Murphy family

Murphy family
Martin Murphy Sr. (1785–1865), the patriarch of the Murphy family of California
Current region	California, United States
Place of origin	County Wexford, Ireland

The Murphy family is an American family of Irish heritage that was heavily involved in the development of California ranches and real estate in the 19th and 20th centuries. ^[1] They controlled at one time or another large swathes of California real estate, particularly in the Santa Clara County, much of it derived from Mexican land grants.

History

Over several generations, their holdings included Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche, Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas, Rancho Refugio de la Laguna Seca, Rancho Las Uvas, Rancho La Purísima Concepción, Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas, and Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas, ^{[2] [3]} totaling well over 100,000 acres.

Five of the Murphy family members served in the California legislature: Patrick W. Murphy, Bernard D. Murphy, John C. Murphy, J. E. Murphy, and R. W. Murphy. ^[4] The family were the subject of Marjorie Pierce's book, The Martin Murphy Family Saga (2000); ^[5] and the PBS documentary film, The Forgotten Journey (2021), produced by John Krizek. ^[6]

• Murphy family
• 
  Martin Murphy Jr.
• 
  James Murphy
• 
  Helen Murphy Weber with her children
• 
  John Marion Murphy
• 
  Daniel Martin Murphy

• 
  Patrick W. Murphy
• 
  Bernard D. Murphy
• 
  Ann Kell Colombet
• 
  Charles M. Weber II
• 
  Elizabeth Yuba Murphy Taaffe
• 
  Diana Helen Murphy Hill

Murphy genealogy

Martin Murphy Sr. (1785–1865) born in County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated in 1820 to Quebec Province, Lower Canada (now Canada); m. Mary Foley [9 children]; settled in Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche in Santa Clara County (including what is now known as San Martin, California)

• Martin Murphy Jr. (1807–1884) born in County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated in 1820 to Quebec Province, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Mary Bulger in 1830 [11 children]; settled in Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas in Santa Clara County (now known as Sunnyvale, California); his former residence is the Martin Murphy House, which was recreated to form a museum ^{[1] [7]}
  • Patrick W. Murphy (1837–1901; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.) born in Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Mary Catherine O'Brien [2 children]; was a member of the California State Assembly, and served as a California State Senator. ^[8]
  • Bernard D. Murphy (1841–1911; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.) in Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Anna Lucy McGeoghegan [6 children]; was a lawyer, businessman and politician; served one term as a California State Senator, and multiple terms as the Mayor of San Jose, California ^[9]
  • Elizabeth Yuba Murphy (1844–1875; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.), married William Post Taaffe (1842–1869); the family was early settlers in Los Altos, California (formerly Rancho La Purísima Concepción) ^{[3] [10]}
• James Murphy (1809–1888), married Anna Martin; established a large farm called "Ringwood Farm" in San Jose, California near Milpitas ^{[2] [11]}
• Margaret Murphy (1811–1881), married Thomas B. Kell Jr. (1804–1878) an English-born settler; they had an early wheat farm in San Jose, California, near Milpitas ^[1]
  • Martin D. Kell (1840–1902; son of Margaret Murphy), was a Democrat that served in many political and civic roles in Santa Clara County, including on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. ^{[11] [12]}
• Johanna Murphy (1813–1899), married to Patrick Fitzgerald (1797–1849); ranchers and landowners in Gilroy, California ^{[1] [13]}
• Mary Murphy (1815–1882), married James S. Miller (1812–1890) an Irish-born settler in San Rafael, California; and one of the earliest settlers in Marin County at Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas ^[1]
• Bernard Murphy (1818–1853), married Catherine O'Toole; they settled at Rancho Las Uvas; he died from an explosion on the Jenny Lind traveling from Alviso, California to San Francisco, California. ^{[1] [2] [14] [15]} He traveled with his nephew Thomas J. Kell (1829–1853) when they both died. ^[16]
• Helen Murphy (1822–1895), married Bavarian-born businessman Carl David Maria Weber (1814–1881); an early settler in Stockton, California ^{[17] [18]}
  • Charles M. Weber II (1851–1912; child of Helen Murphy) married Grace May Sinnott ^[19]
    • Charles M. Weber III (1893–1987; the child of Carl Maria Weber II), served in the California State Assembly ^[20]
• John Marion Murphy (1824–1892) married Virginia Elizabeth Blackenstoe Reed; established a trading post and started a mining town called Murphys, California; ^[21] served as the Santa Clara County Sheriff, and County Recorder, as well as Mayor of San Jose ^[22]
• Daniel Martin Murphy (1826–1882) born in Frampton, Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Maria Fisher Ceseña in 1851 [6 children]; established a trading post and started a mining town called Murphys, California; ^[21] settled at Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas (Burnett Township); one mile south of present-day Morgan Hill, California ^[2]
  • Diana Helen Murphy (1869–1937; child of Daniel Martin Murphy), married Hiram Morgan Hill; she inherited the Santa Clara County ranch land after her father died, and co-founded the city of Morgan Hill, California ^[23]

• Murphy family residences
• 
  Bay View in Sunnyvale, California, residence of Martin Murphy Jr.
• 
  Ringwood Farm in San Jose, California, residence of James Murphy
• 
  Weber Point Home in Stockton, California, residence of Helen Murphy Weber
• 
  Villa Mira Monte in Morgan Hill, California, residence of Diana Helen Murphy Hill (daughter of Daniel Martin Murphy) and Hiram Morgan Hill

Members

• Martin Murphy Sr.

• • Martin Murphy Jr.
    • Ellen Murphy
    • Patrick W. Murphy
      • Henry F. Murphy
    • Martin Joseph Murphy
    • Mary Murphy
    • Bernard D. Murphy
      • Mary Genevieve Murphy Wright
      • Evelyn A. Murphy
      • Martin J. Murphy
      • Elizabeth Yuba Murphy Derby
      • Bernard D. Murphy
      • Gertrude Julia Murphy
      • Patrick W. M. Murphy
      • Helena Daniel Murphy Sanders
    • Elizabeth Yuba Murphy Taaffe
    • Mary Ann Murphy Carroll
    • Ellen Genevieve Murphy Arques
    • James Thomas Murphy
    • James Murphy

• • James Murphy
    • Martin Murphy
    • Mary Frances Murphy Machado
    • Ellen Independence Murphy
    • Martin Daniel Murphy
    • Helen Elizabeth Murphy
    • William Bernard Murphy
    • Elizabeth Murphy Bull
    • Julia Murphy
    • Helen Murphy
    • Daniel James Murphy

• • Margaret Murphy Kell
    • William Kell
    • Thomas James Kell
    • Martin Kell
    • Ann Kell Colombet
    • James Kell
    • Mary Kell
    • Mary Ann Kell
    • Martin Daniel Kell
    • John James Kell
    • Mary Ellen Kell Carroll
    • Thomas Bernard Kell

• • Johanna Murphy Fitzgerald
    • Ellen Fitzgerald
    • James Fitzgerald
    • James Fitzgerald
    • Mary Fitzgerald Kane
    • Ann Fitzgerald
    • Marcella Fitzgerald
    • John S. Fitzgerald

• • Mary Murphy Miller
    • William J. Miller
    • Catherine Miller Keys
    • Mary Annie Miller Ross
    • Ellen Miller
    • Martin Van Buren Miller
    • Julia Miller
    • Ellen Independence Miller
    • Teresa Sophia Miller
    • Jane Frances Miller
    • Bernard Thomas Miller
    • Fannie Miller
    • Josephine Louise Miller Kirk
    • Tessie S. Miller

• • Bernard Murphy
    • Martin John Charles Murphy

• • Helen Murphy Weber
    • Charles M. Weber II
      • Helen May Weber Kennedy
      • Charles M. Weber III
    • Julia Helen Weber
    • Thomas Jefferson Weber

• • John Marion Murphy
    • Mollie Mary Murphy McAran
    • Lloyd Martin Murphy
    • Mattie H. Murphy
    • John Marion Murphy II
    • Virginia R. Murphy DeGreayer
    • Julia Ada Murphy Howes
    • Daniel J. Reed Murphy
    • Annie Mabel Murphy
    • Thaddeus Stanley Murphy

• • Daniel Martin Murphy
    • Mary L. Murphy Chapman
    • Daniel Martin Murphy II
    • Julia Murphy
    • Diana Helen Murphy Hill

See also

• Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party
• San Martin, California
• Murphys, California
• Murphy's Corral
• Burnett Township
• Dixie Schoolhouse

References

1. Circa: Historic Property Development, San Francisco (October 2006). "Historic Context Statement for the City of Morgan Hill". pp. 25–27. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016.
2. Castro, Doris (July 27, 1968). "There Were These Two Irishmen, See..." The Record . p. 34, 57. Retrieved 2025-11-23 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Taaffe family descendants recall early days of Los Altos Hills". Los Altos Town Crier . November 11, 2015. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
4. O'Laughlin, Michael C. (2003). Irish Families on the California Trail: Pioneers and 49ers from the Earliest Days Including the Gold Rush & San Francisco. Irish Roots Cafe. pp. F16, F28. ISBN   978-0-940134-61-4.
5. Cheek, Martin (November 10, 2006). "MH Founding Father Became Leading Citizen". Morgan Hill Times . Retrieved 2025-11-23.
6. "The Murphy Family Story". Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum . Retrieved 2025-11-23.
7. Sherman, Lola (May 20, 1960). "Family had roots in Ireland, were first settlers to cross Sierra to California". Peninsula Times Tribune . p. 6. Retrieved 2025-11-07– via Newspapers.com.
8. ""Black Prince" Dies Suddenly". San Francisco Chronicle (Obituary). November 2, 1901. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-11-09– via Newspapers.com.
9. "The Passing of Barney Murphy". The Californian. December 29, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-11-06– via Newspapers.com.
10. Dowd, Katie (April 28, 2021). "Bay Area's infamous haunted Toys R Us finally gets new permanent tenant". SFGate .
11. Foote, Horace S. (1888). Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World, or Santa Clara County, California. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Co. pp. 55, 435–436 – via Internet Archive.
12. "Heart Trouble Ends Martin D. Kell's Life". The San Francisco Call Bulletin. 1902-06-15. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-11-11– via Newspapers.com.
13. O'Laughlin, Michael C. (2003). Irish Families on the California Trail: Pioneers and 49ers from the Earliest Days Including the Gold Rush & San Francisco. Irish Roots Cafe. pp. F16, F28. ISBN   978-0-940134-61-4.
14. Nolte, Carl. "Jenny Lind ferry disaster commemoration". SFGate . Archived from the original on 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
15. "Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind: Eighteen Lives Lost and Thirty Persons Badly Scalded". The Shasta Courier. April 16, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-07– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind". The New Orleans Crescent. 1853-05-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-15– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Mrs. Weber's Life: A Biographical Sketch of the Deceased". The Evening Mail. April 12, 1895. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-11-07– via Newspapers.com.
18. "Obituary for Helen Weber". The Evening Mail. 1895-04-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-11-08– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Obituary for Charles M. Weber". Lodi News-Sentinel. September 5, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-11-11– via Newspapers.com.
20. "Charles Weber III". The San Francisco Examiner (Obituary). April 17, 1987. p. 28. Retrieved 2025-11-08– via Newspapers.com.
21. Lea, Ralph; Kennedy, Christi (October 1, 2004). "Pioneering brothers: Murphys struck gold and built town". Lodi News-Sentinel . Retrieved 2025-11-07.
22. Pankey, Marilyn R. (May 28, 2017). "John Marion Murphy". Golden Nugget Library.
23. Cheek, Martin (November 10, 2006). "Hiram Morgan Hill Led Life of Trials and Tribulations". Morgan Hill Times . Retrieved 2025-11-21.

Further reading

• Sullivan, Gabrielle (1974). Martin Murphy, Jr., California Pioneer, 1844-1884. Pacific Center for Western Historical Studies, University of the Pacific.
• Pierce, Marjorie (2000). The Martin Murphy Family Saga. California History Center & Foundation. ISBN   9780935089233.

External links

• Murphy Family Papers at Santa Clara University Library
• Weber Family Collection, 1836–1986 from the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum
• Miller, William James, March 16, 1976 [interview], from Marin County Free Library