lover of horses and about the beginning of the Civil War owned the finest, handsomest, pair of large bod-tailed bays ever seen in New Castle, or for that matter, in Eastern Indiana. They took the first premium at all state and county fairs wherever shown. They were taken to Chicago shortly after Miles Murphey and Company opened a commission house in that city.
His home, the old brick residence now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. George W. Goodwin, and built in 1844 was noted for its unbounded hospitality. His wife, known to all neighbors and friends as "Aunt Betsey," always kept up the enter- tainments. On one occasion the Colonel had come down town with some dis- tinguished guests and stood talking together on the Murphey corner. That unique, irrepressible character whose equal then or now has not been discovered, Harvey W. Alexander, seeing his opportunity to play a joke, walked briskly up to the group and bidding them good morning, said, "Excuse me Colonel, but my wife is sick and would like to know the prospect of getting your wife to go over and
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wash for her today." The effect can well be imagined but explanations soon set matters at ease.
Colonel Murphey was not, in the strict sense of the word, a politician and yet within the limits of his town, county and State he occupied a well defined position touching all matters which might affect for good or evil the affairs of the munici- pality the State or the nation. Politically, he was a Democrat and so remained until the time of the Kansas-Nebraska trouble when he with many other Democrats left their party and became Republicans. He was intensely anti-slavery and was against the further extension of that then greatest national evil. He was a delegate to the national convention at Chicago and helped with voice and labor in the nomination of the now immortal Lincoln and during the great campaign which followed and which resulted in the triumphant election of Lincoln, Colonel Murphey was an active participant. He was a great admirer of Lincoln, at whose home in Springfield, Illinois, he was several times a guest and always delighted to talk to him. In the latter years of Colonel Murphey's life, he became a member of the Democratic party voting with it on national questions but otherwise acting inde- pendently of all parties. He was not a seeker after office preferring always mer- cantile and commercial pursuits, nevertheless he was honored by being elected county treasurer in 1833 and representative together with David Macy in 1837. On August 4, 1829, he was commissioned Major of the 48th Regiment Indiana Militia and on August 22, 1831, he was promoted Colonel of the same regiment, thus gaining the title by which he was most familiarly known and which badge of distinction he worthily wore and sustained until his death.
FAMILY RECORD OF COLONEL MILES MURPHEY.
Miles Murphey, born in North Carolina, November 14, 1806; died in New Castle, Indiana, February 17, 1882.
Elizabeth (Carpenter) Murphey, born in New Jersey, May 10, 1807; died in New Castle, Indiana, November 30, 1890.
Miles Murphey and Elizabeth Carpenter were married in New Castle, October 10, 1830, the ceremony being performed by Jacob Thornburgh, Justice of the Peace. They were the parents of the following named children, all born in New Castle :
De Witt Clinton Murphey, born April 22, 1831 ; died December 16, 1838.
Maria Louisa Murphey, born August 15, 1834 ; married to George W. Goodwin, in New Castle, September 1, 1852, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend Samuel K. Hoshour.
Leander Elliott Murphey, born March 23, 1840; married Helen Mary Elliott, in New Castle, May 26, 1863, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend James S. Ferris. He was twice married, his second wife being Minnie Rosalia Bruske. They were married in Chicago, Illinois, August 26, 1886, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend F. A. Noble, pastor of the Union Park Congre- gational Church. Miss Bruske was the daughter of Edward H. and Johannah E. (Fryer) Bruske, and was born in Germany, November 9, 1853. She came to America, with her parents, in the following year. She was educated in the public schools of East Saginaw, Michigan, where the family resided. Later she went to Chicago. She lived there with her husband until his death, March 18, 1904, and since that event, she has divided her time between Chicago and East Saginaw.
11
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Helen Mary (Elliott ) Murphey was born July 21, 1842, and died July 5, 1871. All of the above named, who are dead, are buried in South Mound Cemetery, New Castle.
GEORGE WASHINGTON GOODWIN.
George Washington Goodwin, noted above, as having married the only daugh- ter of Colonel Miles and Elizabeth Murphey, was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, Sep- tember 28, 1824, and died in New Castle, Indiana, April 2, 1900. He was the son of Wesley and Jane Goodwin, old settlers of Henry County. In 1828, Wesley Good- win started west from Portsmouth, having no determinate point in view. Himself and family, traveling by wagon on their way to the West, arrived in New Castle, about the time of the Presidential election, in the Fall of 1828. At that time, the election laws of Indiana, as in all new States, were very lax, and although he had been in the State but a short time, Mr. Goodwin had the legal right to vote, and he decided to remain at the new county seat long enough to exercise that privilege, intending to proceed on his journey westward, immediately after the election. He remained, cast his vote for Andrew Jackson, and never went further, living in and near New Castle, until his death.
He was born in the State of New York, January 23, 1791, and early in life was taken by his parents to Portsmouth, Ohio. He died July 29, 1860. His wife, Jane Stewart, was born April 19, 1797, and died September 8, 1870. Both are buried in South Mound Cemetery. They were the parents of three children, namely : Richard, George Washington, and a daughter, Prudence, who became the wife of Hugh Diven, of Cambridge City, Indiana. All are now deceased.
Wesley Goodwin early took an important position in the affairs of Henry County and maintained the same until his death. He became a large landowner and purchased from the State the whole of school section sixteen, one mile west of New Castle. It is on this section of land that the New Castle Rolling Mill is now situated. Mr. Goodwin built a large, commodious house for a residence and drover's hotel, which for very many years stood as a landmark, where the residence of Mahlon D. Harvey now stands. Before the advent of railroads, it was the custom of drovers to travel through the country, buying stock of every kind that was fit for market and driving the same to Cincinnati, Ohio. Wesley Goodwin's place became noted, far and wide, as a favorite rendezvous for drovers and the author, as a boy, can well remember seeing hundreds of hogs and cattle turned into the Goodwin fields for the night, the next day to be driven onward towards the Queen City.
Wesley Goodwin was associated with Colonel Miles Murphey and others in the first firm that ever killed and packed hogs in New Castle. Later, he had a store in New Castle, which was operated by his son, Richard, who was a partner in the business. George W. Goodwin became a clerk in this store when he was fourteen years old and continued in that capacity until he was twenty one.
Wesley Goodwin was a genial and companionable man, progressive and enter- prising. His son, George W. Goodwin, to whom this sketch has especial reference. left the store of his father and brother in 1846 and became the proprietor of a tin and stove store in Cambridge City. This he successfully operated for two years or more. In the Fall of 1849 he joined the great army of adventurers who.
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