"Craigs Parish Cemetery
Grave No. (G, Eliza Anderson when going to
America in 1865 wished it transferred to her
brother Getty signed Geo Kilpatrick." This
statement was in a report we received in 1982.
It wasn't until a year later that we discovered
that this Eliza was a sister of James Getty,
that she and her family, after coming to
Michigan, had settled within a mile of where I
live, and that she was an ancestor of several
families in this area.
In 1848, when the first
Eliza Getty died, Grave No. 7G was
owned by James Getty. Apparently when he came to
the United States he turned it over to his
sister, Eliza Anderson, then she in turn signed
it over to their brother, John Getty, when she
and her family were ready to emigrate. Three
Anderson children are buried in Grave No. (G, as
well as Eliza's parents, and her brother John's
2 year old daughter, Nancy.
ELIZABETH "ELIZA GETTY
was born to John and Betty (Eliza) Getty on
July 13, 1819, at Craigs, County Antrim,
Ireland.
According to information
from her obituary, she lived at home with her
parents until her marriage to William Anderson
in 1842.
She united with the
Presbyterian Church in May 1838 at Cullybackey,
where she taught a class in the Sabbath School
for years. After their marriage they removed to
a home of their own, where they lived twenty
years. Eight children were born to them, all in
Ireland, six daughters and two sons. Of these,
three died in childhood. Their first child,
Eliza, was born in 1844, and died in Dunminning
on September 11, 1863, at the age of 19. Jennie
was born July 30, 1846. A baby girl was born in
1848 and died in infancy. Mary was born in 1850.
William was born in 1853 and died in 1863 at the
age of 10. Samuel was born January 30, 1855.
Nancy was born in 1860, and Ella was born in
1862.
In 1862 William and Eliza
sold out, intending to come to America, but on
account of the failing health of their eldest
daughter, who was also named Eliza, they were
compelled to remain until September 1863.

After their daughter died,
they sailed for America, landing in New York the
following month. They had lost three of their
children while living in Ireland. William's
health, already poor, began to fail rapidly and
ten months later he died, leaving Mrs. Anderson
and family in a strange land among strangers.
But with Christian faith and her strong,
independent disposition she strove to keep her
children together, and by her good management
and industry they lived comfortably.
The Anderson family settled
on a forty acre farm just off North Ridge
Highway on Milwaukee Road. This is now the
Raymond Bird home. Eliza also owned a small farm
north of Ridgeway on the east side of Ridge
Highway. This farm, until his recent death, was
owned by Millburn Baker.
Eliza lived 28 years after
her husband's death which was October 27, 1865.
Eliza died October 9, 1892,
at the age of 74. The funeral services were
conducted by Rev. Gulick of Macon. They're both
buried in Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh.
What sensations crowd upon
our troubled hearts
Since thou were covered in
thy shroud and we were forced to part.
But hope oft whispers to
our souls that we shall meet again
When mortal life shall meet
the goal that frees us all from pain.
But oh, that tongue that
counsel gave that ministering hand Now dignifies
thy silent grave by Death's severe command, And
we are doomed no more to share the benediction
given
That often times thy pious
prayers craved from indulgent Heaven.
James
Getty
Jennie Anderson was married
to Thomas Murphy at the residence of Thomas
Elliott in the village of Tecumseh on April 3,
1878, by the Rev. A. J. Bigelow, Minister, and
witnessed by Andrew Murphy and Loann Stacy.
(From the Herald)
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"Thomas Murphy is known as
one of the substantial capitalists and
representative farmers and stock growers of
Lenawee County, where he has won success through
his own well directed energies, and commands
unequivocal confidence and esteem. Mr. Murphy is
a native of Tullynuey, County Antrim, Ireland,
where he was born August 15, 1843, and he is a
son of John and Mary (Sample) Murphy, both of
whom were likewise natives of Ireland, where the
former was born in Tullynuey, County Antrim,
July 16, 1817, and the latter in Camlea, June
15, 1819. John Murphy was the son of John and
Elizabeth (Simpson) Murphy, of Tullynuey, County
Antrim, Ireland, and the latter, who was the
grandmother of our subject, was a very strict
Covenanter, religiously, whose ancestors were
natives of Scotland and fled to the North of
Ireland to escape the religious persecutions in
the seventeenth century. James and Mary
(Cunning) Sample, grandparents of the subject of
this review, were also natives of Camlea, County
Antrim, Ireland, and were descendants of old
Scotch Presbyterians, the grandfathers' people
on both sides being farmers in a modest way.
"Thomas Murphy, at the age
of twenty, in May, 1868, came to America,
located in Lenawee County, and began work by the
month, saving his earnings and sending money to
his brothers John, Andrew S., and William T.,
to enable them in coming to the "land of the
free". He also assisted his parents in coming.
The brothers, however, returned to him the money
which he had advanced them, after they arrived
here and secured work.
"The parents came here to
America in June, 1881, and took up their abode
in Macon, Lenawee County, where the son, Thomas,
had a house already furnished for them. There
they lived twenty two years. They were residents
of Clinton Township at the time of their deaths,
as the sons had moved away from Macon, and they
built a small house in Clinton Township, near to
them. The mother passed away January 1, 190),
and father passed away October 27, of the same
year. They held membership in the Presbyterian
church and were people of distinctive mentality
and sterling attributes of character. They are
survived by four sons and two daughters.
"Thomas Murphy was reared
and educated in the fair Emerald Isle, where he
attended the excellent Cloghwater National
Schools, and he preceded his parents to America
by several years, as stated before. Since
becoming a resident of Lenawee County, in 1868,
he has continued to make his home here and he
has worked his way from obscurity to a position
of no little prominence and of definite
independence and prosperity. He began working by
the month as a farm hand and was thus engaged
for a period of time of ten years. The first
year he worked for James B. Colvin, of Raisin,
and in the ensuing three years for the late
Edmund Hall, of Holloway. Then for six years he
was in the employ of the late Judge C. A. Stacy,
of Tecumseh, which employment he left on his
wedding day. In all these years he lost no time,
and has always hired out to his new employer
before leaving his old one. He realized and
observed the truth of Benjamin Franklin's
statement that "sloth, like rust, consumes
faster than labor wears", and thus he never
lacked appreciation of the dignity and the value
of honest toil, no matter in what the endeavor.
He also had the vision and wisdom to carefully
husband his resources during those early years
of earnest application, and this was shown in
the fact that within nine years he had saved
from his earnings the noteworthy sum of $3000.
"In 1877, he purchased
eighty acres of land in Macon Township, though
he continued to work by the month about one year
thereafter, in the meantime renting his newly
acquired farm. He then purchased an additional
forty acres, equipped with adequate buildings,
and thereafter he long gave his l.ID divided
time and attention to the work and improvement
of his own farm property.
"In 1891 he purchased
another forty acres adjoining and in the autumn
of 1898 he purchased his present homestead farm
of 1)0 acres, in Tecumseh Township. Still later
he purchased forty acres in Clinton Township, so
that his landed estate in Lenawee County now
aggregates ))0 acres. His energy during these
long years has been unabating, and his
progressive policy and able management of
affairs have placed him among the leading
farmers and stock growers of the County where he
began his independent career as a farm hand.
Such accomplishment means much and should bring
a due measure of objective appreciation and
admiration. Mr. Murphy is a stockholder in the
Anthony Fence Co., manufacturer of wire, also a
stockholder in the H. Brewer and Co.,
manufacturer of clay working machinery, and a
director of the Farmer's Fire Insurance Company
of Lenawee County. He has not failed to take a
loyal interest in all that has tended to
conserve the material and civic prosperity of
his home count, and in politics he has ever
given staunch support to the cause for which the
Republican party stands sponsor. While a
resident of Macon Township he served as school
moderator and school assessor for years and
township treasurer two terms, and in public
office, as in private life, he has
had the inviolable confidence and regard of
those who know him.

"April
3, 1878, witnesses
the marriage of Mr. Murphy to Jennie Anderson,
who was born in the Craigs, County Antrim,
Ireland, July )0, 1846, a daughter of William
and Eliza (Getty) Anderson, who became residents
of Lenawee County in 1865, and passed the
remainder of their lives in Ridgeway Township.
"The following is a brief
record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs.
Murphy: James A. was born January 8, 1879, and
is now bookkeeper in the offices of Ohio Savings
Bank and Trust at Toledo, Ohio. He was graduated
in the Ridgeway High School and also Cleary
Business College at Ypsilanti, Michigan, taking
both the business and shorthand courses. On June
9, 190), he was united in marriage to Miss
Josephine Russell, and they have one son Russell
Anderson, born in 1907. Lizzie May, the second
child was born April 12, 1881, and was graduated
in both the Ridgeway and Tecumseh High Schools,
after which she was a popular teacher in the
public schools of the county until her marriage,
March 25, 190), when she became the wife of
Louis R. Feldman of Maybee Township, Monroe,
Michigan, and they have one son Clare Merton,
born May 4, 1906. Anna Florence, who was born
September 20, 188), was graduated at the
Tecumseh High School and from the Michigan State
Normal School at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is now
a successful teacher in the Elsie High School in
Clinton County, Michigan. Thomas Earl Murphy,
who was born March 7, 1889, is assisting his
father in the management of the home farm. He
has been through the Tecumseh High School and is
preparing to enter the Detroit Business College.
Ella Agnes was born September 30, 1894, and is
attending the public schools of Tecumseh (1909),
in the immediate vicinity of which village the
family hoe is located.
"In June, 1907, Mr. and
Mrs. Murphy and their daughter, Ella, made a
trip to the native land of their parents and
visited Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. They
also visited the Irish International Exhibitions
in Dublin, the city of Belfast, Londonderry,
Giant's Causeway, and all the large cities. They
enjoyed the trip very much. Mr. Murphy hardly
knew his old home, or the people, as everything
had changed for the better in the thirty nine
years since he had left his native hearth. The
return trip to America was made in the month of
September."
Taken from a Biographical
Album of Lenawee County, Michigan, published
1888.
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The following records were
taken from the Family Bible of Thomas and Jennie
Murphy, which Bible is a volume compiled by A.
J. Holman & Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
in 1876, as follows:
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"THOMAS MURPHY, CITIZENSHIP
PAPERS Came to America in 1867 and according to
statutory requirements of continuous residence
of at least five years in the United States (and
one year in the State of Michigan) a native of
Great Britain, he made application on February
15th., 187), to become a citizen of the United
States of America, due testimony and proof being
finished by Walter C. Burridge and E. G. Wilson.
Certificate of Citizenship was approved and
signed by the Hon. Victor H. Lane, Circuit
Judge, and attested by Edwin L. Mills, Clerk of
Lenawee County, Michigan, on October 28th.,
1895."
Their Children:
-
James
Alonzo Murphy was born at Lake Ridge, Michigan,
on January 8, 1879. He married Miss Josephine
Russell on June 9, 190), and Grace Hoagland on
March 18, 1926.
-
Lizzie May Murphy was born at
Lake Ridge, Michigan, on April 12, 1881. She
married Louis R. Feldman on March 25, 190).
-
Anna
Florence Murphy was born at Lake Ridge, Michigan
on September 20, 188). She married Alexander
Gibson on November 14, 191).
-
Thomas Earl Murphy
was born at Lake Ridge, Michigan, on March 7,
1889. He married Carrie Palmer on June 12, 191).
-
Ella Agnes Murphy was born at Lake Ridge,
Michigan, on September JO, 1894. She married
Percy Boyd on September 10, 1917.
Thomas Murphy was born at
Tullynuey, County Antrim, Ireland, on August 21,
1847. He came to America in 1867, and died at
Britton, Michigan, on July 18, 19)7, aged 89
years, 10 mos., 27 days.
Jennie Anderson Murphy was
born at "The Craigs" in County Antrim, Ireland,
on July )0, 1846; came to America in 1865, and
died at Tecumseh, Michigan, on January 16, 1928,
aged 81 years, 5 mos., and 16 days.
The said Family Bible and
Certificate of Citizenship from which the above
information was obtained are in the possession
of James A. Murphy.
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The following was taken
from a very old, yellowed newspaper clipping:
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"MURPHY-FELDMAN
Miss Lizzie Murphy and
Lewis R. Feldman, of Exeter, March 190)
Were United in Marriage
Wednesday Evening at the Home of the Bride's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Murphy
A quiet home wedding
occurred Wednesday evening at the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Murphy, one mile north of
the village, when their daughter, Miss Elizabeth
May, was united in holy wedlock to Mr. Lewis R.
Feldman, of Exeter. The impressive words were
spoken by Rev. W. F. Jones in the presence of
only immediate relatives. After the happy couple
had received congratulations, an elaborate
supper was served. Miss Murphy is well and
favorably known in Tecumseh and Mr. Feldman is
to be congratulated on winning her as his life
partner. They will make their future home in
Exeter."
William and Eliza
Anderson's fourth child, Mary, was born in 18.50.
She came to the United States with her parents
in 1865, and married Thomas Elliott of Tecumseh
in about 1874.

Thomas Elliott was born in
Clogh, County Antrim, Ireland, on April 1, 1850.
He came to America in 1873. Thomas was the son
of James and Maria Miller Elliott. His brother,
James, preceded him to Michigan in 1871, and had
married Adelaide Rainey of Homer in 1876. James
Elliott died in 1938. A sister, Margaret, and
another brother, Robert, also emigrated to
America. Margaret married David McWilliams on
March 24, 1885. David, a son of John and Mary
(Jennings) McWilliams, was born in County
Antrim, August 5, 1800.
Thomas and his brother,
James, both were excellent tradesmen, and they
set up blacksmith shops in the village of
Tecumseh.
Thomas and Mary Elliott had
four children: James (1875 1938), William
(1877 1930), Ernest (1879 1937) and Thomas,
Jr. (1889 1937). Young Tom worked in the post
office in Tecumseh for many years.
Mary Anderson Elliott died
on June 10, 1926, and Thomas died on October 11,
1932, at the age of 82.
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Part of the following page
was copied from a biographical booklet titled
TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN 1895. It is the residence of
Thomas and Mary Elliott.
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Samuel J. Anderson was born
near Cullybackey, County Antrim, Ireland, and
came to Michigan with his parents and four
sisters in 1865. On Thursday, December ), 1885,
at his mother's home in Macon Township, he was
married to Maria Jane Wallace by Rev. Charles S.
Dutton, pastor of the Reformed Church. Maria
Jane was born' December 27, 18.54. She was the
oldest of eight children of John and Jane
Wallace.
They lived in the Ridgeway
Macon area, first in a small house on Milwaukee
Road the house is no longer there, but it was
near a creek that crossed Milwaukee Road. Later
they lived closer to Ridgeway on Milwaukee Road
(the Raymond Bird farm), and then on Ridge
Highway
just north of Ridgeway (the
old Rappeleye farm, more recently Milburn
Baker's home). They were members of the
Methodist Church in Ridgeway. Samuel and his
neighbor to the east, Joseph Wiggins, donated
one of the stained glass windows in the church.
In 1908 the family left the
Ridgeway area and moved to a farm one mile north
and 1t miles east of North Adams. They had two
children,' William Wallace, born December 18,
'1887: and Anna Lavina, born July 12, 1890.
"In October of 1982, he was
diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) and was
forced to go on sick leave in March 1983. He
finally retired September 23, 1983, and was able
to attend an open house in his honor. Al though
mentally alert, he was in a wheelchair and
unable to speak. On October 4, eleven days
later, he succumbed to the ravages of this
neuromuscular disease. He was buried in
Northlawn Cemetery near North Adams alongside
his grandparents, Samuel and Maria Anderson.
"Ronald's oldest son,
William, was graduated from the Alpena High
School in 1960. He worked for the Kroger Company
in Bay City until 1962 at which time he enlisted
in the Air Force. He was stationed in Athens,
Greece, for several years and married Hrissoula
(Christina) Magdou in Athens in 1965. Subsequent
assignments have been Texas; Germany; Dayton,
Ohio; one year in Thailand while retaining his
base in Dayton; Sacramento, California, and
Japan. After returning from Japan in 1980, he
was stationed in Dayton, Ohio, for a few months
and then was transferred to San Bernadino,
California, where he is at present. He and Chris
have one daughter, Rhonda Marie, born June 3,
1978, in Japan.
"John, the second son,
graduated from Bay City High School in 1968. He
worked for the Kroger Company, where he had
worked most of the time since age 14, until his
death on July 8, 1980. He married Andrea Kay
Welch in 1970 and they had two children, Michael
John, born October 6, 1972, and Amy Noel, born
December 31, 1973. John died from complications
from chicken pox in the lungs. After his death,
Andrea returned to college and nurses training
and expects to graduate in December 1984.
"Renee graduated from
Charlotte High School in 1980. She married
Dennis Durwood Zank of Charlotte on July 9,
1983. She is day supervisor at The Parlour
restaurant in Charlotte. Dennis works for Eaton
County Transportation.

"Wilma was born on the farm
near North Adams, attended the country school
for eight years and graduated from North Adams
High School in 1938. She attended Cleary College
in Ypsilanti, Michigan, completing a one year
secretarial course in 1939. She worked in
Hillsdale for five years for the Federal Farm
Loan and the Agricultural Adjustment
Administration (Federal Farm Program).
"In August of 1944 she
moved to Jackson and commenced work as a
secretary for Consumers Power Company
and has continued there until the present time
(40 years), working in the same department for
31 years and for the same man for 29 years. She
never married. She has traveled quite
extensively, having traveled in Europe and the
British Isles, the Holy Land, Hawaii and in 47
of the 50 states. In Northern Ireland she
visited Wallace relatives and saw the girlhood
home of Maria Wallace Anderson as well as the
Cullybackey cemetery where many of the Wallaces
were buried. Vacation time for the past few
years has been spent, for the most part, near
Tarpon Springs, Florida, where she has a travel
trailer."
Taken from an account by
Wilma Anderson
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Anna Lavina Anderson was
born July 12, 1891, to Samuel and Maria
Anderson.
On April 19, 1910, she
married Russell Meredith Smith, who was born
September 16, 1889. Russell was the son of
George W. and Estella (Jones) Smith. The George
Smith homestead was a beautiful large brick home
on Kniffen Road, built in 1882. It burned from
sparks from a passing train in 1950.
Following
is a newspaper account of the Smith Anderson
wedding.
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"Last Wednesday at
'Pleasant View' the home of the bride's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Anderson, Russell Meredith
Smith of Britton, was united in holy wedlock to
Anna Lavina Anderson, in the presence of the
immediate families. The impressive ring ceremony
was used. Rev. R. W. Merrill officiating. The
bride was attired in a beautiful gown of old
rose silk foulard; the groom wore the
conventional black. In the three years Mrs.
Smith has lived here she has endeared herself to
a host of friends. She was active in church work
and will be greatly missed. Mr. Smith is a
popular young fanner of Britton, and of
excellent character. The happy couple left for a
short wedding trip to Detroit, after which they
will begin housekeeping in Britton. Among the
many useful presents received was a check of
four pounds from the bride's grandparents in
northern Ireland. Their many friends unite in
extending congratulations. " |
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Anna and Russell had two
children, Margaret Lavina, born February 12,
1912, and Helen Estelle, born March 4, 1914.

"In October of 1982, he was
diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) and was
forced to go on sick leave in March 1983. He
formally retired September 23, 1983, and was
able to attend an open house in his honor. Al
though mentally alert, he was in a wheelchair
and unable to speak. On October 4, eleven days
later, he succumbed to the ravages of this
neuromuscular disease. He was buried in
Northlawn Cemetery near North Adams alongside
his grandparents, Samuel and Maria Anderson.
"Ronald's oldest son,
William, was graduated from the Alpena High
School in 1960. He worked for the Kroger Company
in Bay City until 1962 at which time he enlisted
in the Air Force. He was stationed in Athens,
Greece, for several years and married Hrissoula
(Christina) Magdou in Athens in 1965. Subsequent
assignments have been Texas; Germany; Dayton,
Ohio; one year in Thailand while retaining his
base in Dayton; Sacramento, California, and
Japan. After returning from Japan in 1980, he
was stationed in Dayton, Ohio, for a few months
and then was transferred to San Bernadino,
California, where he is at present. He and Chris
have one daughter, Rhonda Marie, born June 3,
1978, in Japan.
"John, the second son,
graduated from Bay City High School in 1968. He
worked for the Kroger Company, where he had
worked most of the time since age 14, until his
death on July 8, 1980. He married Andrea Kay
Welch in 1970 and they had two children, Michael
John, born October 6, 1972, and Amy Noel, born
December 31, 1973. John died from complications
from chicken pox in the lungs. After his death,
Andrea returned to college and nurses training
and expects to graduate in December 1984.
"Renee graduated from
Charlotte High School in 1980. She married
Dennis Durwood Zank of Charlotte on July 9,
1983. She is day supervisor at The Parlour
restaurant in Charlotte. Dennis works for Eaton
County Transportation.
"Wilma was born on the farm
near North Adams, attended the country school
for eight years and graduated from North Adams
High School in 1938. She attended Cleary College
in Ypsilanti, Michigan, completing a one year
secretarial course in 1939. She worked in
Hillsdale for five years for the Federal Farm
Loan and the Agricultural Adjustment
Administration (Federal Farm Program).


Margaret married Theodore
William Layle on January 27, 1934. They had four
children:
Russell Franklin, James
Richard, and twins Claudia Helen and Barbara
Meredith. Margaret died on the twins eighteenth
birthday, March 7, 1962.
Helen married Joseph
Franklin Swain on February 16, 1938. They had no
children.
At one time Anna and Russell Smith owned the
Smith Apartment building on North Main Street in
Britton. In 1971 they moved to Largo, Florida.
At this time he was in the elevator construction
business. Russell died November 18, 1977. Anna
died June 23, 1984.

Nancy Anderson

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