Mary Jane Watson was born in Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Michigan on 8-25-57 according to an affidavit given by her mother in 1867. According to information provided by her daughter for her death certificate in 1952, Mary Jane was born 8-23-57 in Joliet IL.
At age 2, Mary Jane's family moved to Illinois. In 1864, at age 7, her father died while in battle during the Civil War. At age 14, her family moved to Minooka, Grundy Co., Illinois, where Mary Jane met her future husband Barney Murphy. On November 21, 1878, Mary Jane and Barney were married by Rev. N.A. Axtall in Joliet Illinois where they initially made their home.
Over the next several years, the Murphy family lived in Beadle Co., SD and Woodbury Co., IA. In September 1897, Mary Jane's husband and mother died. Shortly thereafter and with children in tow, she moved to Woodward Oklahoma presumably to be closer to her brother Thomas and sister Anna who lived in Kansas. By 1910, Mary Jane and her two youngest sons moved back to Iowa where her brother John and his family lived. By 1920 Mary Jane lived in Ford Kansas where her sons lived by then and where her daughter Anna, my grandmother, arrived by 1925. By the late 1930's or early 1940, Mary Jane moved to Garden City, Kansas, where she resided until her death in 1952.
My mother and Mary Jane's granddaughter often expressed the love and admiration she had for her "Grandma Murphy" who seemed to always have one or two grandchildren living with her. Yet, when asked by an agent from the Department of Veteran Affairs whether her grandchildren made her nervous, she replied, "No, I choose to enjoy them rather than let them make me nervous."
At age 2, Mary Jane's family moved to Illinois. In 1864, at age 7, her father died while in battle during the Civil War. At age 14, her family moved to Minooka, Grundy Co., Illinois, where Mary Jane met her future husband Barney Murphy. On November 21, 1878, Mary Jane and Barney were married by Rev. N.A. Axtall in Joliet Illinois where they initially made their home.
Over the next several years, the Murphy family lived in Beadle Co., SD and Woodbury Co., IA. In September 1897, Mary Jane's husband and mother died. Shortly thereafter and with children in tow, she moved to Woodward Oklahoma presumably to be closer to her brother Thomas and sister Anna who lived in Kansas. By 1910, Mary Jane and her two youngest sons moved back to Iowa where her brother John and his family lived. By 1920 Mary Jane lived in Ford Kansas where her sons lived by then and where her daughter Anna, my grandmother, arrived by 1925. By the late 1930's or early 1940, Mary Jane moved to Garden City, Kansas, where she resided until her death in 1952.
My mother and Mary Jane's granddaughter often expressed the love and admiration she had for her "Grandma Murphy" who seemed to always have one or two grandchildren living with her. Yet, when asked by an agent from the Department of Veteran Affairs whether her grandchildren made her nervous, she replied, "No, I choose to enjoy them rather than let them make me nervous."
Mary Jane Watson was born in Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Michigan on 8-25-57 according to an affidavit given by her mother in 1867. According to information provided by her daughter for her death certificate in 1952, Mary Jane was born 8-23-57 in Joliet IL.
At age 2, Mary Jane's family moved to Illinois. In 1864, at age 7, her father died while in battle during the Civil War. At age 14, her family moved to Minooka, Grundy Co., Illinois, where Mary Jane met her future husband Barney Murphy. On November 21, 1878, Mary Jane and Barney were married by Rev. N.A. Axtall in Joliet Illinois where they initially made their home.
Over the next several years, the Murphy family lived in Beadle Co., SD and Woodbury Co., IA. In September 1897, Mary Jane's husband and mother died. Shortly thereafter and with children in tow, she moved to Woodward Oklahoma presumably to be closer to her brother Thomas and sister Anna who lived in Kansas. By 1910, Mary Jane and her two youngest sons moved back to Iowa where her brother John and his family lived. By 1920 Mary Jane lived in Ford Kansas where her sons lived by then and where her daughter Anna, my grandmother, arrived by 1925. By the late 1930's or early 1940, Mary Jane moved to Garden City, Kansas, where she resided until her death in 1952.
My mother and Mary Jane's granddaughter often expressed the love and admiration she had for her "Grandma Murphy" who seemed to always have one or two grandchildren living with her. Yet, when asked by an agent from the Department of Veteran Affairs whether her grandchildren made her nervous, she replied, "No, I choose to enjoy them rather than let them make me nervous."
At age 2, Mary Jane's family moved to Illinois. In 1864, at age 7, her father died while in battle during the Civil War. At age 14, her family moved to Minooka, Grundy Co., Illinois, where Mary Jane met her future husband Barney Murphy. On November 21, 1878, Mary Jane and Barney were married by Rev. N.A. Axtall in Joliet Illinois where they initially made their home.
Over the next several years, the Murphy family lived in Beadle Co., SD and Woodbury Co., IA. In September 1897, Mary Jane's husband and mother died. Shortly thereafter and with children in tow, she moved to Woodward Oklahoma presumably to be closer to her brother Thomas and sister Anna who lived in Kansas. By 1910, Mary Jane and her two youngest sons moved back to Iowa where her brother John and his family lived. By 1920 Mary Jane lived in Ford Kansas where her sons lived by then and where her daughter Anna, my grandmother, arrived by 1925. By the late 1930's or early 1940, Mary Jane moved to Garden City, Kansas, where she resided until her death in 1952.
My mother and Mary Jane's granddaughter often expressed the love and admiration she had for her "Grandma Murphy" who seemed to always have one or two grandchildren living with her. Yet, when asked by an agent from the Department of Veteran Affairs whether her grandchildren made her nervous, she replied, "No, I choose to enjoy them rather than let them make me nervous."
Family Members
Siblings
