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- "OHIO RECORDS AND PIONEER FAMILIES"- Vol. 7, No. II, Ap.-June 1966. by Helen Murphy, 412 Hiett Ave. Toledo, OH 43609 (Great-granddaughter of David Murphey)
"David Murphey was born in KY, Apr. 3, 1793, and was the son of a Baptist minister, a native of Ireland. David Murphey was reared on a farm and at the age of 17 years he ran away from home and went into the Army, serving in the War of 1812r, and was badly wounded. He spent one year as a prisoner among the Indians, having been taken captive by them near Niagara. He married ca. 1818 and it was thought his wife's name was Susan Wing but no supporting facts. A Henry Wing was th e first settler of Greensburg Twp. and located here with his family as early as 1825. He was in the area this area in 1814 guarding supplies for the Army in the War of 1812. David Murphey was blessed with 3 children: David Daniel, Sarah (Sally ) and Nancy. David was the first settler in Putnam County He came down the Blanchard from Fort Henry in a canoe with his family. Family tradition says that Sarah (Sally), the second child, was the first white child born in Putnam County Her d escendants remember her telling that she and her brother David Daniel played Indian children. David's wife was the first white person buried in the cemetery at Kalida. She died 1836/1839. David is buried at her side. The son David Daniel is bu ried at the same cemetery. This cemetery is fast falling into a bad state of affairs. The War of 1812 service record is on file. He enlisted in Maysville, Mason County, KY, July 13, 1812. David died Oct. 1, 1865, Putnam County OH. David Dan iel born Sept. 5, 1819, Jefferson County Ky.; died Jan 24, 1894. Sarah (Sally) born Feb. 26, 1826, Putnam Co. OH; died Apr. 21 1910, Allen County OH; married Miller, Fensler, and Harris. Nancy born ca. 1831; died before 1896, possibly in India na; married Mr. Groves. David married second, Lucy L. Sroufe, Apr. 29, 1840 at Charloe, Paulding County OH. She was the daughter of Christoper and Sarah (Lancaster) Sroufe. David and Lucy had Christopher born ca 1843/47, Paulding County, OH; di ed before 1896; servbed 5 years in the Civil War; and Susan born Mar. 7, 1841, Paulding County OH, married Mr. Hershey; died Feb 27, 1912, Putnam County OH. On file is the Declaration of a widow (Lucy) for Pension, May 6, 1878. Lucy died Oct 1 9, 1891, at the home of her daughter Susan." PENSION RECORD WAR OF 1812: Statement by Joseph Cartright: "...on the 22nd day of Jan., in the year 1813, David Murphy sen. was wounded immediately under the right knee of the right leg, whilst i n active duty on said day under command of Capt. James Mead...17th Reg. of Infantry...while engaged in the Battle of River Rasin." "...on the 15th day of Oct in 1814 wounded in the left side of the abdomen, whilst obeying orders of the Capt. W illiam Whistler, of the 34th Reg. of Inf. ..at Ft. Gratiot (?) in the State of Michigan...caused by firing off of a cannon which bounded back and struck said Murphy." Documents on war record: Enlisted at Maysville, KY on or about Jul 17 1812 . "Private in Capt. Hatour's Company-17th Reg. of Infantry, commanded by Col. Wells. In 1814 he was transferred to Capt. Caleb H. Holder's Company of the 17th Reg. Upon disbandonment of this Company he was retained in Capt. Wm. Whistler's Com pany of the 3rd. Reg. of Infantry until July 17, 1817. This Company was discharged at Green Bay, Wisconsin. David Murphy was discharged July 13, 1817, Fort Howard, Green Bay, WI." He applied for and received a disability pension and a land b ounty. His widow Lucy (Srouf) Murphey received a pension until her death on Apr. 21, 1892 "David Murphy-Private Wm. Whistler's County Born Mason, County KY, 24 years 5 ft. 7", dark, dark eyes, fair hair. Enlisted 5 years."
From the book "Putnam Co. Centennial History 1834-1934"
"The honor of being the first white settler in the county is credited to David Murphy, who came down the Blanchard in a canoe, stopped at the mouth of the river for a short time, then went up the Auglaize three miles and settled on what later became known as the bayou. Mrs. Murphy was the first person buried in the Kalida graveyard. She died in the spring of 1836.
George Skinner relates about Murphy as follows: "While living here he ran out of provisions, and what was even worse he ran out of lead. The last ball gone, and none to be had nearer than Defiance, 28 miles away. Fortunately he recollected having shot a ball into a tree near Blanchard sometime before."
" Taking his ax he hunted up the tree, cut out the ball, and having remoulded it, he very carefully loaded his old army yager and started from his hut in search of something to eat. Having crossed the bayou and still in sight of the house, he treed a large bear. He said to me that he was careful with that shot. He was successful, and thus for a time relieved his wants. The old man pointed out to us the tree and limb from which he shot the bear, claiming that it was the first bear killed by a white settler in the county. "
The first white settler in the county was one David Murphy (and judging from his Celtic sounding name, he who guesses that Murphy hailed from orthodox stock, could hardly be considered rash). However, in the year 1824, this offshoot of Erin, with his family, leaving Fort Findley, paddled down the Blanchard river and at its confluence with the Auglaize, ascended the last named stream for a distance of about 3 miles, where, upon one of the river's man bayous, he built for himself and his family a permanent habitation--and Murphy's wife was the first person buried in the cemetery at Kalida.
1860 census Name: David Murphy Age in 1860: 66 Birth Year: abt 1794 Birthplace: Kentucky Home in 1860: Jackson, Putnam, Ohio Gender: Male Post Office: Kalida Value of real estate: View Image Household Members: Name Age David Murphy 66
Lucy L Murphy 54 Christopher Murphy 16
1850 United States Federal Census about David Murfy Name: David Murfy Age: 57 Estimated birth year: abt 1793 Birth Place: Kentucky Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Union, Putnam, Ohio Family Number: 60 Household Members: Name Ag e David Murfy 57 Lucy Murfy 44 Robert F Murfy 10 Susan E Murfy 9 Christopher G Murfy 7
1840 United States Federal Census about David Murphy Name: David Murphy Township: Brown County: Paulding State: Ohio
1830 United States Federal Census about David Murphy Name: David Murphy Home in 1830: Perry, Putnam, Ohio
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