Edwin Wells Murphey
Edwin Wells Murphey, who has had charge of the Groesbeck estate in Cincinnati for the past sixteen years, has gained a reputation in the management of large interests which indicates he is the possessor of rare business judgement. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Greenup County, November 22, 1849, a son of Dr. William Morton and Lucy (Wilkins) Murphey. The father was born at Maysville, Kentucky, and after growing to maturity studied medicine and was graduated from medical colleges at Lexington and Louisville. Although he was educated in the allopathic school he adopted the principles of homeopathy and engaged successfully in practice at Maysville. On account of ill health he gave up practice temporarily after having been appointed by President Franklin Pierce, who was a cousin of his wife, assistant general mail agent with headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky. He was recommended to this position by United States Senator Gutherie and discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of the officials at Washington. At the opening of the Civil War he was appointed confidential secretary to General Swords, quartermaster of the Union Army, and from 1861 to 1865 was located most of the time at Cincinnati and Louisville. After the close of the rebellion he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as United States internal revenue collector at Covington. Retiring from this position he resumed practice at Covington, continuing there until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Ira Wilkins, of Nashua, New Hampshire. She was born at Amherst, Massachusetts, and was visiting in Kentucky, when she first met Mr. Murphy, to whom she was afterward married. She and her husband were stanch members of the Presbyterian church and were for many years prominent in social life. Of their children two are now living: Edwin W.; and John C., who makes his home in St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Murphey of the review attended the public schools and later became a student of the Forest Home Military School near Louisville, paying special attention to civil engineering, in which he became highly proficient. At the age of seventeen he entered the field and for twelve years was employed in railroad construction in various parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1877 he was appointed superintendent of the Cincinnati Gymnasium, a position which he ably filled for eighteen years. Since 1895 he has filled the position of agent of the Groesbeck estate. He is progressive in his ideas and is recognized as possessing clear discernment and sound business capacity, which he is utilizing to the marked advantage of the large interests entrusted to his charge.
Mr. Murphey married Miss Louise Kirby, a daughter of John S. Kirby, of Urbana, Ohio. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Real Estate Exchange. Socially he is identified with the Cincinnati Gymnasium and holds a life membership in that organization. He is the possessor of remarkably good judgement as to real-estate values, and his opinion is often sought by persons desiring to make investments. A public-spirited man, he has great faith in the growth of his adopted city and, as he has ever kept in view the welfare and happiness of others, he fully deserves the respect in which he is held by all with whom he comes into personal contact.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. III, by Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912