During Mother's stories what was fiction and what part was truth? In those days when a family member went far away to another country there would be little rejoicing. Around 1880 the two oldest Murphys, John and Patrick, set off to the land of opportunity...America. We were sad at parting but happy because their lives would be better and they promised to send for us when they had saved enough money. At that time our family must have known the McManus family -- two oldest McManus men, John and Bartley went with them. News from America did not come quickly. One special day a young boy came to the Murphy home with good news. It had been a safe journey for the young men. It was the first my mother saw Patrick McManus, remembering him standing at their door with his cap in his hand, her future husband. (Both very young).
This America has been a beacon of light luring people of many ethnic backgrounds to the land of security, opportunity and freedom- the Biblical land of milk and honey. Here in this land four young men began a new life.
John Murphy located in an area adjacent to California (PA) situated on the Monongahela River. Information upon which this is based can be verified in deeds in Grandma Murphy's name. John Murphy did not marry for many years and played a definite role in the family in Scotland, always my loving Uncle. Patrick Murphy settled in Lucyville (now Roscoe). Later he boarded with Aquilo Underwood in the home where I now live. From deeds in my possession I will reconstruct the building of this. Aquilo Underwood bought lot on June 8, 1881 from Louis S. Miller and wife Mary situated in the Latta plan in the town of Lucyville, Allen Township, Washington County surveyed by Allen White on February 7, 1887 known as Lot 9, laid out by the Alpha coal company fronting 48 feet and running 174 feet to Morrison Avenue. It cost $115. The building of the lot began immediately. A strong houses with a foundation of stone, mud and cement. It had four large rooms on two levels heated by three coal burning fire places. One entered the parlor from an outside stoop and entered the kitchen, which extended from the parlor, from a large partly enclosed porch. An outside entrance led to the basement. Water for cleaning and washing was available from a cistern near the house. But drinking water came from a drilled well in the Morrisson house next door. (Later a much deeper well was drilled on the property across the street from which one carried it. Paid a fixed price). Lumber came from a saw mill in lower Roscoe, strong wood. When the outside walls were covered with siding, the carpenter said they were in good shape. (1957). It is in good condition weathering a century, a marvel in this age of impermanence and transience, today's throw away society. Here in this home Patrick Murphy fell in love with Aquilo's daughter, a dark haired beauty.
"In friendship, in love, two side-by-side raise hands to find what they cannot do alone."
Such was the love between Maria Underwood and Patrick Murphy. The marriage was not without problems. The Underwoods were Protestants and Patrick a Roman Catholic. In an age living in a town where prejudice was rampant they were married Catholic rites. She became one many years later. This marriage was destined to be a happy, prosperous and prolific one. This family was blessed with seven children, six sons and two daughters (one died in childbirth) who lived in a home built at the base of a hill in the central part of Roscoe. This home is in good condition today and can be seen from route 88. Today one could walk up the pavement to its end and there stands the home. Aunt Maria lived in it until she died. This home with the attached store had happy memories for me. The names of the children listed chronologically follow (I do not know their birth dates) Annie (Collins), John (1889 - born year of the Johnstown flood) others were Arthur, Thomas, Mary, Patrick, Edward and William (1904 or 05) born posthumously. Their father Patrick intelligent, ambitious and outgoing was working at a whiskey refinery as an inspector in the distillery. The family prospered. It was not destined for him to live. He developed an illness which Mother although vague about said it was in his kidneys. He was a total abstainer from any alcoholic beverages. Aunt Maria with the help of Aquila who lived with her was able to cope with the loss of finances after Pat's death. She opened a store in a room attached to her house, bought a cow, had chickens, and a large garden. She was able to send the two girls to California Normal School to become teachers and the boys to Business College in Charleroi which enabled them to do clerical work. Annie graduated from Normal School, taught school in Stockdale first, later for many years in Roscoe and told her pupils she had eyes in the back of her head, could see everything. She also played piano and organ. She was St. Joseph's organist. Taught one year of music in Roscoe Public School. John helped his mother with the garden, livestock, and the store and delayed marriage until 38 years old, no children. Thomas, graduate of Business School, married a non-Catholic without Catholic rites, a victory for his wife, a beautiful girl but bitter hater of Catholicism. (My Dad said if he ever entered St. Joseph let the ceiling fall on him.) Both sides had the same the prejudice about religions. But it did not seem to affect my mother. Tom visited Mother regularly for many years. He went steadily upward in his job until he became vice president in a railroad company in Philadelphia. In my hearing he said "in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would have such a prestigious and prosperous job." His wife's name was Jean Thomas, they had no children but raised her dead sister's son who was an excellent scholar.
Next came Arthur, Mother’s godson whom she always
loved. Also a Business School graduate
who became paymaster for Alice Coal Mine, the office was attached to Company
Store in Roscoe. On the same street was
a Jewish family with several girls. It
was rumored that he fell in love with one of the girls. The marriage of a Gentile to a Jewish girl
meant to the Jew loss of family, expulsion from home. No marriage took place. Later he married Mamie Roberts and had two
children (Mildred and James). After his marriage he began to show evidence of
alcoholism and the condition worsened until it had an effect on his job in
Brownsville where he worked as paymaster
at the Hillman Coal and Coke company. This illness was responsible for the loss
of his home in Brownsville and the collapse of his marriage. Although he tried,
he was never able to control it. Finally
while working in Cleveland, he was found dead in the street, isolated far away
from who loved him. Gone at fifty-six.
From a draft "History of McManus and Murphy Families" Undated. circa 1980?
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