The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-28
TOWN OF MURPHY
is NOW NO MORE
Discontnuance of Postofflc-
Marks Last Chapter in His
tory of Rosebud Village.
a TURBULENT EXISTENCE
During Its Short Life the Town, First
Known as Eden and Later as Muir
ply, Was Beset With Many
Difficulties.
a TURBULENT EXISTENCE

Bonesteel, S. d., Sept 24.-The town
of Murphy, which at one time prom
ised TO become one of the most thriv-
ing towns in the ceded portion of the
Rosebud Indian reservation. Is no
more. The last chapter in the history
of the town was written a few days
ago, when the postoftice was discon-
tinued and the postoffice supplies and
fixtures were shipped to Washington.
The town has had quite history.
When first established it was known
as Eden, being named after the depot
agent at Fairfax. 1t was q government
townsite, and on August s, 1904, was
thrown open for townsite settlement.
The townsite comprised 240 acres of fine
farming land, but it was poorly situ-
ated for a townsite.
The law provides that when land Is
set aside as townsite those who To-
cate upon it must make improvements
TO certain amount on the tract. For
some reason the townsiters failed to
comply with this provision of the law.
On April 90, 1905, settler named John
Biehn, desiring to secure the tract for
homestead purposes, squatted on l60
acres of the 240 acres embraced in the
townsite. He then presented petition
to the United States land office for the
district asking that the tract claimed
by him be thrown open to homestead
entry. The petition was strictly ac-
cording to the law covering such cases
and bore the signatures of Biehn and
twelve other residents of that locality.
On July is the land officers issued an
order declaring the 100 acres subject
to homestead entry, and Biehn pre-
sented his entry. This was accepted
by the land officers and placed on rec
ord. The remaining eighty acres was
retained as n tOWnSite.
About the time Biehn was taking
steps to secure the homestead, the set
tiers in that vicinity, desiring to Sc
cure a postofice, and not having a.
friendly feeling toward the man after
whom the town was named, prevailed
upon John p. Murphy, who lived one
mile south of Eden, to make application
to have a postofflce established at his
place and to start another town as a
rival to Eden.
The postoflice was established on
Murphy's farm and a building was
erected to accommodate it. This, it
was believed would prove a death blow
TO Eden. But such did not prove to be
the case. After Biehn had been permit
ted to make entry of 100 acres of the
tract originally embraced in the town.
Site the settlers in the vicinity rallied
to his support by petitioning the post
office department to have the postoft1ce
REMOVED from Ile luIlll Oi murphy "
Eden, but that Murphy be retained as
the name of the postoffice. The petit
tion was granted and the postoftice was
moved to the old townsite.
Following this the town of Murphy
enjoyed a season of some prosperity
and seemed in a fair way to become u
place of some Importance. But finally
Mr. Murphy, who is chief register of
titles in Cook county. ILL.,, finding that
his duties in Cook county would pre-
vent him retaining his residence upon
his homestead, relinquished the home
stead and an acquaintance named W.
j. Bonekemper made entry upon the
land. Murphy also resigned the posi-
ton of postmaster, and Solomon Baron
was appointed as his successor. But
for some reason the town began to go
backward. Soon residents of other
towns commenced to purchase the
buildings, some of which We're moved to
Dixon, a rival town some miles away.
Olhers We're moved elsewhere to farms
In the vicinity and to other towns.
During the past few months there
was only one building in the town and
that was occupied by the postoflice.
Now that the postoflice has been dis
continued that. too. will disappear and
nothing will remain to mark the spot
where a town once stood except the
modest dwelling of a homesteader.
Steps already are under headway to
have the eighty acres included in the
townsite opened to homestead entry.