Weakley County's connection to Donner Party of 1846-47

The MURPHY family of Weakley County - part of Donner Party

by MaryCarol


The Simon Peter MURPHY 
Son of Jeremiah Burns MURPHY & Levinah W. JACKSON
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This is a work in progress....come back often. If you know about this family, would like to submit old photos or info, or are related please email me - put Murphy in subject line. 
MaryCarol
 
Simon Peter MURPHY

Born Mar 14, 1838 in Weakley Co., TN d. Mar 21, 1873 Weakley Co. TN age 35.
Married 21 Sept 1869 Weakley Co., TN to M. C. [Malinda Catherine] FOSTER. After Simon’s death she married as Malinda C. MURPHY to Henry C. WILLIAMS on April 24, 1873 Weakley Co., TN and had two more children by Henry, Lulie [Tallulah or Louisa?] and Jody [Josephus].

Children of Simon Peter & Malinda Catherine MURPHY 

John R. MURPHY [John Robert]m. Alice Harlord March 23, 1884 Weakley Co., TN [Tommye Alice HARLOW] 

Geneive [Geneva] MURPHY m. Andrew POWERS Nov 27, 1883 Weakley Co., TN

Leona MURPHY [Naomi] m. W. T. PRINCE Feb 22, 1882 Weakley Co., TN

Emanuel Byrd MURPHY  b. 1867 d. 1939 Weakley Co.,TN [m. 1 Jenny Jones, m2 Mitt Murphy]

Simon P. MURPHY served as a Private in the Civil War with his cousin, Pinkney LEE, son of Green T. LEE. They were in Company L 6th Calvary USA. Both survived the war, mustered out  July 26, 1865. Note: Regiment lost during service - 2 Officers and 33 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 9 Officers and 352 Enlisted men by disease. Total 396.  They were part of the notorious Skullbone group lead by William Carroll Holt.

1860 records show Simon a Farmer with land valued at $1500 and personal property of $200. After the war, in 1870, he is listed as Farm Laborer, no land, personal property of $100. The war must have been tough on his family. March 21, 1873 Simon passed away at the young age of 35.

San Francisco newspaper, Alta California, April 5, 1873:

Simon P. Murphy died at his home in Tennessee on the 21st uit[March]., aged 35 years. He was one of the Donner Party, who crossed the Plains in 1846 and was one of the youngest of the Murphy family, some of whom found their resting place at Donner Lake; and who was a brother of Wm. G. Murphy, Esq., Mrs. Wm. Foster of San Francisco, the late Mrs. M. C. Nye, and Mrs. Charles Covillaud of Marysville.

The 1880 Weakley County Census shows his family scattered. Wife Malinda Catharine Foster Murphy has remarried to Henry C. Williams on April 24, 1873. This may have been a 2nd marriage for both as Weakley marriage record lists Henry C. Williams & Elizabeth Butler m. Oct 16, 1867.

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1860 Weakley Co., TN Census...district 6
MURPHY, S. P. 22 FARMER 1500-200 TN
MURPHY, Catherine 19 TN
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1870 Weakley Co, TN Census.....District 4 page 56
Murfy    Simon  P   32 M W farm labor 100 TN 
Murfy     Malinda   25 F W keeps house  TN 
Murfy John R     7 M W    TN 
Murfy  Mary [Naomi]   5 F W    TN 
Murfy Jenerva     3 F W    TN 
Murfy    Manuel  B     1 M W    TN
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1880 Weakley Co., TN Census
District 7 Household 457
Living in the household of John A. Taylor/W/M/23/Farmer
Murphy, John/W/M/17/Farm Labor/TN/TN/TN.....son of Simon

District 7 Household 464
Living in the household of Elizabeth Travillian/W/F/63
Murphy, Emanuel/W/M/12/Farm Work/TN/TN/TN......son of Simon

District 7 Household 466
Williams, Henry C./W/M/39/Farmer/IN/IN/IN
Williams, Malinda/W/F/39/Keeps House/TN/VA/TN....Simon’s wife, Malinda Catherine FOSTER MURPHY WILLIAMS
Williams, Louisa/W/F/6/Daughter/TN/IN/TN
Williams, Josephus/W/M/4/Son/TN/IN/TN
Murphy, Gemoa?[Geneva]/W/F/13/Daughter/TN/TN/TN.....dau. of Simon
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