WILLIAM M. MURPHY, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and present Postmaster of Cairo, was born on the 24th day of September, 1836. His parents, R. S. Murphy and Rachel Kelley, were natives of New Jersey, but came with their parents to Ohio while young. The grandfather of our subject was the original settler on land now occupied by the city of Cincinnati. R. S. Murphy and Rachel Kelley were married and reared their family in Adams County, Ohio, where they still reside. William M. was educated in the common school of his native county, and in a college of Cincinnati. He first came to Cairo in 1858, when he engaged as salesman in the dry goods firm of Kelley Bros., with whom he remained until the breaking-out of the rebellion. He became a member of the Eighty-first Ohio Regiment and was mustered in as private in Company H, from which he was mustered out as Captain in May, 1865, at the city of Cincinnati. He participated in all the active service incident to the siege of Atlanta, and Sherman's march to the sea. From the close of the war until 1869, he was connected with J. H. Kelley in hotel business, but that year entered the office of revenue department as clerk. In 1870, he was made Chief Deputy Collector of the district, which position he filled until March 1, 1883, when he received the appointment of Postmaster under President Arthur. He is a member of Masonic fraternity, holding the position of Captain Geneneral of the Cairo Commandery, No. 13.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 33.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
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Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
