The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-16
JOHN ". MURPHY DEAD
HE WAS ONE OF THE CITY'S WELL
KNOWN BUSINESS MEN.
His Long Career in the Wholesale
Trade of IndianapOlis-Brief
Sketch of His Life.

John w. Murphy, one of the Oldest and
best known business men of indianapolis,
is dead at his home, No. 439 North Penn
sylvania street. He passed away at 1:SO
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, having been
at the point of death for several days.
His wife and children and the family
physician were at his bedside when he
died. Mr.. Murphy was about seventy-two
years of age. He was best known as a
member Of the firm of Murphy, Hioben 81
Co., wholesale dry goods merchants. While
he had been in delicate health for i've
years he did not take to his bed until
about five weeks ago. He retired from
the firm of Murphy, Hibben & Co. a few
months ago on account of i'll health. The
funeral will be held at the residence on
North Pennsylvania street tomorrow
afternoon.
John Walls Murphy was the son of Will
liam Braden Murphy and Rebecca Stone.
On his fathers side he came of Irish stock
and his mothers people were a prominent
Maryland family. He was born in Cincin-
natl on Aug. 16, 1928. His early education
| vas obtained in a log schoolhouse near
Walton, Ky, and he was graduated when
he was fifteen years of age from the Nor
| gan Academy in Boone county, Kentucky.
| After leaving school he worked in his
fathers tobacco factory, finally becoming
foreman.
At the close of the Mexican war, in 1S4S,
Mr.. Murphy was given a clerkship with
| Mai. A. w. Gaines. of Kentucky. a pay
master in the regular United States army.
While serving with Major Gaines young
Murphy spent considerable time in Wash
ington. After returning to Kentucky he
secured a clerkship in Cincinnati in the
wholesale and retail iron business. He was
| afterward a bookkeeper at Madison. Ind.
hut resigned his position there in 1853 and
returned to Covington. At twenty-five years
of age he entered the employ of the Ken
lucky Trust Comany Bank of Covington,
which had recently failed. He was given the
commercial paper of a large wholesale dry
goods concern, which had also failed, be-
ing indebted TO the bank to the amount of
about $4,000. Mr.. Murphy's duties in this
| position were very responsible and arduous,
requiring him to travel through the States
OF Ohio. Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois and
make the best possible settlements with
the local merchants, who were the makers
OF these notes. The experience gained by
Mr.. Murphy while engaged in this work
was of great value to him all through his
subsequent career.
AT the end of a year, having completed
his task. he took a clerkship in the COM
mission house of Samuel NJ. Haughton, of
Cincinnati. Mr.. Murphy once said of him.
He was the only Irish Quaker 1 ever
knew and one OF the finest men / ever met
in my life Mr.. Murphy remained in this
position until 1856. when he came TO In
d~ianapolis and with w. j. Holiday or
ganized the firm of Murphy & Holiday
to engage in the retail iron business. They
had become acquainted in 1850 at Coving-
ton. This was the first house In ~Indianap-
oils TO handle iron exclusively. In 1862 the
firm name was changed TO w. ]. Holiday
& Co. Mr.. Holiday remained in charge
of the iron business and MIR. Murphy be-
came the representative of W. J. Holiday
& Co. in the wholesale dry goods house
of Murphy, Kennedy & Co. The firm was
composed OF the following partners: John
w. Murphy, William j. Holiday, Robert
r. Kennedy and William W. Johnston.
When Mr.. Kennedy retired several years
after the organization OF the firm 1t be-
came Murphy. Johnston & Co. In 1850 Muir
| ply & Holiday sold their interest to w. w.
Johnston and =. P. Erwin Four months
afterwsrd Murphy & Holiday bought the
interest OF Mr.. Pattison in the wholesale
dry goods house OF Hibben. Psttison & Co.
The firm name was then changed 10 Muir
| ply. Hibben & co. and continued for many
years. In 1888 Mr.. Murphy and Mr.. Holli-
day discontinued their copartnership In the
iron business and divided their interests,
Mr.. Holiday continuing in the iron bust
ness and Mr.. Murphy with the dry goods
firm. He remained in this business until
a few months ago.
Mr.. Murphy's early political affiliations
were with the Wings. but he afterward be-
came a Democrat. However. he could not
conscientiously support the Chicago plat
form OF 1856, and took issue with the party
| leaders on account of their radical views