THE MURPHY FAMILY

by Father Michael Murphy O.M.I.

(1952)

Timothy Murphy's family migrated to Tyendenaga Township, Hastings County Canada from Cork, Ireland during the early part of the 19th Century. His father, whose name was Stephen, took up a homestead northeast of Lonsdale. The family was in limits of Marysville Parish but about 10 miles distant from the Parish Church was to be located - but as yet there was no church, no rectory and no resident priest in the vicinity of the new comers. There was no school section organized, no post office and the road allotment had nothing but unimproved trails. The pioneer farmers were 10 miles from the site of the parish church.

There were seven in the family, three boys - Stephen (the oldest) Jeremiah, and Timothy and four girls - Margaret (Mrs. Pat Murphy) Lonsdale, Mary (Mrs. Ned Fitzgerald) Pieton and Elizabeth (Mrs. James Welch) Lonsdale. Mrs. Welch died young and Nora, unmarried, Belleville.

When Timothy was born he was taken to Belleville for baptism (born June 20, 1836 and baptized July 10, 1836. Timothy Murphy married Ann Meagher May 29, 1866. Ann Meagher was born in Ireland about 1840 in Templemore Tipperary, Ireland. She was 2 years old when her people immigrated to Canada. Her parents located in the north part of Tyendenaga Township in the Parish of Read. Her mother was Margaret Mackay (a sister of Father Mackay) before her marriage to John Meagher Senior. Four of her sisters (Ann's) became nuns in the St. Joseph's order in Troy, N.Y. When Marysville became organized as a parish with a church (1837) and rectory Ann Meagher's uncle, Fr. Michael Mackay became P.P. and Ann housekeeper. It was at Holy Name of Mary's Rectory, that the then young Tim Murphy met her and they agreed to make it a life long partnership. They were married May 29, 1866.

Timothy and Ann had a large family - 12 in all. Their first farm was on the Wyman Bridge side road, about 5 miles from the Marysville church at which home most of the children were born. Their second home was on the 3rd concession about one mile south of South of Lonsdale. The place was purchased from John McAuley who was moving to a location in the North Western USA. On the McAuley farm there were ample buildings spacious living quarters and well kept extensive barns with stables for horses, cows, pigs, etc. and plenty of room for storing the fodder for all the stock. The farmland extended from the 3rd concession (the location of the buildings) out to the 2nd concession.

Mrs. Timothy Murphy's mother Mrs. John Meagher Sr. (nee Margaret Mackay, Grandma Meagher) was a great help, relief and consolation to her daughter during her childbearing years. When there was an increase in the family in the prospect, and it happened quite often, Grandma Meagher was always ready and willing to take charge of the Murphy household with the best of good nature, with efficiency and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mrs. Murphy had the last child in 1884 and Grandma Meagher died in 1898.

During all this time, Father Michael Mackay was Parish Priest of Marysville. He was a brother of Grandma Meagher, uncle to Mrs. T. Murphy and grand uncle of the Murphy children. He did not like to preach, but on the Sunday he would read something from a pious book, that was interesting, practicable and instructive. In 1880, out of his small savings he founded a scholarship for the education of priests - first at St. Michael's College (1880-1884) and then transferred it to Ottawa College (1884). According to hearsay, the amount of money invested was $3500.00 but those were the days when money was money. The principle which stands yet, yielded in those days $160.00 a year. The tuition for many years of a student, to Ottawa College. Now as the rate of interest has dropped almost out of sight the yearly return is almost negligible. However, there are priests who have benefited from the Scholarship. T.P. Murphy, O.M.I.-Rev John Meagher, Rev. Vincent Meagher and Rev. J.J. Fogarty. Two others spent several years on the Scholarship but did not continue on for the priesthood - Denis Meagher and Wm Meagher's son Adrian - Father Michael Mackay resigned as P.P. of Marysville (1895) on account of the debilities of advanced age and retired to a private home in Belleville with his niece Margaret Meagher as housekeeper. He died December 22, 1897.

Margaret Meagher (1847-1917) his red headed niece and his housekeeper, no doubt inspired by her venerable uncle's example, established a scholarship also for the education of priests. She had saved $5000.00 out of her life's pittances. She named three trustees to look after the scholarship - Fr Michael Murphy, O.M.I., Fr. Vincent Meagher and Daniel Murphy. At the time, the will of Miss Margaret Meagher's will was probated (1917).

Michael Murphy (this author) was stationed at Edmonton. I was written to as one of the trustees. I wrote back to say whatever the two other trustees decided on, would be all right with me. The lawyer took this as a resignation on my part. The two Eastern trustees decided, no doubt at the insistence of my brother Daniel, to invest the $5,000.00 in certain municipal Bonds yielding 6% interest. It so happened that after a few years those bonds went down and down until they were practically worth nothing or almost nothing in interest. And that is the way they stand today, (1957). 1 think Father Frank Meagher has guardianship of the bonds under question.

While talking of Scholarships let us consider a 3rd case. Sister St. Mary Williams. Mary Sheeran was the only child of the lawful wedlock of my sister Ellen and of William Sheeran. They were married in 1900. Mary was born to them Feb. 2, 1902. My sister Ellen had not been too well. Her heart bothered her. On May 26, 1903 she succumbed to a heart attack. Little Mary was only a little more than one year old. The heart-broken father found a temporary home for his infant motherless daughter in the home of the Murphy grandparents made up at the time of the grandparents, Aunt Mary and Uncle Frank. As soon as Mary Sheeran became old enough, she was sent to Notre Dame Convent as a boarder (Kingston). During her summer holidays, Mary would visit around relatives on her mother's side. When she graduated from the school, she decided to become a nun, a member of the Notre Dame Sisters of Montreal. After her novitiate she was sent to teach in Kingston. Her father became caretaker of the convent and schools so that they often saw each other. When the father died he left his daughter, the proposed nun, $5,000.00. She obtained permission of her religious superiors to establish a scholarship for the education of the young men in the priesthood with her inheritance. Unhappily, regretfully, she invested her $5,000.00 in the same bonds as her Aunt Margaret Meagher did, with the same sad results. The bonds became worthless of almost so.

A little advice to those who wish to establish a scholarship. Give the money to a college or diocese with the understanding that the principle must not be touched, but must

remain on, forever, while only the interest is used.

But let us return to our young bride and groom of 1866, who just boldly set sail on the vast sea of matrimony. Their first child born March 14, 1867 was a boy and was baptized at Marysville, Thomas Patrick, by his grand uncle Father Michael Mackay. When Thomas Patrick got big enough and old enough he became a great favorite of his Rev. Grand Uncle.

The Rev. Relative had designs on T.P. to make him a priest, if he had the calling, and perhaps to have him as a curate in his declining years. Father Mackay hoped to live and die at Marysville. When Thomas had completed his primary studies Father Mackay took him off to St. Michael's Toronto, to make his classical studies. The youngster (he was only 13 years old when he started) spent 4 years at St. Michael's. In 1884, the Rev. Promotion of Education, for some reason which he did not publish from the house tops, switched his scholarship from St. Michael's Toronto, to Ottawa University, Ottawa. So for the beginning of the next college term, instead of taking the train going west they took a train going east. They were heading for Ottawa. He (Thomas) was now 17 years of age. During his four complete years at Ottawa he not only excelled in his studies, but also in sports. He could handle a lacrosse stick with the best of them and when the Ottawa team (The Capitals) were a little slow in playing experts they would send for "Turk" Murphy to come to help them. He was on the Foot Ball Team (fullback) that won the Championship of Canada in 1886 and again in 1887. In 1888 he finished at Ottawa College with a B.A. degree, "Maxima Cum ude". In September 1888 he entered the Grand Seminary of Montreal and spent almost three years there. When half way through the year 1891, he felt that he should be an Oblate, so he immediately went to the Oblate Novitiate of Lachine, near Montreal. In 1892 he had successfully passed his novitiate years and made his first vows (May 27). He was sent to St. Joseph's Scholasticate to finish his studies, (which had been interrupted by his novitiate. He had only one year more of Theology to make up so in 1893 he made his final vows (May 22) and was ordained priest May 29, 1893.

A rather strange thing about his ordination to the priesthood was that it was done very quietly, without his parents being present at the ceremony, nor any other relatives. It was partly on account of the strictness, at the time. At the Scholasticate (not allowing visitors) the lack of accommodations, traveling difficulties, etc.etc. After ordination he was immediately sent to Ottawa University.

Other assignments during life.

Edmonton 1921 to June 1925

Okanagen June & July 1928

New Westminster July 1928

Cariboo Oct - Feb 1930&31

New Westminster 1931-1945

Father Tom taught in all, seventeen years at St. John's College. It was in Fr. Tom's Day a Juniorate to prepare young men for the priesthood in the Oblate Order. Four of his former students became Bishops. Namely - Archbishop Jorden, O.M.L./coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton with right of succession; Bishop O'Grady of Prince Rupert, B.C. Bishop Loutier O.M.I. of Grovard Alberta and Bishop Bockenfeohr of Kimberly South Africa. Father Tom had prayed for years that he might die without a long illness. He did not want to be a burden to others. He said mass on a Saturday morning and by Saturday week he was buried. He died Feb. 15, 1945. It was leukemia the immediate cause of his death. He lived for 78 years and had 52 years of priesthood.

2. Mary the second child was born April 14, 1868. She never married and lived to the good old age of 84. (Died May 9th, 1952). She was noted for her piety, her good nature, her industry and her charitableness. She was always humming a hymn or cheerful song. She was in great demand by expectant mothers to take care of the children in the home. She had mothered so many orphans in their day of need that it could be said of her that she had more children than she had had a husband. She lived over in Buffalo a few years. In Canada she was seriously sick at one time (1946) and was in Hobel Dien Hospital from April 22 to August 13. She spent the last years of her life, in the House of Providence going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion daily.

R.I.P.

3. James Henry was the third member of the family. He was born May 31, 1869. He was the first to leave home to seek his fortunes abroad. He worked for one year on his Uncle James Meagher's farm at Read, Ontario but then drifted to Buffalo, N.Y. where he went into the dairy business. Father Tom while he was in Buffalo (1895-1898) often met him there and also his future wife Jennie Muir. James and Jennie were married in 1898 and had a family of five-Thomas Patrick, Harold who became a Jesuit priest, Raymond, Aloysius and Agnes.

There was not a black sheep in the family. When James retired from the Dairy Business, he used to go to daily mass at Holy Angels and often served several Masses, simultaneously. He had a visit once from his father Timothy Murphy from Marysville, Canada. It was after his father had made the final disposition of his property. He was leaving the farm to Frank, he made provision for his widow and he had $1.000.00 for Dan to help him pay for his farm and he was also the bearer of $1,000.00 to his beloved son James in the Dairy business, Buffalo. Jennie died March 21, 1932. James died Aug 3, 1947. R.I.P.

4. Ellen Murphy

She was born Jan 4th 1871. When she was 29 years old she got married to Wm. Sheeron. They had one child Mary, born in 1902. Ellen died suddenly from a heart seizure in 1903. As far as I could tell Ellen was a good living, conscientious, God fearing practical Catholic. R.I.P. (Wm. Sheeron died May 11, 1925.)

5. Daniel Joseph Murphy

Dan was the fifth child of the Family. When Stephen and I left home for college (Sept 1895) he was the oldest son on the farm. He was capable, a good worker, and dependable. He and his father got along well together. When finally he was about to get married and wanted a place of his own, his father gave him $1,000.00 as a start. Dan bought the Scanlon farm on the second Concession not far from the Marysville side road. He married a girl of the parish Mary Murphy daughter of "Big" Tim Murphy. They had three children, Thomas Patrick who became a Redemptorist Priest, Anna, who became a Notre Dame nun and Joseph who died while a student at Ottawa University. The boy (I 8) had a small scratch on the face which became affected (blood poison) and could not be checked. Dan had to retire from his farm which he loved so much on account of heart ailment and moved to Napanee. He proved to be a good father, a good husband, a good citizen and a good practical Catholic. He died Jan 4th 1930 and Mrs. D.J. Murphy died Nov 10, 1947.

6. Margaret Ann Murphy

Margaret was the sixth child and the third girl. She was a great home girl industrious, obedient and a pleasant disposition. She was born Dec. 20, 1873. She was married to Stephen Eugene Coffey in 1899. The couple had three children Adelaide Mary, Rita and Stephen who became a Peterborough diocesan priest. It was soon after Stephen's birth, Mar II, 191 1, that his mother died from a hemorrhage. The widowed grandmother and Mary took charge for a year of the young children in their father's home.

7. Catherine Murphy b. June 15, 1875

She was the first girl of the Murphy family to leave home to earn her own living independent of her parents. At the age of 19 years (I 894) she went over to Rochester, N.Y. and remained there for many years. Every once in a dog's age, especially during her first years in Rochester, she would spend a short summer holiday in good old Tyendenaga. In 1912 (Nov 4th) she got married to Joseph Phillips, who originally was also from Tyendenaga. There were three children - Michael, Marie and Joseph. Catherine was 37 when she married. About 25 years ago, the family with the exception of Joseph Jr. moved to N.Y. City. Michael married in New York City and has now (1957) four lovely children, three boys and a girl. Marie is quite an attractive "red-head" now in the 30ies and not yet married. The father Joseph died in 1947, but he was not too good a provider, so now his family have to paddle their own canoe. Kate as we used to call her, seems hale and hearty in her 82 (1957) year. She has not lost the faith. Her parish church is only half a block away and weather permitting she is every day at the 9 O'clock week-day mass. She rooms at 35 W 71st St. N.Y. City, 23, N.Y.

8. Michael Murphy

He was born Feb 24, 1877. He was 10 years younger than Fr. T.P. and so when

Tommy started College at St. Michael's in 1880, at the age of 13, Michael at 3 did not remember much about it. Michael made his primary studies at Public School Section #10, the School Section to which the Murphy Family were assessed to pay taxes. At one time there were five of the Murphy's at this school, at the same time - Katie, Michael, Stephen, Frank and Eddie. We sometimes had Protestant Teachers and sometimes Catholic. I remember we had once a Protestant minister's son as our teacher. I can recall two Catholic teachers Miss Jennie Ryan and afterward Miss Mary Ann Currie. When we had non-Catholic teachers, we were well advised not to stand up for the morning prayer and to make ourselves scarce when it came to Bible History after 4 o'clock. Those two Catholic teachers both lived to a good ripe old age but both are dead now and gone with that School When God Himself doth rule. I passed my entrance in 1891, and as far as schooling was concerned for 4 years rusted and rusted and rusted. I worked around the farm like the proverbial ant. My father put in three under drain of varied lengths and depths - a drain in each of the three most northern fields, one each year for 3 running years. The drain in the field east of the house was the longest. It must have been a quarter of a mile long. It was intended to tap springs and mud holes in the upper part of the field. The stone fill-in must be below the reach of the plow. The digging of the ditches, in those far off days, must be by man-power with a shovel as his tool. In places if the ditch happened to run through a knoll, it might be 12 feet deep. But the digging of the ditch was only a part of the work. No agricultural tile was used, all stone filling. In the bottom of the ditch , the stones must be so arranged by hand so as to have a clear way, down the center for running water. Then to a depth of a couple of feet there were large round-head stone (if possible) placed or thrown into the ditch. If there was a heavy run away of water in the ditch, it could trickle down around the stones. Over the large stone there would be added a couple of feet of small stone to obstruct soil settlements. The top covering of the fill in would be a thick mat of juniper boughs and finally the necessary covering of earth. This was just one of the ways of furnishing the extra labor supply with employment. A ten acre field of fodder corn, needed time and patience to husk it all. We blasted a couple of big ugly stones down below plough level in the east side-hill field. I remember holding a drill for hours and turning it at each thump of the sledge to make a hole twelve inches deep for the blasting powder.

Now how was it, that after four years on the farm apparently perfectly contented, Stephen and 1, all of a sudden, took off for college life. Well this is what happened. A young, newly ordained zealous priest, Michael Francis Fallon, O.M.I. came to Marysville and preached. He had a message for those who would like to be priests but did not have the means for their college education. The Sacred Heart Juniorate of Ottawa was opening its doors, free of charge, to those who wished to study to be priests in the oblate order. Stephen and I accepted the generous offer and in September 1895 found us ourselves at the Juniorate, following the First Form of U. of 0. We spent five years there studying hard, and after we won our intermediate Certificate we reported to the Oblate novitiate in Lachine, Que. in September 1900. After our years' novitiate we were sent to Ottawa College, to go on for our B.A. and at the same time to help in teach - and discipline. In 1902 we both made our final vows and in 1903, both graduated with B.A.s.

After having obtained our B.A. diplomas we were both new to St. Joseph's Scholasticate to study theology and the other subjects of the course. We were up for ordination to the priesthood on June 9th, 1906 in Holy Family Church, Ottawa East. The most Rev Albert Pascal O.M.I., Bishop of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, officiated. The relatives of the Murphy brothers present were their father and mother, their brother, Father T.P., their Aunt Sister M. Julia and Miss Margaret Meagher and Tom Murphy, first cousin, Lonsdale. But the two newly ordained had still one more year of studies to make, and their superiors decided that their studies would be completed at the Ottawa Seminary of Ottawa University while at the same time, helping on the Staff of the University. Father Stephen and Father Michael taught at the U. of 0. from 1906 to 1915. Father Stephen taught Latin, Greek and History and Father Michael, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Botany.

Father Thomas Patrick Murphy came back to Ottawa from the States in 1900, was curate at St. Joseph's, and editor of the Ottawa U. Review for two terms. He was sent to Edmonton, Alta. in St. John's Juniorate in 1910. So the Murphy brothers were together in Ottawa College for 4 years.

In 1915 Father Michael was attached to the Alberta, Saskatchewan province of and reported to Edmonton for duty. In 1915 two parishes, English and French were making use for their Sunday services of the same Church. Father Alphonse Lemerchand was the Parish Priest of both parishes. I became his assistant especially for the English speaking. This condition of affairs lasted for four years. Then when Fr. Lemerchand died and Father Tavernier took his place, the two parishes had separate P.P.s. Fr. Tavernier for the French speaking and Fr. Michael for the English-speaking. Father Murphy had his own rectory and his own housekeeper. Father Michael was seven years, in all in Edmonton. He was not P.P. of St. Joseph's Parish (English speaking) all the remaining three years, Fr. Reynolds O.M.I. came all and Fr. Grandin the Provincial asked me to let him, Fr. Reynolds (a much older priest, be the pastor. I did, but he remained only one year. Then I became P.P. again - next Fr. Patton my one time teacher at U. of 0. appeared on the scene. Again I was asked to step down, which I did. While Fr. Patton was still at Edmonton I was appointed P.P. of Lethbridge and Fr. McCaffrey became curate to Fr. Patton. Fr. Patton went to Eucharistic Congress in Chicago in 1926. On his way back to Alberta, he dropped in at the Mayo Brothers' for a check up. He was pronounced A.1. physically fit. On his way out of the hospital, he was struck by a truck and killed. During the 10 years Father Michael spent at Lethbridge, most of the years were depression years. Financing was particularly difficult. The separate school could not meet their expenses while keeping their mill rate the same as the Public Schools.

Bishop McNutly did not want the Mill Rate of the separate schools any higher than the public schools. The parish had to make up the deficit, which was about $4,000.00 a year. A Bazaar was organized every fall, that helped to boost the earnings of the parish to meet. the expenses of the school and parish and pay off something on the still existing debt. There was only a basement church, but there was no consideration, no thought given to completion of the building during the world war and the work depression. A very important and a far reaching establishment in Lethbridge was that of a Catholic hospital - St. Michael's General Hospital built in 1931-32. It had a very difficult road to hoe financially in the beginning but now it is sitting pretty on a new high site, surrounded by the city on every side. A new wing has been added (Children's Ward) and a new building-chapel and dormitories for the Sisters and for the nurses (and for the nurses students). There were 3 P.P. following me - Fr. Madden, Fr. Griffin & Fr. Malloy. Fr. Griffin started a building fund and Fr. Malloy used all the money in the fund and then some in completing the church on the original foundation but on modified plans. It is now a magnificent building dedicated to the service of God. (1952)

In 1932, Father Michael got orders from Father Grant the Provincial to report to Holy Rosary Scholasticate as Superior and as Master of Novices. He took office Feb. 27, 1932. He held this important position until Aug. 15, 1935. Then after 17 years in parish work and three years as Superior of the Scholasticate and Novice Master, the Rev Provincial, Father Joseph Scannell, sent me out West again, this time to B.C. as principal of the Kootenay Indian School of Branbrook and after three years, to 150 Mile House, B.C. as principal of the Cariboo Indian Residential School. Then in 1942, out of the blue sky, I got orders to return East as superior of Oblate Residence of Waupoos Island with Fr Beck and two Brothers Sampson & Small as community. Fr Beck died Dec 2nd, 1942. I spent two winters on the Island (1942-1943) & (1943-1944). In the fall of 1944, it was decided to withdraw the Oblates from Waupoos, and to hire lay-people. As I was not feeling well, Fr. Jordan (Superior of the Scholasticate), advised me to consult a doctor, which I did. I needed a colostomy. I spent 32 days in the hospital - 6 days preparing for the operation. Dr. Valin was my surgeon but he did not charge me anything. An itemized account of the charges were as follows:

32 days @ 2.50 80.00

Laboratory 16.00

Operating table 22.00

Transfusion 31.00

Urology 5.00

Medicine 3.85

Dressings 25.10

------

Total for Hosp. 182.95

Extra Spinal and Intra Venous

Anesthetic-$25.00

After this operation I convalesced for the whole year 1945 at the Scholasticate. In the spring of 1946 a new property was purchased at Arnprior for a new Novitiate and Father Kingsley who was the then Master of Novices asked me if I would go with him to Arnprior as a member of the Novitiate Community. Without hesitancy, I said "yes" and here I have been every since (1957) - over 11 years.

9. When Father Stephen went west 1915, he did not stop until he reached the Pacific

Coast - New Westminster. He is actually finishing off his 42nd year in B.C.. After he had spent two years teaching in St. Louis College, N.W. he was sent to Cranbrook, a struggling little parish in the Crows Nest. Pastor during the World War I and the depression years that followed. There were back taxes on the Churches and Rectory (in those days the B.C. government taxed the Catholic Parishes, buildings, schools & all). Financially Cranbrook Parish was in desperate straights. But Fr. Stephen went to work with a will to scrape and save. He was nine years P.P. and Oblate Superior of the district. At the end of nine years, he had built a new rectory and had collected $30,000.00 for the building of a New Church. In 1926 he was sent to New Westminster to be superior of the Oblate Community and to be parish Priest of St. Peter's Parish. During his term of office (6 years) he had the heating system of the Rectory overhauled and many other repairs looked after. He was sent back to Cranbrook in 1932 and in the meantime a new church had been built on immense debt, still remained to be paid off. In trying to do this he undermined his health seriously. He had heart condition. His doctor claimed that his only hope for normalcy in health was to live at the sea level. So in 1935, he went back to New Westminster and has remained there ever since. He is far from being retired. He instructs converts, he has a confessional in the church and has his hours on all days that confessions are being heard. On Saturday P.M., he is in his box from 2 o'clock to five for the convenience of all comers, whether from the city or from rural parts. There was a Catholic hospital and a civic one. There were government institutions - a jail and a home for the Week minded. There were small parishes just outside the limits of Vancouver and New Westminster without resident priests, but must have mass on Sundays. Besides the Catholic Hospital there were, for years, two other different religious houses of nuns within the limits of St. Peter's parish. So in St. Peter's there was much and varied ministry for any willing priest and Father Stephen was one. God bless him on the 51st anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood and during 79 year of his age.

10. John Francis Murphy

He was born, Oct. 24, 1880. He was 3 years old, the year The Murphy Family moved

into their present house-hold. Edward the eleventh child was a baby when the switch over was made. Timothy the twelfth member of The Family was born July 23, 1884 and was the only one born in the new home, but he lived only three months - died Nov 23, 1884. Edward lived to be only eleven years old. He had a severe attack of Rheumatic Fever and died Sept. 9, 1894. Frank was then the youngest boy at home. Stephen and I left for College in Sept. 1895. Dan bought a farm of his own and got married about 1905, so that all that was left at the old homestead after 1905, was Father, Mother, Mary, Frank and Mary Sheeran. Frank and the father got along well together. Father settled up his business before he died - the place was to go to Frank and James - Dan - Mother and Mary got each cash allowances. Frank was to keep his father as long as the latter lived. Father contracted some kind of throat trouble, starting about 1908: It was the senile debility of the vocal chords. He could not talk at all, at the last. This debility had been coming on for a couple of years. I remember that one time I visited home (1908), on the way out to the station, he mentioned to me how his throat was bothering him. When he became speechless, he used a pencil and pads to let others know his wishes and needs. Frank was very considerate and filial towards him in his affliction and on a stray pad, I found scribbled by the patient, "Frank you are the best man in the world to look after the sick". Timothy Murphy died Jan 9th 1911. Father Stephen and I were both at Ottawa University and were both at home for the wake and the funeral (75). Hardly two months later, Mrs. Stephen E Coffey (Margaret Ann Murphy) died unexpectedly March 10, 1911 (37). Frank Murphy (John Frances) had been engaged to be married to Mary Mc Guinness of the front road, on September 4th, 1911.

Under the sad circumstances should he go ahead with the arrangements or postpone them for a year. Frank's mother was going to keep house for Stephen Coffey with his three young motherless children, as he (Frank) would be left without a housekeeper. The only thing to do was to get married at the time already planned - the accustomed mourning practice to the contrary, not withstanding. Father Stephen Murphy was the officiating clergyman at the Murphy-McGuinness nuptials (Sept 4, 191 1). Eight children were the result of this Christian marriage in order of age: Flora, Isidore, Agatha, Bernard, Kathleen, Harold, Margaret and Teresa. Frank was a hard worker all his life. He hurt his right leg at the knee or just above the knee, and it troubled him all his life. It turned into Tuberculosis of the bone. He was only 54 when he died and had been married only 23 years. He departed this life, Nov 1st, 1934. Father Michael was with him at the last. His death came during the three years period that he (F.M.) was in the East as Superior of Holy Rosary Scholasticate and Novice-Master (1932-1935). Frank left the managing of his property to his wife, Mary, as long as she lived and then Bernard became the owner but all the children must have an education at the expense of the estate. Why was the place not left to Isidore the oldest boy? It was because when his father drew up the will he fully expected that Isidore would go on for the priesthood and would not need a farm. As the family was quite young at the time of their father's death, Mrs. Murphy's brother, Bernard McGuinness came and lived with his sister for a couple of years and helped her, while her sons were yet very young, the oldest, Isidore being 18 years.

To Mrs. Murphy must go the credit of being a wonderful mother. On her shoulders fell the mantle of responsibility for the proper upbringing of a young family of eight, that she and he husband, had jointly managed to do, up to his demise - now she had to do it alone. She survived her husband for only 6 years. When she too was prematurely called to her regard, she left behind her a family of 8, perfectly able to look after themselves, intimately attached to each other, loving their home and were all very practical Catholics. They all had a chance for a good education and what a treasure a good education is! It is an inheritance beyond reckoning.

Miscellaneous: Flora played an important and heroic part in the material and spiritual welfare of the "Frank Murphy Family". She taught school for years and no doubt turned over her entire salary to her father or her mother, to help to clothe and feed her younger brothers and sisters as they were not able to earn for themselves. She became a second mother to her little sister Teresa, who was only 9 years old when she lost her mother. Flora never published on

the house-tops all she did for her own and for others, but it must have been much. The records of it all is kept in heaven.

Isidore the oldest boy, after his father's death played a most unselfish part. He took on the job of farmer in chief, a consolation to his widowed mother and an example to all the other members of the family. He was reliability and dependability personified. When his mother died and the will was read he showed no ill-will because he was not the one who got the place, but went forth into the world to earn his own living. I used to admire him when he was working in Kingston and often came home on a week-end, to see him take off his good clothes, and put on his farmer work tods and hie it to the barn to help with the chores.

Bernard and Harold deserve a word of praise for the welcome they always extended to all and any member of the family who re-visited the Old Home. Teresa should have a warm spot in her heart for her brother, Bernard as his home was hers, up to the day when she was able to sign her own teacher's cheque.

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A thing that I admired the Frank Murphy Family for and I was proud of them for it, was the way they looked after their dear old Aunt Mary, when she had no near relatives around her and when a visit out from the humdrum of the Old People's Home, at Christmas and Easter meant so much to her. She appreciated the warmth of the welcome and the genuineness of the hospitality and always took advantage of the outing.

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Then Sister St. Mary William after her father died and she had no family relatives on her mother's side to visit her, "the Murphys" supplied the deficiency.

Mrs. Timothy Murphy's mother Grandma Meagher 1810-1880

(Aunt) Margaret Meagher 1847-1917

William Sheeran 1860-1925

Father Michael Mackey 1813-1897

Parish Priests of Marysville

Michael Mackey (1893)

John S. Quinn (1893-1899)

Dean O'Connor (1899-1907)

Michael Meagher (1907-1921)

Chas. F. O'Gorman (1921-1948)

I.F. Donohue (1948-1960)

G. O'Hearn (1960

Aunt Mary was left, by her father, some money ($4,000.00 has been mentioned) and

she invested it in those unreliable Municipal Bonds. Some time before her death, Isidore, who was keeping her bonds in trust, put them up for sale and they realized 28cts on the dollar$402.22. Then she had $58.00 in her bank account. When she died she had enough money in trust, to pay all her funeral expenses and to pay for a tombstone. Isidore rendered great service to Aunt Mary, by taking charge in trust of her finances. The sale of the bonds and the time of the sale was a great move and facilitated greatly the settling of her funeral expenses at once.

When Aunt Mary was in Buffalo, she took out the Insurance policy for future funeral expenses. When she came back to Canada, she let the premiums lapse. But according to law there was something coming to her in return for the premium paid in. (The return $26.00.) Whoever had the receipt for funeral expenses could claim this residue of Mary Murphy's estate. Isidore qualified. Isidore had his Aunt Mary made a perpetual deceased-member of the Association of Mary Immaculate ($10.00) and the rest of the money went to meeting unpaid grocery bills and a few other expenses.

Mrs. Timothy Murphy was left money by her husband. I never knew how much. I heard Fr. O'Gorman once mention that she donated $600.00 towards the building fund of the new Marysville church. I fear she did not have the money to pay her way at the House of Providence, Kingston, during her last years there. I thought that a sister of House of Providence was once hinting, that there were bills not paid there.

Finis