Murphy later worked in the livestock trade and sold cattle in Illinois,Wisconsin,and Minnesota Territory.[1][2] For two years Murphy worked aboard the steamboatTime and Tide in Minnesota as the ship's clerk before returning to Illinois.[2] Starting in 1859 Murphy worked for the law office of William H. McKee in Pinckneyville and was later admitted to the bar,later choosing to continue his own law practice.[1][2]
Military service
At the outbreak of the American Civil War Murphy volunteered for service in the Union Army on September 11,1862 and was elected as the Captain of Company H in the 110th Illinois Infantry Regiment.[4][5] Murphy's only two engagements were the Battle of Perryville and the Battle of Stones River. Murphy resigned from service on February 26,1863 following Stones River due to poor health.[4][6] Stones River decimated much of the regiment down to battalion size along with the resignation of many of the regiment's officers according the Illinois Adjutant General report.[4]
Businesses
Following his military service Murphy continued to work as a lawyer in Illinois. In 1866 Murphy formed a law business with Illinois Judge John Boyd and his brother Thomas Boyd in Perry County.[1][2][6][7] Murphy eventually worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and later for the Beaucoup Coal Mining Company located in Pinckneyville,Illinois. According to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,the company was owned by the Donk Brothers Company and operated from 1872-1884 and owned 65 acres of land which was used for coal mining.[6][8]
Murphy assisted his banking business partner George W. Wall in creating the Murphy-Wall Company,a bank and trust company which still exists today as the Murphy-Wall State Bank and Trust Company.[9] Murphy was also a founding figure behind many different banks across southern Illinois including;the First National Bank of Murphysboro,Illinois,the First State Bank in Thebes,Illinois,the First State Bank in Illmo,Missouri,the City National Bank in Murphysboro,and lastly the Citizens State and Savings Bank in Murphysboro.[10]
Murphy was also engaged in many different businesses in southern Illinois including the Murphysboro Electric Light Company,the Murphysboro Gas Light Company,the Pinckneyville Mining Company,the Southern Illinois Mining Company,and lastly the Hinke-Ismery Mining Company out of Kansas City,Kansas.[10]
Political career
The first politically appointed office Murphy ran for was "Master-in-Chancery" for Perry County,a court-appointed officer who deals primarily with administrative duties and equity within court spaces.[6][11] A Master-in-chancery is primarily associated with the English Court of Chancery.
Murphy was married to Penina Ozburn on April 18,1860.[6] Penina was the daughter of Illinois Senator and Mexican–American War veteran Hawkins S. Ozburn (1808-1868). Together William and Penina had four children,two of whom survived infancy;Hawkins O. Murphy and Sara Verina Murphy.[1] Murphy died on December 11,1911 and is buried in Pinckneyville,Illinois.
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Captain