Last updated: January 24, 2023
Person
Gideon Murphy
D/Ann Young-Turner (Murphy Descendant)
Quick Facts
Significance:
Arkansas Homesteader
Place of Birth:
Sevier County, Arkansas
Date of Birth:
July 27, 1846
Place of Death:
Nashville, Howard County, Arkansas
Date of Death:
January 18, 1930
Place of Burial:
Howard County, Arkansas
Cemetery Name:
Center Point Cemetery #2
Gideon H. Murphy settled on his land located in Sevier County, Arkansas on January 18, 1879 and submitted homestead application #7236 on April 4, 1884 for 160 acres of land located on Section 32 – Township 8S – Range 29 - 2W.
He received Homestead Patent #3300 on January 1, 1885 for 160 acres of which 16 acres were cleared for cultivation, and included a two room log house along with other out buildings.
Per the Homestead application and the Freedmen’s Bank record, Gideon signed his name. The 1880 and 1900 censuses verify his literacy.
Per his testimony, Gideon stated that he had a wife and three children and that for a two-month period the family moved temporarily to “take care of crop” and he had to attend to a “bad fence”.
The witnesses were Frank W. Hall, James M. Hunsucker, Standford Hunsucker, and Robert Watson. Mr. Watson stated that in the winter of 1879, Gideon had a “log house with two rooms and other outbuildings and about 16 acres of land cleared and in cultivation.” He cultivated crops over “5 seasons”.
Gideon H. Murphy was born July 27, 1846 in Sevier County, Arkansas to Gideon “Gid” and Delilah Murphy who had five other children, (Lively “Comely” Murphy-Turrentine born February 4, 1839 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died May 22, 1916 in Sevier County, Arkansas; Ellen Murphy-Polk born May 12 1842 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died February 11, 1918 in Howard County, Arkansas; Daniel W. Murphy born July 1849 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died prior to 1910 in Sevier County, Arkansas; Arabella Murphy born circa 1854 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died June 4, 1937 in Sevier County, Arkansas; and Reuben Murphy.
Gideon and his parents and siblings were enslaved to Richard D. Murphy, son of Cassandra Harpole and J.W. Murphy. Cassandra was the daughter of Captain John Harpole of Wilson County, Tennessee. Captain Harpole acquired land in southwest Arkansas territory circa 1817. He along with his wife Sarah and his daughters Mary Polly Harpole-Carr; Sarah Harpole-Props; Nancy Harpole-Hill; Margaret Harpole-Crabtree along with their children and the following enslaved individuals moved from Wilson County, TN to Hempstead County, Arkansas territory circa 1818; Rueben, Lively, Sarah, Nancy, Winnie, Ben, Mary, Dolly, Minty, Gid (father of Gideon H. Murphy), Hardy, and Matilda.
Gideon H. Murphy along with his mother and siblings are listed on the Freedmen’s Bureau records for the Paraclifta office (Sevier County, Arkansas) in 1865 having received rations. He is also documented on the Freedmen’s Bank Records dated June 26, 1873, occupation: photographer.
Gideon and his wife Alice Murphy
Photo Credit: D/Ann Young-Turner (Murphy Descendant)
Per the 1880 Sevier County, Arkansas census, Gideon is enumerated with his wife Allice and their four-month-old daughter Mereda. He is living next to his brother Dan Murphy and their mother Delilah and sister Arabella.
~ Contributed by Lyle Gibson, descendant
Lyle Gibson
Photo Credit: Tati Zalozh
More from the contributor: The oral tradition of the Harpole family was passed down from Mariah “Big Sis” Harpole, aunt of Gideon H. Murphy. Mariah was born circa 1838 in Arkansas and died 1911 in Howard County, Arkansas. Mariah was married to Reuben Harpole. Mariah helped to raise many of her nieces and nephews and her two younger siblings, hence the nickname “Big Sis”. Mariah’s siblings were; Gideon Harpole Murphy born circa 1816 TN; Hardy Harpole Murphy born 1817 in TN and died 1885 in Sevier County, AR; Winnie Harpole born circa 1817 in TN; Angeline Harpole-Booker born circa 1836 in AR; Tilman Patterson Harpole born January 6, 1842 in Lafayette County, AR and died April 11, 1916 in Kansas City, MO; and Catherine Kate Harpole-Burrell born March 1844 in Lafayette County, AR and died March 10, 1927 in Lafayette County, AR. DNA technology is bridging the gap of history and slavery as descendants of Winnie Harpole, Angeline Harpole-Booker, Tilman P. Harpole, and Kate Harpole-Burrell share DNA matches helping to reconstruct the family tree.
About the contributor: Lyle Gibson is the 1st cousin five times removed of Gideon H. Murphy. Gibson’s 4th great grandmother Winnie Harpole was the aunt of Gideon H. Murphy. A genealogist with thirty-one years of experience and a historian with over twenty years teaching experience, Lyle developed an interest in history and genealogy while serving in the Air Force stationed in Greece. Lyle holds memberships in the SAR and local genealogical societies. Gibson authored a book about a multiracial American family from the time span of the colonial period to the early twentieth century entitled Black Tie White Tie. He also adapted and produced a historical documentary that shares the same title. Gibson has also worked on the award winning documentary series An American Story. And Lyle founded The Elijah Adkins Reed Historical Preservation Society, a non-profit organization geared towards preserving America’s history through film.