Maurice Murphy, lawyer, is a scion of a long line of Irish patriots, and no better example of the self-made, independent, adopted American of today can be found in the State of Kansas. He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1878, son of Maurice and Ellen Murphy. His father was at one time a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, but has been a farmer in the old country many years. Mrs. Murphy died while Maurice was an infant and it devolved upon the father to become a mother to the child, to give him tender care, and also to teach him the many manly attributes which we ever associate with the genial Irishman. The boy was reared in his native county, received the education afforded to Irish lads, and when fifteen years of age he emigrated from the old country to seek fortune in the New World alone, for his father remained in Ireland, where he still resides on his farm. Hearing of the great New West and of the golden opportunities there Mr. Murphy came to Kansas. Before leaving his Irish home it had become his ambition to have a good education and to enter one of the learned professions. Within a short time after landing in the United States he came to Kansas and located at Lawrence, where he prepared for the entrance examinations to the University of Kansas, passed them with credit and, in 1900, graduated in the department of law. Immediately alter receiving his degree he located at St. Marys and opened an office for the practice of his profession. But one interruption occurred in his college career, and that was in 1898, when, with all American youths, his heart was fired with patriotism and he enlisted in the army to serve his adopted country during the Spanish-American war. Mr. Murphy is devoted to his chosen calling and is regarded as one of the most brilliant members of the Pottawatomie county bar. His delightful personality has won him many friends and his ever ready wit has helped to win many a difficult case. Never disturbed, ever ready with the necessary legal answer to questions that come up in court he has built up a gratifying and lucrative practice, which extends over Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Jackson, and Shawnee counties, where he is highly regarded as a man and loved as a companion. Brought up in the faith of the Roman Catholic church in the old country Mr. Murphy has remained true to its teachings in the new and is one of the active members of the congregation of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at St. Marys. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics he is a local leader of the Democratic party and stands high in its councils.

In 1902 he married Mary Elizabeth Beseau of St. Marys, and three children have come to bless the union—Francis, Mildred and Rosaline.