James J. Murphy was the fifth of Edward Murphy and Honorah "Nora" Hughes' six children. He was born and grew up on the family farm outside of Council Bluffs, Iowa. His father died in 1880, and since the time they were old enough he and his twin brother Edward helped their mother run the farm, living there with her until her death in 1925.

Related Items:
Obituaries for his mother Nora and brother Edward F.
Pictures of the Murphy family plot and the tombstones of other individuals connected to the Hughes family in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Obituaries for his grandmother Kate and aunts Katherine Coyle, Mary Carter and Anne Coyle.
Biography and obituary for his uncle Martin D. Hughes.

James J. Murphy
      James J. Murphy, 74, route 1, Manawa, died Tuesday at a local hospital following an illness of several weeks. He had been in the hospital for 20 days.
      Murphy was born and spent all his life on a farm near Manawa. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic church.
      Survivors include his twin brother, Edward F. of Council Bluffs; and three nephews, James Ruby of Vallejo, Calif., John Ruby of Long Beach, Calif., and George Ruby of Omaha.
      Msgr. James P. Danahey will celebrate requiem mass at 10 a. m. Friday at St. Francis church. Burial will be in St. Joseph's cemetery.
      The rosary will be recited at Beem-Belford Funeral home Thursday at 8 p. m.

Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Thursday, 30 June 1949, p. 13