Thomas Murphy was born on a farm in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1850, where
     he grew to manhood. In 1873 he married Nancy Pierce. Both came from families
     of ten children, all born in Clermont County. Three children Lillie (Nelson),
     Clifford, and Goldie (Stone) were born here.
       In 1881 Thomas moved his family to Knox County, Illinois, where government
     land was very cheap. A daughter Ethel (Blackmore) was born here. Thomas
     made some trips to Kansas with relatives and brought back glowing reports.
     So his widowed mother, with her five unmarried children, set out for Barber
     County by covered wagon. She built a nice home near Pixley, and lived the
     remainder of her life in Barber County.
       Thomas also decided to emigrate to Kansas, coming by train to Attica. He
     shipped a carload of belongings, a team of horses, and the family dog. A
     son, Joseph, was born in 1886. After a year, Thomas thought it wise to move
     on to Colorado to prove up a claim, going by covered wagon. His sister, Sarah, 
     and Joe Clayton joined them, also brothers John and Will, with the third
     wagon. It was a slow journey of two or three weeks, with horses, a small
     herd of cattle, and chickens. They had a large tent to pitch at rest stops.
     The wagons moved west thru southern Kansas, into Baca County, Colorado. 
     There was supposed to be wood and water here, but not a bush, nor water could
     be found.
       The family endured three years of drought, winds, hauling water and winter
     blizzards. They lived in the tent until a dugout home could be built. There
     were great numbers of centipedes, tarantulas, and rattle snakes. In desparation,
     the family returned to Barber County, where they prospered. In a few years,
     with the help of his sons, Cliff and Joe, Thomas bought a 160 acre farm on
     antelope flats, east of Pixley. He built a nice home and barn which are
     still in use. Three girls, Allie (Crouch), Minnie (Shank), and Olive (Gillespie)
     were born here.
       When these daughters reached the upper grades, Thomas sold that farm and
     moved to Medicine Lodge. They settled at the north end of Walnut Street, in
     the house across from the old pump station, with farm land adjoining on the
     north and west; the Barber County State Lake is now on this land. The tornado
     of 1907 badly damaged their home, and it was restored.
       With three young ladies, young men were frequent visitors. Thomas was quite
     strict with his girls, so one Halloween the boys decided to play a prank on
     him. They took a farm wagon from the barnyard and went south on Walnut Street,
     taking it apart and scattering pieces as far as the court house. The wagon
     belonged to the son, Cliff, who spent several days hunting pieces and putting
     it back together again.
       Thomas developed diabetes, which lead to his death in 1912. His widow,
     "Aunt Nan", survived him until 1935; and his daughters, Allie, of California,
     and Minnie, of Wichita, survive today. Also a large number of grandchildren,
     twelve or more in Barber County.
       Thomas was a public spirited citizen, taking an active part in community
     interests and serving on school boards. He was truly of pioneer stock,
     enduring hardships and prospering, as many early settlers did.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 342 
     Submitted by: Inez Murphy Read, Granddaughter.