From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1391
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

SAMUEL MURPHY

   Samuel Murphy, an agriculturist of Atlanta township, Rice county, where he has made his home since 1878, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 4^th of June, 1826, a son of Mahlon and Elizabeth (Friday) Murphy, who were also natives of the Keystone state.  The father was born in Chester county and the mother in Lancaster county.  The former died when his son Samuel was only eighteen months old.  The latter was an only child and the mother afterward married Jacob Bush, of Pennsylvania, by whom she had the following named children:  William, Elizabeth, Christian, Catherine, Sarah and Mary A.  Her death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-two years.  Her first husband was a blacksmith by trade and thus provided for the support of his family.  He held membership in the Lutheran church and was a consistent Christian gentleman.

   Samuel Murphy was reared in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and received his education in the schools near his home.  No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of his life in his boyhood.  Play and work occupied his attention, combined with the duties of the schoolroom, and thus his youth was passed.  In 1850 he married Miss Caroline E Glof, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and died in March, 1871, leaving four children, of whom two are now living, Mrs Anna E Cramp, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and George E, a well known citizen of Wilson township, Rice county.  He is an expert architect and builder as well as farmer.  His first wife was Miss Martha Root, a sister of his step-mother, and his second wife was Miss Minnie Messenger, by whom he had several children.  The two children of Samuel Murphy, now deceased, are:  John E and William H, the former having passed away in Pennsylvania, while the latter died in Kansas.  After the death of his first wife Mr Murphy was again married in 1873, his second union being with Miss Matilda Root, a lady of many good qualities of heart and mind.  She is intelligent and cultured and has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet on life’s journey.  She was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Metz) Root.  Her father died in the Keystone state, but her mother is still living, at the age of ninety-one years.  They had ten children, of whom eight are living:  Mrs Matilda Murphy: Jesse, a resident of Lyons; Eli; Mary; Amelia; Sarah, who died at the age of three years; Margaret; Martha, who has now passed away; and Jacob H, of Colorado.  Most of the members of the Root family reside near Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

   Mr Murphy, whose name forms the caption of this sketch, has served as a deacon in the Lutheran church for many years and his wife is a consistent and devout member of the church.  He today owns a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land three miles from Lyons.  It is supplied with all the modern accessories and conveniences and a fine grove of shade trees is one of its most attractive features.  Everything about the property is in excellent condition and indicates the careful supervision of the owner who is a man of genuine worth, unostentatious but reliable and trustworthy.  The causes of temperance, religion and education find in him a friend, and his word is as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal.  He is true to principle and the right and his history contains many lessons that are well worthy of emulation.