California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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PATRICK
HENRY MURPHY The
pioneer type, with its sturdy fearlessness, its touch of romance and its
suggestion of conquest, is one to be noted with admiration as the.
visible expression of a national environment that never again can be
witnessed. Every era brings its men and its opportunities, but perhaps
no greater men will ever be produced than those who bravely faced the
dangers of the deserts, penetrated the pathless forests and by their
dauntless energy pushed the benefits of civilization still further
toward the setting sun. As the pioneers of California one by one enter
upon their last long journey across the desert of death and set sail
upon the shoreless sea of eternity, there is called afresh to mind the
service which they rendered to their country and their commonwealth, and
appreciation wells afresh into the patriotic heart. Not
the least conspicuous among the surviving pioneers of Sacramento county
is Patrick Henry Murphy, who first landed in the capital city on October
13, 1854. Born in St. Louis, Mo., in June, 1838, he there grew up, and
in 1854 joined a company of St. Louis men. among them Isaac Lankershim
and Mike Wiles, and crossed the plains with a large expedition with an
ox-team train and five hundred cattle. This was a memorable year, for
the Indians at that time were warlike, but by exercising the utmost
diplomacy they evaded several controversies and probable massacre, and
after a journey of six months and two days the train dispersed on the
Cosumne river, and Mr. Murphy came on to Sacramento, where he found
employment in a hotel. Later he worked in San Francisco, but soon
returned to Sacramento and then secured a position in the Brighton flour
and grist mill on the American river. For two years he worked in the
mill at monthly wages. His next venture was the purchase of two hundred
acres with a crop on the ground and a small house suitable for a
frontier home. In an unexpected manner his identification with that
ranch brought him misfortune. While sleeping in his bed one night he was
shot by negro robbers, the ball passing through the board wall of his
cabin. The two thieves made their escape, but were afterward captured
and sent to the penitentiary for fifteen years. He was so seriously
wounded in both arms that he was completely disabled for one year and,
in fact, was left crippled for life. Unable
to work, the young farmer relinquished his holdings and returned to St.
Louis, where he visited at the old home for a year or more. During 1862,
in Fayette county, III, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A.
Gibbs, who was born in Ohio and died in California in 1874. Upon his
return to the west Mr. Murphy preempted one hundred and sixty acres in
Sacramento county and at once commenced the difficult task of clearing
the property. Later he purchased eighty acres so situated that it could
be brought into the home place as one farm, which gives him two hundred
and forty acres in this ranch. The land lies within a mile of Perkins
and is improved With a substantial residence and convenient farm
buildings. A pumping plant furnishes an abundance of water for
irrigation and for domestic use. The value of the place is greatly
enhanced by the vineyard and fruit orchard covering fifty acres, with
grapes, cherries, prunes, peaches, pears and berries in fine bearing
condition. Having
an opportunity to increase his holdings in 1885 Mr. Murphy bought a
partly improved tract of four hundred and fifty acres on the Cosumne
river, this county, of which tract he now has over one hundred acres in
hops. The balance of the ranch is utilized for pastures, alfalfa meadows
and grain. The ranch was occupied and managed by the oldest son, Arthur
D. Murphy, who with his family made his home there until it was leased
out. On both places a specialty is made of the stock industry and the
stock raised and sold includes high-grade Shorthorn cattle and pure-bred
Poland-China hogs. Ever since the organization of the California state
fair, a period of forty-nine years, Mr. Murphy has been an exhibitor of
stock, machinery and fruit, and at the fair of 1911 his exhibits won the
same admiration and attention they have received during the entire
period of his association with the work. There is not another man in the
state who has been such a steady exhibitor for so many years as he, and
he has won innumerable prizes and gold medals in different lines. Nor is
his interest in horticulture less than his identification with the stock
business and for some years he has been a stockholder and director in
the Florin Fruit Growers' Association situated at Florin. Of
his first marriage Mr. Murphy has three children living, Arthur D.,
Clara McDonald and Ralph I. The daughter is a successful teacher in the
Sacramento county schools, Arthur D. is farming his own place and the
younger son acts as manager of the Cosumne ranch. October 7, 1875, Mr.
Murphy married Miss Carrie R. Jackman, who was born and reared in New
Hampshire, removed thence to Iowa, and from there came to California
during young womanhood. Five children are living of this union, namely:
William C, employed in the Sacramento street-car service; Harry L., who
is married and resides at the old homestead; Corda L., who holds a
responsible posi- tion in the mercantile house of C. C. Perkins at
Perkins; Elmer H., an expert chemist employed in the laboratory of the
Union Sugarbeet Company; and George A., a farmer near Perkins. Although Mr. Murphy cast his first Presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, for years he has been identified with the Republican party. In 1864 he supported Abraham Lincoln and since then he has never failed to cast a straight Republican ticket at every Presidential election. Frequently he has been selected as delegate to county and state conventions. In local elections he supports the men whom he considers best qualified to serve the people, irrespective of their political views. For four years he served as a justice of the peace and he also has served as school trustee. As early as 1869 he became connected with the subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows and all but one of his sons also joined the order. No citizen surpasses him in loyal devotion to his township and county. It has been his privilege to witness the steady growth of this locality and the awakening appreciation of its soil and. climate. Doubtless no one takes greater pride than does he in the constant progress of the district, the increasing returns from the scientific cultivation of its ranches, the growing business of the little towns and the patriotic spirit manifested by the entire citizenship. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |