Lulu was born in Seclusival, Shelby County, Tennessee. Her parents were James Brown Smith (1816-1865) and Virginia Featherstone Murphree (1831-1904) who was Judge David Murphree's sister. Thus, Jim and Lulu were first cousins (his father and her mother were siblings).
In her 1962 book "A History of DeWitt County," Jim's daughter, Nellie Murphree wrote about her father:
"James Owen (1847-1923) was educated at the Allen Academy at Louisville, Kentucky (1864-1867), where he distinguished himself as a Latin and mathematics student. Jim did not return for senior year courses (1867-1868), but assumed management of his deceased father's plantation at Point Evergreen.
"Jim made many friends during his life as a Thomaston farmer and stockman. His wife was Lulu Smith (1853-1937), daughter of Judge David Murphree's widowed sister, Virginia F. Murphree Smith.
"This Presbyterian couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1922."
Two of the sources of the information in this bio are: (1) the 1962 book "A History of DeWitt County," written by James' and Lulu's daughter, the noted DeWitt County historian, Nell Lulu "Nellie" Murphree (1882-1982), and (2) the 1986 book "Cemetery Records of DeWitt County Vol. I," by Patsy Goebel and Karen McWhorter.
[Note: On his death certificate, James' mother was incorrectly idenfied as Lulu Smith who was his wife, not his mother. And, his date of birth was not recorded on his death certificate. Tom Murphree (1880-1959), one of James' and Lulu's sons, was the informant.]
Lulu was born in Seclusival, Shelby County, Tennessee. Her parents were James Brown Smith (1816-1865) and Virginia Featherstone Murphree (1831-1904) who was Judge David Murphree's sister. Thus, Jim and Lulu were first cousins (his father and her mother were siblings).
In her 1962 book "A History of DeWitt County," Jim's daughter, Nellie Murphree wrote about her father:
"James Owen (1847-1923) was educated at the Allen Academy at Louisville, Kentucky (1864-1867), where he distinguished himself as a Latin and mathematics student. Jim did not return for senior year courses (1867-1868), but assumed management of his deceased father's plantation at Point Evergreen.
"Jim made many friends during his life as a Thomaston farmer and stockman. His wife was Lulu Smith (1853-1937), daughter of Judge David Murphree's widowed sister, Virginia F. Murphree Smith.
"This Presbyterian couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1922."
Two of the sources of the information in this bio are: (1) the 1962 book "A History of DeWitt County," written by James' and Lulu's daughter, the noted DeWitt County historian, Nell Lulu "Nellie" Murphree (1882-1982), and (2) the 1986 book "Cemetery Records of DeWitt County Vol. I," by Patsy Goebel and Karen McWhorter.
[Note: On his death certificate, James' mother was incorrectly idenfied as Lulu Smith who was his wife, not his mother. And, his date of birth was not recorded on his death certificate. Tom Murphree (1880-1959), one of James' and Lulu's sons, was the informant.]
Family Members
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David Murphree
1874–1901
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Alex Murphree
1876–1876
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Margaretta Murphree
1877–1879
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James Smith Murphree
1879–1879
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William Thomas "Tom" Murphree
1880–1959
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Nell Lulu "Nellie" Murphree
1882–1982
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John Owen Murphree
1885–1986
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Virginia Murphree
1887–1889
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Benjamin Farnsworth "Ben" Murphree
1889–1960
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Robert Lee "Bob" Murphree
1891–1975
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Patton Murphree
1894–1894
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Ann Elizabeth Murphree
1896–1971
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