Grand Island Daily Independent Monday 10 July 1933

Death of Mrs. Eliza Murphy Early Sunday

Funeral rites To Be Held at St. Stephen's Church Tuesday Morning

Pioneer of the West

Had Been in failing Health for Past Year and More Seriously Ill Since Early March - Came to Nebraska in 1868 and G. I. in 1876

Mrs. Eliza A. Murphy, who came west by wagon as a girl of twelve years in 1859, died about nine o'clock Sunday morning, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. G. Ryan, where she had resided for some years. Mrs. Murphy was 86 years of age and had been in failing health for the past year, the illness immediately causing her death having been of four months' duration. she had been bedfast only several days.

Eliza Althea Humphrey was born Mr. 27, 1848, at Buffalo, N. Y., where she spent her early girlhood and took up her education in the elementary schools. when twelve years of age, her parents decided to go west and as the eldest of a family of ten children, the responsibility of driving one of the wagon teams ell to her lot. Her enthusiasm over this experience over this experience well typified the spirit of the pioneer, with which she was imbued throughout her lifetime. In 1860, they arrived at Maquoketa, Iowa, where she completed her education and engaged in the teaching profession, before her marriage, on Oct. 10, 1868, to Michael Murphy.

Shortly after their marriage, they decided to continue westward and located on a homestead in Dixon county, Nebraska. They came to Grand Island in 1876, this city, with the exception of a comparatively brief residence in Omaha, since having been her home. Mr. Murphy for many years conducted a photographic studio in this city and also served the government and its citizens as postmaster.

Witnessed Growth of West

Unusually alert until her death, Mrs. Murphy always enjoyed the association of her friends, always maintaining an interest in their affairs, as well as in current events of every nature. the deceased was one of the early members of St. Stephen's Episcopal church, of this city and took an ever active part in its affairs and those of its auxiliary organizations.

Favored with a knowledge of the growth of the west from personal experiences and observations, Mrs. Murphy was most interesting in her accounts touching upon the development of Nebraska. Her stories of the early life of Grand Island and this community generally also were highly entertaining.

Surviving, besides her daughter, Mrs. Ryan, are a son, Earl Murphy, residing at Alhambra, Cal.; two brothers, A. L. Humphrey, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and William Humphrey, of Quincy, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. H. H. Baum, at Morris, Ill., also a granddaughter, Mrs. J. C. Benton, and a great granddaughter, Jane Evelyn Benton, of New York. Mrs. Benton and her daughter are guests of the former's mother, at the Ryan home. Her husband preceded her in death in 1917.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning, at St. Stephen's Episcopal church with Bishop Beecher, of Hastings, assisted by Rev. James Valliant officiating. burial will be in the Grand Island cemetery.

Friends desiring to view the body may do so at the Ryan residence.