Newspaper Excerpts

Paper unknown,
possibly Bridgeport Chronicle
March 1896

We are pained to announce the death of John Carpenter Murphey, which occurred at Clearwater Station at 2 o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 4th. At that time his nurse, Mr. Webster, was with him, and states that the end was peaceful, but sudden. Mr. Webster had usually slept with Mr. Murphey so as to be near him and able to notice his actions, but on the evening of the 3d Mr. Murphey stated that he was feeling very well, and requested Mr. Webster to take his own bed, which was in the same room. Nothing unusual occurred until about two o'clock, when Mr. Murphey fell out of bed on to the floor, when Mr. Webster immediately jumped up and placed him back in bed, and with the exclamation "Oh!" Mr. Murphey expired.

John Carpenter Murphey was born at Columbus, Ohio on the 6th day of December, 1827, and was therefore over 68 years old. He was a Pioneer, and an honored member of the Mono County Pioneer Association, having crossed the plains with a pack train in 1848. On his arrival in California he settled in Sacramento county for a short time, then removing to Yolo county, where he was an honored citizen until 1864, when he came to Mono county, where he has resided until his death. He was an able lawyer, and was by his fellow citizens elected District Attorney, and afterwards County Judge of Mono county, which offices he filled with credit to himself and honor to the county. After his retirement from the bench, he became associated as a law partner with the late Col. T. W. W. Davies, and remained such partner until ill health forced him to relinquish his chosen profession. About ten years ago he became a great sufferer from neuralgia in the head, which eventually impaired his eyesight to such a degree that he had to consult eminent oculists in San Francisco, who could do nothing for him. He made two trips to San Francisco, but nothing could be done, and after his eyes grew continually worse, he finally, about five years ago, became totally blind. During his great suffering physicians prescribed morphine, and by degrees the habit became so strong that a short time ago he went to Inyo county to be treated for that habit, and returned home on the 23d of last month, feeling much improved in health generally, and it was supposed he had a new lease of life, so his death was quite a shock to his family and entirely unexpected.

Deceased leaves a widow, one daughter, Mrs. B. L. Simmons, of this place, and three sons, to mourn his loss. The sons are John D. Murphey, our County Clerk, L. A. Murphey and E. A. Murphey, all respected citizens of Bridgeport. George C. Kinney, of Bishop Creek, And Mrs. Harvey Boone are his stepchildren, but deceased has cared for them so long that they look upon him as, and always called him, their Father.

The funeral took place yesterday morning from the late residence of the deceased in this town. The remains were encased in a beautiful rosewood casket with heavy silver trimming and resting on which were several floral mementos. There was a very large attendance. No services were held at the house, but at the grave Wm. O. Parker, the old time friend of the deceased, read the services, and a choir rendered very affectingly, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," "Rock of Ages" and "Go Bury Thy Sorrow." And the old Pioneer was left to his rest.

Miss Celia Roach, sister of Mrs. Willie Butler, of this town, is seriously ill in San Francisco.

R. S. Miner is in Bodie

Mrs. Frank Brown and three children, formerly of Bodie, but lately of Alaska, where Mr. Brown is engaged in mining, arrived from San Francisco last evening to visit her sister, Mrs. W. Hawthorne, of this place.

On Friday afternoon of last week, February 28th, Barnett’s Hotel, at Coleville, in Antelope Valley, in this county, with all the outbuildings, and the Hall to the south of the hotel, were totally destroyed by fire. R. B. Watkins, of that place, writes us that the fire was discovered at about four o’clock by Mrs. Homer F. Barnett, who was sitting by a window in one of the upper rooms of the hotel, and saw smoke coming from the kitchen, and gave the alarm to her mother-in-law, Mrs. D. M. Barnett, who was downstairs. She ran into the kitchen and finding it full of smoke gave the alarm. In a very few minutes the flames bursted through the roof. The neighbors gathered as fast as they could, but the fire had reached such a headway that it was impossible to save the building or scarcely anything in it. They lost all their clothing, but were fortunate in saving their private papers. The stables and outbuildings were also destroyed, but the buggy, wagons and harness were saved. The Hall next door soon caught fire and everything in it was last, excepting a barrel of whiskey that some thoughtful person rolled out of their saloon on the first floor. The blacksmith shop and small dwelling adjoining were saved.

During the excitement fire was discovered in the sagebrush just south of Jos. Carney’s dwelling, but it was soon put out. There was a light breeze from the north at the time the fire broke out, but it fortunately shifted in time to insure the safety of Todkill’s Store and house, as it looked at first as though the whole hamlet would go up in smoke. It is said there was an insurance of $3,000 on the hotel property, but that will not near cover the loss, Mr. Barnett having gone to great expense in putting the house in fine shape for the coming Summer business. It had been newly painted and papered throughout and refurbished and was one of the best hotels on this side of the mountains, and well known to the traveling public.

The people of Antelope deeply sympathize with the Barnett’s in their great loss in the decline of life, in losing the accumulations of a life time, and have done every thing to make them comfortable since the fire. D. M. Barnett and wife are guests of their hospitable neighbors, James Todkill and wife, while Homer Barnett and wife have been given good quarters at Wood Larson’s pleasant home. They will have the sympathy of the people of all this section of California and Nevada when they hear of their loss.

He is Wanted. -- Hugh Gilligan will leave something to his advantage by communicating at once with Chas. L. Hayes, Atty. at Law, Bridgeport, Mono Co., Cal.

MURPHEY.-- At Clearwater Station, near Oldtown, March 4th, John Carpenter Murphey, a native of Ohio, aged 68 years, 2 months and 27 days.

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