Murphy

Martha Hasty/Murphy’s homestead journey: Homesteads were just being opened for filing, so before she left she filed hers in 1909 east of Baker. On the homestead she filed the first dairy farm in Baker after her husband died from cancer. She sold milk, cream, butter, eggs, and chickens, on her delivery wagon. Martha had 2 children, Roy and Harry. (with Albert Houston) Roy at the age of 4 passed away in his mother's arms from an acute bowel obstruction on the way to Miles City and his grave was the first one in the Baker Cemetery. In 1911, she met Jim Murphy. He worked with Martha’s brother Fred building roads. They both clicked and were married in Bowman, ND in 1912. Martha’s nephews (Erwin Dean) bought the homestead of 320 acres in the spring of 1918, known as the Fertile Prairie community. She and her family experienced many obstacles; drought, grasshoppers, depression (no money, no rain, had to feed cattle weeds), and her house burnt June of 1938.The Murphy family farmed with only horses...NO TRACTORS (until later). Mike (one of Martha’s children with Jim) finished high school and then helped his dad on the farm while his two brothers Harry and Pat were fighting WW2. Martha’s husband Jim died October 22, 1953. Pat and Mike took over the homestead from their mother Martha. (raised cattle and ponies) Martha passed away in 1969.

I am writing this as Martha Murphy’s great-great granddaughter. My great-great grandfather was Albert and Jim. My great grandma Esther Murphy, great grandpa Robert Murphy, my grandma LaTonne, and my grandpa Jim. We have growing land today and are proud to be farming in Fallon County.