SeanPaulMurphyVille: My Family: The Mystery of Frank John Murphy

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

My Family: The Mystery of Frank John Murphy

By all reports, my great-grandfather Frank John Murphy was a great man. He served as the fire chief of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, a community outside Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is said he was much-beloved by the community and his family.

He remains, however, a mystery to me.

I have been actively working on my family tree since the death of Gino Protani, an uncle I never met (long story), in 1998. I have subsequently traced most of my familial lines back for centuries, but Frank's lineage has remained elusive despite the fact that I have more information about him than any of my great-grandparents.

I was raised to believe Frank was born on the boat coming over from Ireland. I was about ten-years-old when either my grandmother or grandfather told me this story. According to that legend, Frank's mother, who was traveling alone, died during childbirth. A relative waiting at the dock for the young Irish lass took the orphaned Frank to be raised by relatives in Scranton. It is a great, classic American immigrant tale. I know my great-aunt Eileen Murphy LeStrange, Frank's daughter, believed the tale. But it wasn't true. She was astonished when I read her this biography I found in the book "The History of Lackawanna County" compiled by Thomas Murphy and published in February, 1928:

Frank John Murphy, who holds the responsible position of chief of the Dunmore Fire Department, is a widely known and highly esteemed citizen of Lackawanna County. He was born in New York City, July 6, 1883, the son of John Murphy and Mary (Healey) Murphy.

John Murphy, deceased, was a native of Chicago, Ill. He worked in the steel mills for many years and later was employed in the coal mines of Dunmore, where he had settled at an early date. His wife is also deceased, and they are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Dunmore.

Frank John Murphy spent his boyhood in Dunmore and attended the public schools. He went to work in the Johnson breakers as a slate picker and later learned the electrician's trade. He became chief electrician at these breakers and remained in that line of work until 1915 at which time he became chief of the Dunmore Fire Department. About 1899 Mr. Murphy joined the O.S. Johnson Fire Company, a volunteer organization, in which he has since been interested. The local department has been completely motorized and it was through Mr. Murphy's efforts that the double platoon system was organized. He organized the Dunmore Firemen's Department organization, of which he is serving as treasurer. He is also identified with the Pennsylvania State National Firemen's, National Fire Chiefs, and the Keystone Fire Chiefs' Associations.

On Aug. 10, 1915, Mr. Murphy married Miss Loretta McLane, the daughter of James and Mary (Jordan) McLane, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of England. Mr. McLane, deceased, was a pioneer resident of Dunmore, where his widow resides. Mr. and Mrs. McLane were the parents of the following children: William, Agnes, Theresa, Catherine, and James, all deceased; Ellen, the widow of James O'Hara, lives in Dunmore; Michael, married J. Gilligan, lives in Dunmore; Maria, lives in Scranton; Belinda, the widow of John Morrison, lives in Rochester, N.Y.; Anna F., lives in Scranton; Elizabeth, married Patrick McLoughlin, lives in Scranton; Loretta Murphy; and Ambrose, an adopted son, lives in Rochester, N.Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have been born four children: Francis, born in December, 1916; Paul, born in 1918; James deceased; and Mary Eileen, born in 1924.

Mr. Murphy has always been a Democrat. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Eileen was shocked by the story. Although Frank himself was obviously the source of the story, she knew it wasn't true. She never met her grandparents and she was certain that if they were buried in St. Mary's Cemetery she would have known about it. The secrets of Frank's origins also eluded his other children who survived to adulthood. I know my grandfather Paul James Murphy tried to figure it out prior to his death. So did his brother Francis John Murphy.

So what do I know?

According to his death certificate, Frank Murphy was born on November 15, 1883 in New York City, and that his parents were John Murphy and Mary Toole. The information on the death certificate was supplied by my great-uncle Francis, Frank's oldest son. However, Francis wasn't a necessarily reliable source. Frank himself, in his Social Security application, said he was born in New York on July 6, 1883, and listed his parents as John Murphy and Mary Touhill. Hmmm. Case closed, right? Not so fast. Remember, in the biography above, Frank reported that his mother's name was Mary Healy. Additionally, on his marriage license to Loretta G. McLane, Frank reported that his parents were John Murphy and Mary Shoel, and that they were alive and living in Dunmore.

Frank and Loretta

Come on, Frank. Get your story straight! Every time you mention your mother you give her a different last name!

So what is consistent? The name of his father: John Murphy, but sometimes Frank says his father was born in Ireland and sometimes he says he was born in Illinois. He is also consistent with the first name of his mother: Mary. (A pretty safe bet for an Irish girl!) He was also consistent about being born in New York City. Except sometimes Frank is from Chicago. Let's look at the census records.

Frank Murphy can be found in the 1900 Federal Census of Pennsylvania, S.D. 7, E.D. 25, Sheet 9B, Line 62A, living with a Mary Carey, 50, at 171 Grove Street. His birthplace was listed as Illinois!

Mary Carey was a widow with one child who was still alive. She had no listed occupation, but she owned her home free and clear. She had come to America from Ireland in 1875. They lived next door to a large family of Careys, headed by John Carey, 37. Mary Carey lived until at least 1935. According to his daughter Eileen, Frank wanted Mary to move into the McLane house to help look after his children following the unexpected death of his wife Loretta. However, Loretta's maiden sisters wouldn't hear of it. Additionally, other Carey relatives feared Mary was too old for the job.

I know what you're thinking. Perhaps Mary was actually Frank's mother. That's a tempting thought in theory, but not practice. My grandfather and his siblings knew Mary very well, and they never suspected she was their grandmother. However, they knew she was a distant relative.

Frank Murphy can also be found in the 1910 Federal Census of Pennsylvania, S.D. 5, E.D. 31, Sheet 10B, living as a boarder at 411 West Grove Street with the family of James Moore. He was listed as being 26, which would mean he was born in 1884. He worked with locomotives in a mine, but he had been unemployed for five months during the previous year. Once again he was listed as being born in Illinois.

Young Frank Murphy

The head of the household, James Moore, 35, was born in England and worked as a coal miner. His wife Catherine, 33, was born in Ireland. They were married for 14 years and had six children. This family remained close to Frank and his children. James served as Eileen's godfather, and also as a pall bearer at both Frank and Loretta's funerals. He always warmly welcomed Eileen and her children into his home.

The 1920 Federal Census of Pennsylvania, S.D. 9, E.D. 47, Sheet 2B, Line 84, finds Frank, 36, living with his wife, Loretta, 35, and their children, Francis, 3, and Paul, 11/12, at the McLane family homestead at 802 Irving Avenue. The census form is smudged, but seems to report that he was born in Illinois. He is listed as the borough Fire Chief.

The 1930 Federal Census of Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County, Dunmore, finds Frank J., 47, living with his wife Loretta G., 47, and his son Francis J., 13, Paul, 11, and daughter Mary (Eileen), 6, still living at 802 Irving Avenue. The home was valued at $8,000. In this census, Frank finally gives his place of birth as New York, and reports that both of his parents were born in the Irish Free State. His occupation: Fire Chief, Fire Department.

So what was it Frank? New York or Illinois? (A paid search of the birth records of both Illinois and New York failed to find Frank.)

Another clue linking Frank to Illinois concerns the Balcom family. Apparently, when Frank was a child he spent the summers in Chicago with the Balcom family. I had photographic evidence of that fact. I remember seeing a photograph of a motorcycle cop with the name Balcom written on the back (sadly lost), and this photograph below labelled "Balcom children."

Prior to his death, my grandfather Paul Murphy made contact with the Balcom family in Chicago. He asked them about Frank Murphy. They knew who Frank Murphy was, they refused to answer any questions about him. That's where my grandfather's search ended.

I thought I finally had the solution to the mystery when my cousin Tom Vought found this clue on page 7 of the Scranton Republican on Monday, June 23, 1924:

Walter Balcom, of Chicago, Ill., has returned to his home after visiting his uncle, Fire Chief F. J. Murphy, of Irving Avenue.

At last an actual link to the Balcoms of Chicago! Frank is listed as Walter's uncle. I researched that branch of the Balcom family. Walter was the son of George Balcom, a police officer (like in the lost picture), and Catherine Murphy! The newspaper story would seem to indicate that Frank was the brother of Catherine Murphy Balcom, who was the daughter of Martin J. Murphy and Margaret McCann. Sadly, however, Frank doesn't seem to fit into the line of Martin and Margaret's children. They raised a large family of children, whom they kept in their home. Why would they ship Frank to relatives in Scranton? Additionally, Frank is too old to be an illegitimate son of either Catherine or one of her sisters. That said, a William McCann acted as a pallbearer for Frank's wife Loretta....

Oh well. The search continues, but the answer is obvious to me. Frank was almost certainly illegitimate and he went to great lengths to avoid the stigma associated with that status in those days. It is sad that, despite his status and esteem in the community, he felt the need to obliterate his past.

Hopefully, he left a clue for me somewhere.....

Frank Murphy, later years

Obituary from The Scranton Times on January 23, 1939 (picture included):

FRANK MURPHY, DUNMORE FIRE CHIEF, IS DEAD

6-Weeks Illness Is Fatal To Veteran In Public Service

Frank J. Murphy, 55, who had been chief of Dunmore's fire department for the past quarter century, died at 8 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 1119 North Irving Avenue, after a six weeks' illness of heart disease.

Chief Murphy, a Dunmore native, was elected first as chief of the department, which he later disciplined and improved, in February, 1914, and had held the position continuously until his death.

Before becoming fire chief, he was head electrician for the Johnson Coal Company of Dunmore and had the distinction of operating the first electric motor used in a mine in this region.

SET UP PLATOON SYSTEM

When he became chief, the department consisted of one truck, three teams and two hand drawn pieces of equipment. Today the department has four motor trucks. He was also credited with establishing the platoon system, and with keeping the electrical fire alarm system working with perfection through his electrical knowledge.

He was affiliated with nearly all firemen's organization in this region and in 1915 was the organizer of a camp for underprivileged Dundell section youngsters at Moosic Lake.

He was president of the Firemen's Relief Association of Dunmore, and officer of the Lackawanna County Federation of Volunteer Firemen, a member of the law committee of the Six-County Firemen's Association, the Keystone Fire Chief's Association of Pennsylvania and the State Firemen's Association of Pennsylvania.

In 1921 and 1928 he was instrumental in bringing the Six-County Firemen's convention to Dunmore.

FOUNDED ORGANIZATION

He was organizer of the O.F. Johnson Hose Company, later the T.F. Quinn Hose Company; he also organized the Father McManus T.A.B. Society, and was manager of the baseball team representing the Dundell Section of Dunmore.

Mr. Murphy was a member of St. Mary's Church and its Holy Name Society. In 1915, he married the former Loretta McLane, who died four years ago January 29.

Surviving are two sons, Francis and Paul, and a daughter, Eileen, Dunmore.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday morning with a solemn high mass of requiem in St. Mary's Church. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Arrangements by McDonnell & Kane, Dunmore.

Article from The Scranton Times, January 25, 1939:

FRANK J. MURPHY RITES ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS

Solemn High Mass Of Requiem Celebrated In

St. Mary's Church For Former Fire Chief.

Frank J. Murphy, chief of the Dunmore fire department for the past quarter of a century, was buried this morning in St. Catherine's cemetery, Moscow, and a fitting tribute was paid to his memory by the large number of persons attending his funeral, conducted from the family home, 1119 Irving avenue, that borough.

The esteem in which Chief Murphy, who was affiliated with local and state firemen's associations, was held was shown by the large number of out-of-town persons who were present at both the home and the church. A solemn high mass of requiem was celebrated at 10 o'clock in St. Mary's Church, Dunmore, by Rev. James Gilloegly, pastor. Rev. Joseph Kelley was deacon and Rev. Leo V. Murphy was subdeacon. Rev. Charles Carroll, of Taylor; Rev. Charles Gallagher, of Lackawaxen, and Rev. George Jeffery, of Ashley, were seated in the sanctuary. Mrs. Thomas Duffy was the organist and Mrs. Margaret Haggerty sang "Rose of the Cross" and "Panis Angelicus." William Taylor sang "Sweet Savior Bless Us Ere We Go."

Members of the Dunmore fire department, the Dunmore police department and all borough officials acted as honorary pallbearers. Active pallbearers were: John Gilroy, William Grady, James Moore, Martin Barnack, John Hunt and Thomas Harrison.

Rev. Leo Sullivan officiated at the committal services in St. Catherine's cemetery.

Click here for more of my genealogical blogs:

My Family: Christmas 1967

My Family: My Granddaughter Emma Renee Schwalm

My Family: The Diaries of Mary Elizabeth McLane, Part 1
My Family: The Back River Tragedy

My Family: My Three Nuns
My Family: The Murder of Adam G. Robertson
My Family: Uncle Buzzy and The Boys In Company B
My Family: 1st Lieutenant Charles Edward Farber, KIA
My Family: Cousin Tillie's Balcony
My Family: The Public Suicide of Carl "Ernie" Stark
My Family: The Public Suicide of Frank Kostohryz
My Family: Mary Marshall Mirfin, Hero
My Family: Rita Cecilia Rosenberger Protani Pollock
My Family: Vincent Klima and the Spanish Influenza
My Family: A Festival of Fathers
My Family: The Honorable George Farber
My Family: A Celebration of Mothers
My Family: The Mystery of Frank John Murphy
My Family: Kristina Bednar Kostohryz
My Family: Great-Grandmom Assunta's Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Be sure to check out my memoir The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God, published by TouchPoint Press. It is my true story of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined.

Here are some sample chapters of The Promise:

Chapter 1 - A Photograph

Chapter 2 - My Death

Chapter 3 - Childhood

Chapter 4 - Saved!

Chapter 5 - The Promise

Chapter 6 - The Mission

Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished
Chapter 15 - Quarter To Midnight

Be sure to check out my novel Chapel Street. It tells the story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven his family members to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting my family experienced.

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Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer: