JOHN B. MURPHY, Galion, Ohio.
No engineer in the employ of the Erie can show a clearer record than John B. Murphy, who for the past twenty-four years has been an employe of this great system. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, November 15, 1859, and is the son of John Murphy, who still lives in Dayton, and is also an employe of the Erie. Mr. Murphy attended school until he was 15 years of age, acquiring a good common school education, after which he worked a year as an apprentice in the Dayton machine shops. He secured a position on the Atlantic & Great Western in 1875, firing an old wood burner in the Dayton yards, and after firing freight for five years and passenger three years was promoted to engineer in August, 1883. For fifteen years he was engaged in the freight service, when his ability was further rewarded by promotion to the fast and important run on the passengers known as Nos. 1 and 12. This run he has now had one year. He has never had an accident of any kind, and has never received a reprimand from his superiors.

In September, 1886, he was married to Miss Josephine Downey, daughter of John Downey, a prominent farmer of Owensboro, Kentucky, who was an early settler of that state. They have no children. Mr. Murphy is a member of B. of L. E., Division 16. He owns fine property in Galion, and is well liked by all his acquaintances.

A notable occurrence happened on June 22, 1880, while Mr. Murphy was firing between Galion and Dayton. On that day the road, which was then the Atlantic & Great Western, was being narrowed, and Mr. Murphy left Dayton at 8 a. m. on a narrow gauge engine and arrived at Galion at 5 p. m., making an average of fifteen miles an hour, and only at one point were they delayed by the men who were narrowing the track.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From several 1914 issues of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Cincinnati Division Engineer J.B. Murphy, running engine #554, was listed as being in the Order of the Red Spot for the last half of 1914. The Order was an honor bestowed on engine crews who operated efficiently with few engine failures.

From the January, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Cincinnati Division engineer J.B. Murphy was commended for running his engine for 31,179 miles between November 1, 1913 and September 1, 1914 without any engine failures.

From the November, 1916 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Funeral services for engineer John B. Murphy, of 48 Stainton Avenue, Dayton, OH, who lost his life in the Urbana wreck, were held Oct. 10 (1916) at Holy Family Church, with burial at Calvary Cemetery.

The following members of the B of LE were pallbearers: John Haley, W.R. Shade, J.B. Lovett of Galion; and J.B. Donovan, of Youngstown; Clarence Stocklein and Andrew Lucas of Dayton, lifelong friends of the deceased.

It was the pleasure of the writer to have known J.B. Murphy for thirty years -- to know him as a man of manly character, loyal to the interests of the Erie railroad, faithful as a friend. His goodness was not of the type that reaches its highest manifestations in any ceremonial piety, but of the type that finds expression in a word of cheer to a discouraged brother -- the type that finds expression in quiet deeds of charity and in friendship.

I will say "good bye, old pard, we will try to exemplify the spirit manifested in your life, in bearing the grief at your passing."
-- J.B. Donovan, BLE Div. 329, Youngstown, OH, Oct. 14, 1916

From the December, 1916 issue of the Locomotive Engineers' Monthly Journal, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers:
Marion, OH, Oct. 7, 1916, Brother John B. Murphy, age 53, member of Div. 16, died in a wreck. He was admitted to the Brotherhood on Feb. 26, 1902. He had an insurance certificate with the Brotherhood for $1,500, which ws paid out to Alma A. Murphy, wife.