I am researching my wifeÂ’s family genealogy. Her grandfather was:

12. Harry C. Murphy, born 27 August, 1892 in Canton, IL; died Abt. 1965 in Aurora, Kane County, IL. He was the son of 24. Frank E. Murphy and 25. Margaret E. Yaco. He married 13. Gladys Elizabeth Keating 22 October, 1921.

Biography found in Harry Murphy's Personal Papers



MURPHY, HARRY C.

President, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R., The Colorado and Southern Ry., and the Fort Worth and Denver Ry

Office: 547 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago 6, Illinois.
Born: Canton, Ill., August 27, l892;
Son of Frank E. and Margaret E. (Yaco) Murphy

Married: Gladys Elizabeth Keating October 22, 1921
Children John Edward, Margaret Elizabeth, Richard Franklin
Education: Eldora (Iowa) High School;
Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa (Civil-Mech. Engrg. 1912-15);
Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago (Engrg. 1916)

1912-1913 While attending school worked nights and during vacations as laborer and station
helper for the M.& St.L. R.R. at Eldora, Ia
1914-1917 C.B.& Q. R .R9, clerk in accounting department, rodman, and instrumentman
1917-1919 Pilot U.S. air forces during World War I and upon discharge returned to C.B.& Q. as assistant engineer in 1919

By about 1900 they had moved to Eldora, IA.

He graduated from Eldora High School.

Notes from Mary Boland re: Harry Murphy
Telephone conversation Nov. 20, 1998
Marjorie Wigton's mother lived with the Murphy's (?). Marjorie Wigton's mother was a switch board operator. The entire family was poor and they all lived together. It a clan or something. One of Harry's aunt had a hotel in Creston IA (Could be mistaken for Eldora, IA and Canton, IL.). (Creston IA is in southwest Iowa on Rts 25 and 34. It is about 40 miles southwest of Des Moines.) Harry related that one of his aunts ran hotel and he cleaned the kerosene chimneys. (Harry graduated from Eldora, IA high school about 1911 or 1912. Eldora is in north central Iowa, Rts 215 & 175 about 20 miles from Iowa Falls and 60 miles northeast of Des Moines). Harry told when he was a teenager the local mayor hired him to sweep the sidewalks before a fair so the women of the town wouldn't get dirt on their long skirts. "He was so humble and so bright. It was a privilege to have known him." GM Murphy - she was a good singer - very musical - the family had a quartet - put on shows as kids - think they lived in Creston IA.

I am looking for information on Eldora in the early 1900Â’s, why did they move to Eldora, IA, are the Murphys listed in any information, are they relatives, what did Harry's father do in Eldora, IA? Harry MurphyÂ’s father was :

24. Frank E. MURPHY, born Abt. 1865; died Unknown. He was the son of 48. William MURPHY and 49. Susanna GRIM. He married 25. Margaret E. YACO 15 April, 1891 in Canton IL,.

25. Margaret E. YACO, born Abt. October 1870; died 1953 in Aurora, Kane County, IL. She was the daughter of 50. Adam YACO and 51. Margaret BYRNES.

Did Frank Murphy die in Eldora ?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

John Lentz