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MURPHY, Joseph S.,
Contractor, Builder.
The man who attains an assured posi-
tion in the world of business while still
comparatively young proves himself to be
possessed of more than the ordinary
qualities which make for success. There
must be first the ambition to succeed,
combined with an intelligently directed
industry. Joseph S. Murphy, one of the
leading contractors and builders of Fair-
field county, has, through his own unaided
effort, achieved a recognized place among
his fellow business men. Mr. Murphy
was born July 29, 1883, in Summerville,
Prince Edward Island, son of Alex and
Mary (Hennessey) Murphy, and grandson
of Andrew Murphy, of Wexford, Ire-
land.
It seems particularly fitting that the
birthplace of Andrew Murphy was in
Wexford, as that has been the seat of the
Murphy family for many, many years.
The family is one of the oldest in Irish
history, and the surname is the most
numerous in the country. The name itself
is the anglicized form of McMorough,
and as above stated, the original seat of
the family was in the barony of Ballaghkeen
(meaning in Irish, pleasant roadway)
in the easterly part of the County of Wex-
ford, at Castle Ellis and Ouleartleagh (in
Irish, Grey Orchard). The county of the
O'Murphy family is still called Murroes.
The family belonged to the tribe of Hy-
Felimy and Murphy, Murrough, and
Morin, are anglicized forms of the name
of the original ancestor. MacMurcatha,
written also, O'Murchada, also O'Murchu,
are original forms of the name. In Irish,
Murcatha means a sea battle, and Murchu
a sea warrior. Dermot McMorough, born
in 1090, was King of Leinster for many
years, and another famous man bearing
the name was Art McMurrough, who was
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
323
born in 1357. The latter was particularly
noted for his chivalry and general good
qualities. The records show many cele-
brated men of this family, and in public
affairs and professional matters men bear-
ing this distinguished old name are found.
It is very much to the honor and credit
of our subject that he can trace descent
direct to the first settlers of County Wex-
ford.
Andrew Murphy learned the trade of
shoemaker, and removed to Prince Edward
Island soon after, where he engaged
in farming. He lived there the remainder
of his life, and died in 1885, at the age of
eighty-nine years. He married Jane Godkin,
born in Brudenell, Prince Edward
Island, and she died at the age of one hun-
dred and four years, in 191 1.
Alex Murphy, son of Andrew and Jane
(Godkin) Murphy, was born in Summerville,
Prince Edward Island, in 1838, and
died in 1914. He was engaged in farming
throughout his active life. Mr. Murphy
married Mary Hennessey, daughter of
Michael Hennessey, and she was born in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
They were the parents of six children,
four of whom are now living: James V.,
of Summerville ; Andrew, who also resides
there ; Daniel, also a resident of Summer-
ville ; and Joseph S., of further mention.
Joseph S. Murphy attended the public
schools until he was fourteen years of age,
as was the general custom in his native
town. He then began to learn the carpenter's
trade, and three years later came
to New England, locating for a time in
Boston, Massachusetts. Again returning
home, he followed his trade for two years,
and about 1906 removed to Greenwich,
Connecticut. He was an excellent workman
and soon rose to foreman. During
all of this time, from the first days of his
apprenticeship, Mr. Murphy had the am-
bitious desire of the true business man to