Reuben Murphy

Reuben Murphy

D/Ann Young-Turner (Murphy Descendant)

Quick Facts

Significance:

Arkansas Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Sevier County, Arkansas

Date of Birth:

July 1846

On February 25, 1881, Reuben Murphy submitted Homestead Application #9150, which included an Adjoining Farm Homestead affidavit, for 40 acres of land located in Sevier County, Arkansas. The claim's legal land description was the North East ¼ of the North West ¼ of Section 33 – Township 10S – Range 29W.
The 40 acre homestead claim was to adjoin to 120 acres of tax sale lands Murphy purchased prior to claiming his homestead. He paid a $6.00 "compensation of Register and Reciever fee" to process the paperwork. It is noted on this receipt that Murphy had to provide Final Proof within seven years from date of that receipt.

On May 31, 1870 Reuben Murphy purchased forty acres of tax sale land for $4.85 (recorded July 2, 1875) and on December 15, 1877 he purchased eighty acres of tax sale land for $3.70. Interestingly, R.D. Murphy (son of Cassandra Harpole-Murphy and John W. Murphy, Reuben's former enslavers) served as the Sevier County, Arkansas Tax Assessor during this time.

Murphy settled on his original 120 acres located in Sevier County, Arkansas, in 1878. Murphy's 40 acre claim was intended to adjoin to this 120 acres legally described as the NW¼ of N/W ¼ & S1/2 of NW¼ of Section 33 - Township 10S - Range 29W. If successful, this claim would bring Murphy's ownership to a full quarter section or 160 acres of land.

Chas Wilds, proprietor of The Chronicle, a weekly newspaper, printed Murphy's notice of intent to make final proof on the date of February 18th, 1887, and published it for six weeks - from December 30, 1886 through February 8, 1887.

Murphy was 36 years old at the time he filed his homestead application and was 42 years old when he made his Final Proof on February 18, 1887. On his Testimony of Claimant paperwork he described the character of the land as timber and farming land. The timber was oak and pine, but lightly timbered, so he used the wood for improvements. He did use the land for grazing and stated he did not live on the 40 acres because he built his home on the adjoining land when he settled there in 1878. Murphy also stated he actively voted in Brownstown, Arkansas for the past 8 years. Murphy included that he was head of the household and his wife and 6 children lived on their land consecutively since 1878. He claimed residence for nine years and for nine seasons he farmed and paid his taxes every year in Sevier County, Arkansas

Murphy stated he had built a second residence, valued at $10.00, on the 40 acre claim that was framed and occupied by Joe McNeil. Murpy's original house was of "Loggs and Plank" with three rooms valued at $50.00. Other improvements were a corn crib valued at $10.00, two stables valued at $10.00, a blacksmith shop valued at $10.00, and a Well valued at $100.00.

Murphy provided that he had "3 Head Horses - 6 Head Cattle - 12 Head Hoggs - 6 Head Sheep". Murphy broke 20 to 40 acres and planted corn and cotton.

On any document requiring signature, Murphy signed his name with an “X”.

The witnesses for Murphy's Final Proof were Walter Hopkins and Isom Carr. Mr. Hopkins stated that Murphy and his family settled on the land in 1878 and had known Reuben Murphy for 20 years. Mr. Hopkins signed his name with an “X”. Mr. Carr, age 24, stated that he had known Reuben Murphy for 7 years. Carr and Hopkins corroberated Murphy's testimony.

Rueben Murphy's completed requirements for his homestead claim were filed at the Camden, Arkansas Land Office on February 24, 1887, six years after filing his initial application. His homestead was Recommended for a Patent and referred to Division "O" on February 18, 1889. Finally, on June 24, 1889, Murphy recieved Homestead Patent #4452.

More about Reuben Murphy: Murphy was born July 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; Gideon Henry Murphy born July 27, 1846 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died January 18, 1930 in Howard County, Arkansas. Gideon also received a Homestead Patent in 1885; Daniel W. Murphy born July 1849 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died prior to 1910 in Sevier County, Arkansas; and Arabella Murphy born circa 1854 in Sevier County, Arkansas and died June 4, 1937 in Sevier County, Arkansas.

Reuben 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 families and the following enslaved individuals moved from Wilson County, Tennessee to Hempstead County, Arkansas territory circa 1818; Rueben, Lively, Sarah, Nancy, Winnie, Ben, Mary, Dolly, Minty, Gid (father of Reuben Murphy), Hardy, and Matilda.

Reuben 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.

Per the 1880 Sevier County, Arkansas census, Reuben is enumerated with his wife Nettie and their children Sarah age 9, Mary age 7, and Emy age 1. Reuben and Nettie would have additional children; Annie Murphy born 1881, Fred Murphy born 1883, Charles Murphy born 1885, Ben Hubert Murphy born 1887, and Allie Beatrice Murphy born 1890.

There is no known information on Reuben Murphy after the 1910 census.

Patent Details - BLM GLO Records

~ Contributed by Lyle Gibson

Photo of contributor 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 Reuben 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 Reuben Murphy. Gibson’s 4th great grandmother Winnie Harpole was the aunt of Reuben 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. Additionally Lyle founded The Elijah Adkins Reed Historical Preservation Society, a non-profit organization geared towards preserving America’s history through film.