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A native of North Carolina, Archibald Michael Murphey (1836-1886) married Elizabeth Findley in Rusk, Texas, in 1853. By 1868, they had moved to Tyler. Murphey opened his jewelry business on Ferguson and Broadway in January of that year. Murphey later indicated he had begun as a watchmaker as early as 1851, possibly as an apprentice to his father, who was a native of Ireland. Murphey's sons, Arch (1866-1888), Orville (b. 1868), and Pinkney H. (1870-1925), succeeded their father as jewelers and continued to operate his business. A younger son, George Reaves Murphey (1874-1939), had taken over the jewelry store by the early years of the twentieth century. He moved the business to this site in 1919. Murphey the Jeweler has operated as a family business throughout its history. The store has always offered selections of American and Swiss watches, clocks, and diamonds. Advertisements from the early years also boasted selections of sterling silver flatware, as well as a full line of pianos and organs. As one of the oldest retail establishments in East Texas, Murphey the Jeweler has played an important role in Tyler's commercial history. (1985) |
