Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

K Moore Walsh (US Emigrants)

“Finding Glenmore Needles in US Haystacks: Ten Helpful Hints & Examples from the Emigration of Nicholas Murphy (1836-1917)“

Emigration was a common feature for Glenmore families. Until the advent of on-line genealogy and family research it was nearly impossible to find an emigrant unless there was some idea where the emigrant put down new roots in the US.  Today, with the availability of on-line genealogy and family sites and records, it is still often difficult to locate the emigrant particularly if the emigrant was a woman or had a very common name like John Murphy. During the summer of 2017, Danny Dowling asked me if I could discover what happened to his mother’s great-aunts and uncles who all emigrated to the US. Danny’s great-grandfather Martin Murphy, of Ballinlammy, Glenmore was married twice. By his first wife, Mary Kennedy, of Rathinure, Glenmore, Martin Murphy had at least 5 children and they all appeared to have emigrated about the time he married his second wife Margaret or Peggy Duggan in July 1852.

Danny was as interested in how the on-line research was conducted as he was in the information discovered. Thus, when I wrote up a report for Danny, I left in the steps undertaken and this research has become the basis of what is hoped to be 10 helpful tips with examples. In conducting the Murphy research, I primarily used ancestry.com which allows some free public access, but not all records are available without a subscription. I also used the free US Genweb, Find-a-Grave and Cyndi’s List to find various local genealogy websites and groups.

Tip 1: Gather all the information you can about the emigrant before the person left Ireland. Glenmore records are a good place to start. Glenmore marriage and baptismal records are available on-line and the more vital information you can obtain your chance of success increases. What was the person’s date of birth, parents and names and birthdates of siblings. See the Links page on this website for on-line Glenmore records.

Murphy is the fourth most common name in the US. Therefore, without the dates of birth or baptism unless the emigrant had an unusual name a genealogy search will reveal far too many possibilities. From the Glenmore Parish records Danny provided the names of the Murphy family members who were thought to have emigrated and the dates of their baptisms.

  • 1. Nicholas Murphy, baptized 25 December 1836.
  • 2. John Murphy, baptized 30 August 1839.
  • 3. Catherine Murphy, baptized 10 September 1841.
  • 4. Margaret Murphy, baptized 13 July 1834.
  • 5. Peter Murphy, baptized 9 January 1843.

Tip 2: If there are any older family members or neighbours ask what they heard or know about the emigrant. Where did he or she go? What profession did they have? When did they leave? Did they go out to someone or travel with another person? Most people went to a relative who was already established in the US. Sometimes an emigrant might go to an area where other Glenmore people had settled. While some went to large US cities, a number of Glenmore parish emigrants went to smaller cities such as Peoria, Illinois or rural, farming areas. Don’t be discouraged or be surprised if you can’t find records in the place people thought the emigrant went. After arriving in the US emigrants tended to move around as opportunities such as jobs or land became available to them.

Danny located an interview he took of his mother, Hannah Murphy Dowling, where she stated that her aunts and uncles “went out to Kansas City” about the time that their father married Peggy Duggan, his second wife. She also stated that the family eventually lost contact because there was a fear that some of the emigrants might return and claim the farm in Ballinlammy. Check family headstones and the local newspapers here. Sometimes a reference or obituary can be located on a headstone or obit published here that tells you where the emigrant lived and died in the US.

Tip 3: If you are researching more than one person start with the person with the unusual name or occupation.

Of the list of the Murphy siblings that emigrated Nicholas is the least common first name in the US. There are two Kansas Cities in the US. One is in the State of Kansas and the other is in the State of Missouri. I began searching in Kansas and found only 1 Nicholas Murphy in the 1880 Census. (Do not be discouraged if you were not aware that there are two Kansas Cities; President Trump did not realize earlier this year that there are two.) There are no duplicate states, and if all you know is a city or town name it may be best to perform state searches. Often people will remember a major city such as St. Louis, in Missouri, and not realize the emigrant was actually living in nearby E. St. Louis, Illinois directly across the river from St. Louis.

1880 US Census—Ladore Township, Neosho County, Kansas

  • Nicholas Murphy, age 43, was a farmer, was born in Ireland.
  • Johanna Murphy, his wife, age 43.
  • James M. Murphy, age 16, was born in Illinois.
  • Mary A. Murphy, age 14, was born in Illinois
  • Bridgett K. Murphy, age 13, was born in Illinois.
  • Ellen M. Murphy, age 10, was born in Illinois.
  • Nicholas W. Murphy, age 8, was born in Kansas.
  • Patrick J. Murphy, age 6, was born in Kansas.
  • Francis B. Murphy, age 4, was born in Kansas.

Tip 4: When you find initial information take your time to glean facts, leads or clues from the initial information. Don’t assume that you have located the correct family. Remember the Census records are only as accurate as the information provided and recorded. Dates and names are often incorrect, misspellings are common etc. Start a file either on your computer or start a notebook to keep facts, leads, clues etc. Don’t be surprised if the emigrant changed his or her name. It is not unusual for the O to be dropped especially for longer names like O’Hennessey or for Saunders to become Sanders etc.

Clues from the 1880 Census:

  • (1) The older children were born in Illinois, so sometime between the births of Ellen in c. 1870 and Nicholas W. in c. 1872 the family moved from Illinois to Kansas.
  • (2) Nicholas Murphy, formerly of Ballinlammy, married sometime after he emigrated in about 1852 and before the birth of James M. in Illinois in about 1864.
  • (3) During the 19th century Irish parents generally followed the custom of naming the eldest boy after the paternal grandfather and the second boy would be named after the maternal grandfather. The eldest girl would be named after the maternal grandmother and the second girl would be named after the paternal grandmother. The next boy and girl were generally named after the parents themselves. Unless the couple lost a son before James M. (b. c. 1864) the paternal grandfather is not mentioned unless the M. stands for Martin.

From the clues make a list of what you need to check. E.g. Illinois records (including military records. Nicholas arrived in Illinois shortly before the US Civil War and had children born in Illinois during the war.) Tick off as you work down the list the items completed and add to the list as you discover more clues.

Going Back: Illinois

1870 US Census—Talkington Township, Sangamon County, Illinois (Springfield the capitol of Illinois is in Sangamon County.)

  • Nicholas Murphy, age 33, was a farmer.
  • Johanna Murphy, age 32, kept house. Both spouses were born in Ireland.
  • James M. Murphy, age 6 was born in Illinois.
  • Mary A. Murphy, age 4, was born in Illinois
  • Catherine B. Murphy, age 3, was born in Illinois
  • Ellen M. Murphy, age 4 months, was born in Illinois.
  • Also residing in the home was Peter Murphy, age 27, born in Ireland and employed as a clerk in a general store. [1843 is also the date Peter Murphy, formerly of Ballinlammy was born.]

Tip 5: Utilize State Census if available. The US Federal Census of 1890 was destroyed by fire, so if there are State Census records available use them. State Census records often provide important clues to other family links between US Censuses. Some cities also kept their own census records that are useful as are City or County Directories.

Going Back: Kansas

1875 Kansas State Census—Ladore, Neosho County, Kansas

  • N. Murphy, age 37.
  • J. Murphy, age 37.
  • J.M. Murphy, age 10 (male)
  • J.A. Murphy, age 9 (female)
  • K.B. Murphy, age 8 (female)
  • E.M. Murphy, (age 5) (female)
  • N.W. Murphy, (age 3) (male)
  • P.J. Murphy, (age 1) (male)

Going Forward: Kansas

1885 Kansas State Census—Ladore, Neosho County, Kansas (taken 1 March 1885)

  • Nicholas Murphy, age 47, Farmer.
  • Joanna Murphy, age 46.
  • James Murphy, age 20.
  • Mary Murphy, age 18.
  • Katie Murphy, age 16.
  • Ella Murphy, age 14.
  • Nicholas Murphy, age 13.
  • Patrick Murphy, age 10.
  • Frank Murphy, age 9.
  • Peter Nelson, age 26, farm hand.

Tip 6: When you are fairly confident that you are onto the correct family, or trying to eliminate a possible family, research the marriages, births and deaths of the children. Sometimes a Census may introduce new names and relationships that can narrow the search. Sometimes a death cert of a child will provide the maiden name of the mother.

1895 Kansas State Census—Parsons, Labette County, Kansas

  • Nicholas Murphy, age 56
  • J. Murphy, age 56
  • Agnes Murphy, age 27, born in Indiana.         [who is this?]
  • Mary Murphy, age 24, born in Illinois.
  • Nicholas Murphy, age 24, born in Kansas.
  • Joe Murphy, age 21, born in Kansas.
  • Frank Murphy, age 19, born in Kansas.
  • Alice Murphy, age 3, born in Kansas.  [Is she a child, grandchild or niece?
  • Jane A. Murphy, age 1, born in Kansas. [Is she a child, grandchild or niece?]
  • James Murphy, age 18 born in Kansas.

1900 US Census—Labette County, Kansas

  • Nicholas Murphy, reported that he was born in December 1837, he was employed as an engine wiper, and was not out of work all year. He immigrated to the US in 1860 and was naturalized.
  • Johanna Murphy, reported that she was born in February 1838 and immigrated to the US in 1855. The couple reported being married for 35 years.
  • Mary A. Murphy, was born in September 1866 in Illinois and was single.

CLUES: From the 1900 census it was also reported that Johanna bore 9 children but only 5 were alive in 1900. They owned their home. From this census it appears that Nicholas and Johanna Murphy married c. 1865.

Tip 7: Research the places where emigrants resided.

For example, sometime between the 1885 Kansas State Census and the 1895 Kansas State Census the family moved. Why?

A quick google provides the physical information concerning the locations. Ladore is 143 miles south of Kansas City, Kansas and 335 miles southwest of St. Louis, Missouri. The town of Labette is about 20 miles south of Ladore. Neosho and Labette counties adjoin. Taking the time to look at historical papers can provide a lot of interesting detail concerning the area where the emigrant lived. Danny expressed delight to learn that Nicholas Murphy was in a “Wild West” community.

Ladore Township of Neosho County, Kansas was organised in 1871. Misty Mog of the Kansas State University noted in her article entitled “Ladore, Neosho County” in Lost Kansas Communities that in “southeastern Neosho County, the Wild West Community of Ladore flourished between 1869 and 1901 when its post office closed. Early events including gambling and lynchings stamped the town with legendary character… Ladore died when the Missouri, Kansas and Topeka railroad abandoned the proposed depot there.”

Tip 8: Put real life back into the emigrant. In other words, use a range of resources to find out about the life of the emigrant. Looking beyond the date of birth, marriage and death can provide a lot of useful clues. If someone worked for a railroad more than likely they moved to another town on the railroad line. Hobbies and interests often became professions or businesses. Although medicine wasn’t as advanced as now death certs can provide a lot of information regarding possible hereditary conditions and diseases.

From the 1900 Census:

  • What is an engine wiper? This led to finding out that Nicholas worked for the Missouri, Kansas and Topeka railroad in their “roundhouse,” as a person who maintained the steam engines.
  • With a date of emigration it is possible to determine the ship name, ship list of passenger and the port of departure and destination. An emigrant often met a future spouse on the voyage across the Atlantic.

Tip 9: Leave no stone unturned. Once you are on to the correct family research up and down the family tree and along all side branches to find information using resources now accessible on-line. An obit of a sibling, cousin, or even in-law often provides new clues. Today, a lot of resources are on line: old newspapers, city directories, trade journals, find-a-grave etc. For men do not overlook military records. All records help you include or exclude possible members of a family.

From Census Records—make a list of known children and update with information found.

Known children of  Nicholas Murphy and Johanna Cahill Murphy.

  • 1.A. James M. Murphy (1864-1894)
  • 1.B  Mary A. Murphy—appears to never have married and continued living with her parents.
  • 1.C. Bridgett K. Murphy—in one census referred to as Katie.
  • 1.D. Ellen M. Murphy
  • 1.E. Nicholas W. Murphy (1872- 1958)
  • 1.F. Patrick J. Murphy (1874- 1957)
  • 1.G. Francis B. Murphy (1876–1944)

 After finding the names of the Nicholas Murphy’s children several died after Social Security was established in the US in the 1930’s. In the Social Security death records for Nicholas William Murphy it is revealed that his parents were Nicholas Murphy and Johanna Cahill. With Johanna’s maiden name I located their marriage record. Johanna Cahil (sic) married Nicholas Murphy on 24 August 1863 in Sangamon County, Illinois.

  • Joseph Patrick Murphy (13 April 1874—28 April 1957). I wasn’t certain this was the correct person until I viewed his death certificate. The death certificate reveals that Joseph P. was born in Ladore, Kansas and died in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 83. He never served in the armed forces and his father is listed as Nicholas Murphy and his mother as Joan Cahill. He was a widower and was a retired conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad. He died due to respiratory paralysis due to cerebral thrombosis caused by hypertension and cardiovascular disease. His death cert informant was a nurse at the hospital, thus it appears that he had no local kin.
  • Francis B. Murphy (1876–1944). I found records for a Frank Bernard Murphy and was not certain this was the correct person until I viewed his WW1 Draft Registration documents signed on 12 September 1918. Frank Bernard Murphy stated he was born on 7 March 1876. He resided at 2540 Lincoln Ave in Ogden, Weber County, Utah. He was single, aged 42 and his next of kin was Johanna Murphy of Parsons, Kansas. He reported that he was a freight handler for the S.P. RR Co. (Southern Pacific Railroad). He is described as having brown eyes and brown hair.

Tip 10: Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help from local genealogy groups, librarians or people researching the same surname you are researching. Most people or groups will tell you what records they have and what they can provide. Often you will encounter people like Danny who are generous with their research and time. My motto is to give a helping hand whenever possible and ask for a helping hand when necessary.

Nicholas Murphy was not in the 1920 census, and his wife listed herself as a widow. A hunt began for death records and an obituary. I found his date of death. Unfortunately, the local newspaper was not available on line. When I emailed the local library in Kansas to ask where I might be able to obtain the obit a nice lady who volunteers at the library took the time to find Nicholas’s obituary in the Parsons Daily Sun newspaper where it appeared a few days after his death. She emailed a copy of the obit to me. Nicholas died on 30 June 1917 and his funeral was held on 1 July 1917 at St. Patrick’s cathedral and he was interned in Calvary Cemetery. He died after an illness of about six months at home on Crawford Avenue. He had been employed at the MK & T roadhouse for the previous 30 years. He was survived by his wife, daughters Miss Mary Murphy of Parsons, Sister Mary Irene of the Loretto Convent, Lebanon, Kentucky and sons NW Murphy of Coffeyville, J. and FU (sic) Murphy Salt Lake City Utah.

Lastly, you have control of exactly what you want to discover and whether you want to share it with others. However, please be warned that genealogy and family research can be addictive, sometimes frustrating, but usually interesting and rewarding.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh 14 June 2020