I had this photo labeled as James Joseph Murphy, but I’m starting to think this may be someone else. James J Murphy died in 1917 at 36 years old. This man looks a little older, don’t ya think? To give some comparison, the photo on the right is actually James J Murphy.
The hair part is different, but the eyes and cheeks are very similar. Could be him, his father, or someone completely different. What are your thoughts? Does anyone know where the photo on the left came from?
Katie's Grove 
Yes – he does appear older the 36yrs. Good luck on id’ing this gentleman.
Regards,
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
I wonder if he was Margaret Richards’ Father, Margaret Richards resembles him along with Elizabeth and Edward Murphy.
Hi Katie, the faces do look similar but I have no idea where the picture is from or who it might be. How did you get it?
My Mom had the photo with some other old photos and had assumed it was James Joseph Murphy, but now thinking about it, it’s probably not him. Just recently a distant cousin (granddaughter of Margaret Richards-Murphy sister Bessie Richards-Bevan) emailed me and said that she remembers her mother talking about Bessie and Margaret’s step mother. The step mother came with the two girls and their father to America, so their real mother had to have died when they were very young. They didn’t particularly care for their step mother and I wonder if she is supposed to be in this photo and that is why it is torn. We’ll never know for certain, but I bet this is a photo of Margaret Richards’ father.
I agree with you. He looks so much like my great grandmother. I just love going to this site. Thank you for all the research you do. Now for sure we know that we are Welsh and my dad really always played up the German. Wish he were here to see this.
Thank you so much for the kind words! The Updegraffs were definitely originally from Germany, but it’s so interesting all the other influences. I never knew anything about Wales!
Hi Katie….Long story as to who I am…..I was married to Thomas R. Murphy for 38 years….My name is Patti and yes we have 3 sons…Thomas, Donald, and James….Tom, Sr. died at the age of 56 from lung cancer in 1998….This is picture I have as James Joseph Murphy….Yes, this is the one in the same person…You have done a great joy in this true labor of love….
Hi Patti, thanks for the info and the comments. After much thought, I think that these two pictures are of two different men, one of the photos is mislabeled. James Joseph Murphy died in 1917 at the age of 36. The photo on the left does not look like a 36 year old (or younger). It’s possible that this photo is of James Joseph Murphy’s father, who died in 1923 at the age of 71. It’s also possible that this is a photo of James Joseph Murphy’s father-in-law (the father of Margaret Richards).
Have you seen the flickr page of Murphy photos? I believe I have some posted of Thomas R. Murphy. You can view it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiesgrove/sets/72157627316344211/
Some are unknown to me, so if you recognize anyone mislabeled, please let me know!