This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Murphy, Northrup, Alexander, Manion, Gordon, Downing, Walton, Dunlap, Cook, Sherman, Agard Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Xm.2ADE/175 Message Board Post: From Lest We Forget The Rooks County Historical Society Osborne, Kansas, 1980 page 392 Cora May Murphy Cora Murphy is a direct descendant of an early Northrup family settling in Massachusetts in 1620. Cora's great-great-grandfather, Daniel Northrup, served as soldier in the War of the Revolution as a sergeant in Col. Archibald McCrary's Rhode Island Regiment in 1776. Later, Daniel and his family joined a group of settlers in Washington County, Ohio in 1979. Daniel's fourth child, Hampton Northrup II, was captured by Indians when fourteen years until he was found by some missionaries and acted as their guide and interpreter among the Indian tribes. Hampton Northrup II was Cora's great-grandfather. Hampton's son, Stephen Monroe Northrup, was Cora's grandfather. Stephen's seventh child, Mathilda Rachel Northrup, born October 4, 1854 in Ohio was Cora's mother. Mathilda Rachel Northrup married Joseph Hawkins Alexander, February 9, 1871. Cora May Alexander was born on July 29, 1872 in Indianapolis, Iowa. Cora was the only child of Mathlda and Joseph Alexander. When Cora w! as seven years old the family moved to Kansas. Her early life was spent on a homestead one and one-half miles north of the Woodston site which was not planned and laid out as a town until the summer of 1884, when the Missouri Pacific Railroad was built going west through Rooks County. Cora attended several schools, some in a sod building like her first home which was a sod house. Later her family built a home of logs and stone. Cora was a member of the United Brethren Church from early childhood. On September 6, 1891, Cora married William W. Murphy. They became part of the farm community north of Woodston. Three sons were born, Elton J. Murphy, October 9, 1893, Ward Alexander Murphy, April 26, 1897, Rollen Emery Murphy, December 14, 1901. Cora's husband, William, died March 15, 1942 and Cora moved from the farm to Woodston. She lived in Woodston many years, sharing her love with others. Her beautiful flower gardens were her pride and joy. Cora Alexander Murphy died October 5, 1957. Cora's Son, Elton J. Murphy, married Alice May Manion, June 6, 1915. They had four children: Irma Murphy Lee, Elaine Murphy Gordon, June Murphy Downing and Donald Murphy. Cora's son, Ward Alexander Murphy married Hazel Belle Walton, July 7, 1915. Two children were born, Velda Maye Murphy Dunlap and Walton Wardell Murphy. Rollen Emery Murphy, son of Cora, married Esther May Cook, April 30, 1925. Three children were born: Wilma F. Murphy Sherman, Marvin L. Murphy and Lorna R. Murphy Agard. Elton Murphy, Ward Murphy and Rollen Murphy raised their families in the Woodston community. The original homestead farmland was held by the Murphys and provided a prosperous livelihood. The descendants of Cora Alexander Murphy are now living in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas. These grandchildren often return to Rooks County and the Woodston community to refresh memories of their past homes and to visit friends. -submitted by Lorna H. Murphy Agard granddaughter of Cora Murphy.