CAUSES OF DEATH

John E. Murphy
born June 23, 1851, in Newark, NJ
died July 12, 1911, in Newark, NJ - age 60 years.

Father: John Murphy (1826-1890)
Mother: Mary Murphy (1827-1894)

Spouse: Henrietta Volk (1851-?)

Cause of death: Heat Stroke

John was at his home at 48 8th Avenue in Newark when he died of heat stroke during a terrible heatwave that struck the United States and most of Europe during July of 1911. For nearly half the month of July, the thermometer soared into the 90s and low 100s. The humidity also increased, and the combination of heat and humidity caused thousands of deaths during that month alone. Bear in mind that this was a time before air conditioning when people wore heavier clothing than we do today.

Besides the heat and humidity, John also suffered from a weak heart. A contributory factor listed by the doctor who attended him was valvular heart disease.

Twenty-two years before John died, his wife Henrietta was only 39 when she died on October 27, 1889. John, unable to raise the boys by himself, sent them to live with Henrietta's sisters, the widowed Mary Bradshaw and Emma Volk, who lived at 343 Ogden Street. At the time of Henrietta's death, John J. was 13, William 11, and Harry 8.

Henrietta was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Newark. John was buried there with his parents in another plot.

LYNN'S FAMILY WEBPAGE