Mullaney to Agnes Kelly Murphy, Jan 25-27 (c.1925-29) — Walkerville; thanks for buffalo robe and magnifying glass; mentions Melda, Maggie, Jen, Winifred

Family letters — Michael R. Mullaney to Agnes Kelly Murphy · private family correspondence (later digitized into docx form by descendant) · c1925-1929-01-25

date confidence: estimated

letterprimary focus

Summary

Personal letter from **Cousin Mike Mullaney** (Walkerville) to **Agnes Kelly Murphy** (the 1927-d. JJM's wife) — same writer- and-recipient pair as the March 31/25 letter, but written Jan 25-26-27 of an unspecified year. ## DATE BOUNDS Header reads only "Walkerville January 25/26" — no year. Most plausibly **1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, or early 1929**. Mike died 19 May 1929 so this letter precedes his death. Internal clues: - References Christmas presents Mike received Dec 24 (preceding the Jan letter date) - Mentions **Melda** sending him a nightgown gift — Melda could be Imelda Murphy (JJM Sr's daughter, b. ~1920) but she'd be too young (4-8 in 1924-28) to be sending nightgown gifts independently. OR Melda could be a different relative. - Mentions **Maggie** received a scrap-paper note in a bundle of newspapers — Maggie could be Margaret (JJM's sister of the 1912 obit), or Maggie Devitt (Mike's BC sister) - **Jen** is in regular correspondence (still requiring doctor's service, but steadily employed) - **Winifred** has not written; Mike owes her a reply Given the relative-list overlap with the March 31/25 letter (Nellie, Aunt Agnes Brennan implied, "the Murphys" as a family unit), MOST plausibly this letter is **January 1925** — the same Christmas-1924 / January-1925 timeframe as the March 31/25 reference to events of the same winter. ## KEY CONTENTS Thank-you-and-news letter: - **Buffalo robe gift "from all the Murphys"** (the Murphy family collectively sent Mike a buffalo robe / lap blanket for Christmas; Mike had been wanting one for 5-6 years). Mike uses it where he retires — calls it his "buffalo." - **Glass of very good magnifying power + sunglass** from Agnes ("can set fire to anything, from a house to a haystack, when sun is shining and glass properly focused") - **Nightgown** from Melda - The Murphys' card said "From all the Murphys" — suggests the JJM-1927d's family was collectively named on a gift card to Cousin Mike c. Christmas 1924 - Mike was at the P.O. Dec 24 and again Dec 28 - Mike's office colleague **Miss Boulton** — adds a Mullaney workplace context - Mike writes "I clap it on where I retire" — suggests he has a desk job at this point (not strictly a miner; or semi-retired) - Mike has been promising himself a stint at the **Holland rink** before the ice melts — eyes too sensitive to bright light for skating - Mild winter through January; 5-6 inches snow lately; snow remains as "complete white blanket" ## CLOSING "I will close with love and good wishes for you, Jim, and all the family. Cousin Mike. North Fourth St. Walkerville Mont." - "Jim" = Agnes Kelly Murphy's husband = the 1927-d. James J. Murphy. He was alive Jan 1925 (died April 4, 1927). THIS DATES THE LETTER PRE-APRIL 1927, narrowing the Jan 25/26 to either Jan 25-26 1925 or Jan 25-26 1926 or Jan 25-26 1927 (pre-April). Most plausibly **January 1925** matching the March 31/25 letter context. Held as estimated 1925-01-25.

People

Also mentioned

  • Jim [Murphy] · recipients_husband

    Agnes Kelly Murphy's husband = the 1927-d. James J. Murphy. Alive at the time of this letter (he died Apr 4 1927) — bounds the letter date to pre-April 1927.

  • the Murphys (collective) · gift_card_signatories_buffalo_robe

    The Murphy family collectively signed a Christmas gift-card to Mike, sending a buffalo robe.

  • Melda · gift_giver_nightgown

    Sent Mike a nightgown for Christmas. Most plausibly = Imelda Murphy (JJM Sr's daughter, b. ~1920 → would be 4-7 at the c.1924-1927 letter; possible if Imelda was named on the gift card without independent agency) OR a different Melda in the cluster.

  • Maggie · family_member_received_scrap_paper

    Mike included a scrap of paper for Maggie in a bundle of newspapers. Could be Margaret Murphy (PJM's sister of 1912 obit), Maggie Devitt (Mike's BC sister), or another Maggie.

  • Jen · regular_correspondent

    Still requires doctor's service but steadily employed. Mike owes her a reply.

  • Winifred · unanswered_correspondent
  • Sister · christmas_card_sender

    Mike received a Christmas card from his (unnamed) sister; could be Maggie Devitt or another sister.

  • Miss Boulton · mikes_office_colleague

    Mike's office colleague who asked who sent his Christmas package. Adds the workplace-context detail.

Places

Themes

Story threads

Tags

  • source_primary_family
  • direct_family
  • book_chapter_material

Related sources

Transcription
transcription: complete · confidence high
# Mullaney to Agnes Kelly Murphy — Walkerville, January 25-27 (c.1925) *Letter from Michael R. Mullaney (b. ~1856 Michigan; d. 19 May 1929 Walkerville) to his Chatham cousin Agnes Kelly Murphy. Year not specified in header — bounded between Jan 1925 and Jan 1927 (Jim Murphy mentioned alive; he died April 4, 1927). Most plausibly Jan 1925.* Walkerville January 25/26 My Dear Agnes, Hearing good resolutions, for tomorrow, will as usual, end in nothing. I will here and now apply exertion. I perused the contents of the last letters one, but felt confident the worst was over, and sincerely hope there was no after ill effect from such a nerve-racking experience. It seems, no matter where we go, trouble is lurking around waiting for half a chance to attack us. I believe there are certain things planned, in everyone's life that cannot be escaped, and for this reason, we should make a supreme effort to strangle worry: worry is the very height of misery and how often we find later it was not necessary. I hope your trouble vanished long ago and may stay vanished. Now for Xmas: I received the largest package ever addressed to me through the mail, Dec 24th, and I asked Miss Boulton, of our office, "who sent it." I said, "has a critical eye," I might visit the stores in Butte and come home with something that would not give near as much satisfaction. I did not go to the P.O. again, until the 28th, when I found your package, and one from Melda, both containing a nightgown, of no doubt fine quality and correct fit. I would not want either of these 3 garments altered, as to fit or otherwise. Your package contained a glass of very good magnifying power and is besides an excellent sunglass, which can set fire to anything, from a house to a haystack, when sun is shining and glass properly focused. Thank you kindly for these. I feel positive since receiving your package, that the Buffalo robe came from the Murphy family for the reason there was two cards in your parcel, and one said, "From all the Murphys." This card must have been intended for the jumbo package. I thank all the Murphys in advance. Since I did care to wear out my lounge or stuffed chairs in a lounge robe. I clap it on where I retire, and indeed the first experience here made me call it buffalo. I have been threatening to secure one of these garments every winter for the past 5 or 6 year but would not wear them up to this this time. I was telling Maggie, in a scrap of paper, I put in a bundle of newspapers, that it seemed too bad to wear such fine garments in this dingy place; but destiny must have made them for such a purpose. Eye will not allow further writing today, and I want U.S. to carry more ink and will spread more on the back tomorrow. 27th — I hope nothing prevented you all from enjoying a thoroughly happy and glorious Christmas, as the family was united once more. It must have aided greatly in the holiday celebration. I found things to slip away as mostly any Sunday in the year: had an invite Christmas afternoon; did not accept; was in possession of grub sufficient for my requirements. I continue to receive letters regularly from the best friend on old Mother Earth; they were all well over there and ready for three squares a day. I received a letter from Jen. So long in the distant past that I dread to look at the date, and two others followed close together previous to Xmas; all three still unanswered. I intend to acknowledge their reception, after this is safely deposited in the grip of that old piece of bunk, U.S. Jen is still requiring doctor's service, but steadily employed. It is my fault that Winifred has not written me in a long while, as her letter remains unanswered. Please tell Melda that I shall not for a moment forget to answer her, muchly appreciated letter, after I shall have dispatched a few more blank pieces of paper, of exactly this dimension, will be sprinkled with a dark fluid, generally known as ink. At no time the past winter was the weather severely cold and, for a few weeks passed, is very mild for this time of the year. I do not remember, since coming West, of snow remaining so long at one time. And making a complete white blanket for Earth; as far in every direction as eye can see, as it has the past winter. To sum up things: it is a devilish (excuse me my coal reserves pays dearly) long winter; though Eastern Storms failed to cross the [saiage]: there was between five and six inches of snow fall lately. I received an Xmas card from Sister but no information of any kind. I have been promising myself a stint or two at the Holland rink before the ice meets disaster: it is a model winter for ice skating and were my eyes not so sensitive to strong light. I certainly would have taken advantage of it to the fullest extent. I will close with love and good wishes for you, Jim, and all the family, Cousin Mike North Fourth St. Walkerville Mont.

Open questions

  • Exact year — most plausibly January 1925 matching the March 31/25 letter context. Could be 1925, 1926, or Jan 1927 (pre-April). Internal weather references could cross-check against historical Butte January weather records.
  • Identity of "Melda" — Imelda Murphy (JJM Sr's daughter) or a different relative? Possibly a Mullaney/Chatham cousin's daughter.
  • Identity of "Jen" — a Mullaney sibling or Chatham cousin in regular correspondence with Mike.

Source ID: c1925-1929_walkerville-mt_mullaney-letter-to-agnes-jan25-buffalo-robe

Reference: Original handwritten letter; transcribed digitally as Word doc by family. Year unspecified; bounded between 1925 (the March 31/25 letter establishes Mike's active correspondence) and his death 19 May 1929.

Accessed by lukedmurphy on 2026-05-27.