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Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de I'exemplaire filmd, et en conformii:6 avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —►(meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: Library of the Public Archives of Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la der- nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas- le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grfice d la g6n6rosit6 de I'dtablissement prdteur suivant : La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont film6es d partir de I'angle sup^rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ' ■■j,'«^7wy*'iww"'iH iw'^^' BIOGRAPHY — OF — EDWARD MURPHY, MERCHANT {From The Harp, September, 1880.) fW,« '■-'MWiyium.".'""" m,.mm BIOGRAPHY — OF- EDWARD MURPHY, MERCHANT. Heretofore we have dealt with the lives and times of Irish Canadians distinguished principally in political circles ; we would not, for one moment, have our youthful readers, for whose benefit these sketches are written, im- agine that those alone who have figured prominently in great historic events, or who have contributed to mould the opinions of their contemporaries, by the I public policy they inaugurated, or as- sisted others in cariying out, are worthy of a place in the annals of eminence. No greater mistake could be commit- ted ; those who sacrifice their time and their labor to the public cause, albeit Ithey follow the bent of their own am- fbition, are truly deserving of a fond re- 'membranee from their fellow-country- men ; but other fields offer equal oppor- tunities for the display of those qualities that constitute eminent citizenship, land the life and labors of the dis- tinguished merchant, of whom we are I now about to treat, will tend to show that in whatever sphere [one's lot may be east, there is ample I'oom for the display of all the cardinal virtues ; that prosperity in the 3ounting-house need not eliminate pat- [riotism, that the strictest attention to Ibu-iness is not incompatible with scien- tific research and the culture of those I'ts that make life agreeable, and that the true philantropist can always find Itime to devote to the happiness and )rogre&s of his fellow-men. Mr. Edward Murphy, whose name is household word in the city of Mont- I'eal, is descended from the good old stock of that name in the County Car- low, Ireland, vvhose ancestors were of the ['Murroes" of the County VVexfoixl, the indent territory of the O'Murphys. He lis the eldest son of the late Mr. Daniel Murphy, for many years a resident of the city of Montreal; his mother was descended from the Wicklow clan of the O'Byrnes. Born in 1818, at the early age of (^ix years he emigrated to Canada with his parents and brothers, and settled in this city in 1824. Having received the commercial education then accessible, at the age of fourteen he was engaged as a clerk in the hardware trade. Well may the youth of the present time, with their superior advantages, for many of which they are indebted to Mr. Murphy, look up with unfeigned ad- miration to the merchant prince of to- day, who at so tender an age commenced to carve out for himself the career he has so successfully achieved. In 1846 he became principal salesman in the old established firm of Frothingham & Workman, wholesale hardwai'e mer- chants, which positio" ' "■■ occupied un- til 1859, when he h<,^ ■ partner in that institution, now, in ■ small mea- sure through his activity aiid energy, the most extensive in the Dominion. As may readily be supposed Mr. Murp"hy, unaided as he was by outside influence, did not accomplish such magnificent re- sults without the most assiduous labor. Yet business with all iti^- cares and an- xieties did not absorb his entire atten- tion. His first step in the philanthropic efforts that have ma'-ked his whole life was in connection with the establish- ment of the earliest Iri>h Catholic tem- perance society organized in Canada. The late lamented. Bishop Phelan, of Kingston, was at that time (1840) pastor of the Irish people of this city, and min- istered to their spiritual wants in the venerable old edifice, the Ilecollect Church, now amongst the things of the past, but around which clustered many hallowed remembrances for our older in- EDWARD MURPHY. hubitants. Into the temporance cause Mr. Murphy throw hiiiif^olf with lii.s whole Boul, seooruling the elfovts of the good Father I'helan. In 1841 ho was elected secretary of the asHociation, and 80 continued until 18l>2, when he was presented with a massive silver jug and a most flattering address hy the society, in recognition of his invaluable services in the total abstinence cause. Long years of active work, did not cause him to abate his efforts in, what may ije termed, the cherished object of his life, the propagation of temporance ])\'iu^ ciples amongst his iellovv-i-ountrymcn. He was several times elected president of the St. Patrick's Temperance Society, and again in 1872 its members feeling that something more ought to be done in recognition of such devotion, they pre- sented him with a life-size portrait of himself in oil. lie has now been for over forty years one of the main pillars of total abstinence in his adopted home, and may without ttatteiy be styled the standard bearer of the cause. It has often been said, and with a great deal of truth, that the Irishman who apperrs to foi- get the old land, makes a very indiffer- ent citizen wherever his lot may be cast. Mr. Murphy is a striking ex- ample of the class that contribute so much to the progress and prosperity of their adopted home, and yet never cease to sympathise with the land of their forefathers. In the good old days of 18-42, when the Irishmen of Montreal, Catholic and Protestant, formed one grand brotherhood, ere narrow-minded political tricksters had succeeded in dividing them into two hostile camps, Mr. Murphy became a member of the original St. Patrick's Society under the presidencj' of the late Benjamin Holmes. In those days and in later such men as the late William Workman, Sir Francis Hincks, and many other distinguished Irish Protestant gentlemen, were joined hand in hand with their Catholic brethren, and the Irish people of Mont- real were rcspc ted and their influence felt throughout the land. Mr. Murphy was indefatigable in his exertions to promote the well-being of his fellow- countrymen, through the medium of the national organization. In 1860 he was elected president of the St. Patrick's Society, a position he tilled with credit to himself and benefit to that body. About this time he was gazetted cajj- tain in the Montreal Militia, 4lh Bat- talion, lie was also named to the com- mission of the poiice, and in 1801 he occupied the responsible position of Commissioner of the Census lor the City of Montreal under the Canadian Government. In 1862 Mr. Murphy le- visiled the l^cenes of his childhood, and cast once more a loving glance on the green hills and pleasant valleys of his native land. During hisab-once in Ireland he was elected a diiector of the City and District Savings Bank of Montreal. This position he filled until 1877, when he was elected to the presitfoncy of that flourishing insti- tution, an office to which ho has been annually re-elected, and which he holds at the present time. How he find.s time to perform the duties of his multifarious offices is really marvellous. He tills the important trust of Alaryuiller of the Parish Church of Notie Dame, a singular mark of the confidence reposed in him, and the kindly I'eolings evinced toward him by his French Canadian fellow-citizens. Again and again he has been solicited to accept municipal and parliamentary honoi s, which he has always declined. Nevertheless he has not aljstained from participating in the political struggles of the country. A friend of liberty for his own people, he sympathised with the gallant band of patriots whose blood shed on the field of battle and trickling down the scaffold in 1837 and 1838, secured for Canada the priceless boon of constitutional gov- ernment. In politics he is a Liberal Conservative, and, through good report and evil report, has always manfully stood by the party, that his experience has led him to believe has the true in- terests of Canada at heart. Enjoyment of the blessings of constitutional free- dom in Canada has made Mr. Murphy's sympathetic heart yearn for similar ad- vantages to his native land. From the year 1841 to 1847 he was one of the most ardent repealers amongst the many good and true Iiishmen in Canada who responded to the appeals of the great O'Connell. In 1873, when the nation was again aroused to make one more EDWARD MURPHY. rand struggle for constitutional free- uom by tho magic eloquouce of the ^lluHtiious Isaac Butt and his colleagues, Mr. Murphy was the prime organizer bf the Montreal Branch of the Home llule League, an organization that lourirthed for several years, and as- listed by its generous contributions, mounting to hundreds of pounds, to- ./ards the progress of tho movement hat has since accomplished such noble esults; whilst the existence of such a lody in this far-off British province jvinced, in an unmistakable manner, ,he sympathy felt for struggling Ire- and through the empire. With such a record any man might oil rest content to see his name go own to posterity; but Mr. Murphy as still other claims to public grati- ude. As far back as twenty-five years ,go, through his exertions, the " early ilosing movement" was carried into iffect, whereby the clorlts in the haid- vave trade secured tho afternoon of lalurday for their recreation and men- ial improvement, a boon that has since leen widely extended for the benefit [' clerks in other branches of business, e is a member of the Natural History lociety of this city, and also of e Numismatic and Antiquarian lociety, in the transaction of which e has taken an active part. — lor several years, and until recently, was one of the Catholic School mmissioners of the city of Montreal. . this position he felt more acutely an ever the great need of a good solid mmercial education for our youth, id his energies were centered to effect at object. To give an impetus to the iovement he generously founded the idward Murphy" prize of the annual lue of $100, in perpetuity, for the ncouragoment of commercial educa- jn in Montreal." This prize con- ts in a gold medal of the value of $50 d a purse of a like amount, and open to all competitors. During those long years of arduous labor, Mr. Murphy has found time to cultivate his taste for scientific pursuits, and his Eublic lectures, always delivered for the enefit of charitable objects, on " The Microscope and its Revelations," and on Astronomy, have invariably met with a hearty reception by the public. H3 pursued these favorite studies in the few moments he could snatch from his pressing occupations, and the success that has attended his efforts is another proof of how much can be accomplish- ed by well directed labor. The last post of honor, entailing arduous duties as well, conferied on Mr. Murphy, is that of Harbor Commissioner, which he now fills. He was twice married, early in life to Miss McBiide, of this city, and secondly to Miss Power, daughter of the late Hon. Judge Power, of the Superior Court of Quebec. Mrs. Murphy, who in- herits her father's talents and gener- osity, is the coadjutor of her husband in his works of benevolence, and his sympathetic fellow-worker in his many labors of love. What a noble example for the rising generation have we not in the career so hastily and imperfectly sketched in this paper? Mr. Murphy is identified with the progress and the prosperity of his adopted home. As a successful merchant, his word is as good as his bond in the commercial oommunit}'. He is the patron of education, (he noiseless toiler in scientific pursuit, a sincere and devout Catholic, whose name will ever be connected with St. Patrick's Church and its Asylum, of which he has been a trustee for over twentyyears and kindred institutions. He is respected and trusted by his fellow-citizens of all origins and ci-eeds as a loyal and devoted son of Canada, and one who has never been afraid or ashamed to struggle with might and main for even handed jus- tice to his fellow-countrymen in the land of his birth. <^^^*.e^«,^<,^ O^^^ rfSr .4^^^^^y^^ ■^^•-<^'C.