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1 of 1977 Con Murphy

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Name	Murphy, Con
Othernames	Cornelius T. Murphy
Born	Jan. 1840
Birthplace	County Cork, Ireland
Places of residence	Emigrated to the U.S. in 1864. Lived in St. Louis. Moved to Chicago before 1880. Family lived at 125 Center Ave.
Nationality	Irish
Occupation	Actor and Playwright Began acting in Ireland and continued in theaters throughout ther Midwestern U.S. Actor and stage manager for several traveling theater companies during the last decades of the nineteenth century. Acted with all three of the Booth brothers: Junius, John Wilkes and Edwin. Specialized in Shakespeare; playwright for several Irish-themed plays: - O'Neill of Kildare - The Fairies Wey - Killarney - The Ivy Leaf Became well known as a singer later in his career.
Role	Actor
Spouse	India May
Notes	Spent summers in Lake Bluff for years during the Camp Meeting era, then retired here around 1900. Became known as "The Sweet Singer of Lake Bluff"

Related Records

1. Con and India Murphy - Obituary for Con Murphy September 27, 1903. Con a poet, playwright and an actor who worked with John Wilkes and Edwin Booth; he died in his home at 125 East Center Avenue in July 1907. Obituary for Inda May Murphy listing her as an actress and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses Grant, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Barker of Lake Bluff. (India Barker?) India Murphy died in October 1926. Other articles on Con Murphy, and an inquiry asking about where Con is buried (Inda is buried in Lake Forest)

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Con Murphy - Article on Con T. Murphy, actor and playwright, provided by Harold Barker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Barker of Lake Bluff. Mrs. Barker was Murphy's daughter. Daily Journal undated Circa 1915. Also, a three page write up by Hal Barker, about Conrad Murphy. Murphy acted with three Booths, Junius Brutus, Jr., John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth. Barker states that John Wilkes Booth " once met my grandfather in another theater back stage and was pointing a pistol into Con T's stomach said, ' Con, if you were only Lincoln.' This is as I recall from grandfather's remarks. But knowing John to be a radical and not taking him seriously, he did not report it to the authorities. A thing he always regretted. " Con and his wife India May lived at 125 East Center Avenue.

   125 E Center Ave_0005

   Record Type: Archive