BERNARD MURPHY,
son of Martin Murphy, Sr., came to
Santa Clara County with his father, and lived with him on the ranch
near the Twenty-one Mile House, until he married. His wife was Miss Catherine O’Toole, who afterwards married
James Dunne. They had one child, Martin J. C. Murphy, a
bright young man whose early years gave promise of an illustrious
career. He, however, was attacked by disease in the midst of his
studies, and died at Washington, District of Columbia, in 1872.
His father, Bernard, was killed in the fatal explosion of the steamer Jenny
Lind, in 1853.
JOHN M. MURPHY,
son of Martin Murphy, Sr., soon after settling in this county, with his
father, entered the store of Chas. M. Weber, in San Jose. At
the discovery of gold, he went to the mines, taking with him a
stock of goods. He employed the Indians to prospect and dig for
him, and probably has had more gold in his possession than any other
miner on the Pacific Coast. He was the first treasurer of Santa
Clara County, and was afterwards elected recorder and then
sheriff. In later years he was engaged in mercantile business,
which he followed until failing health compelled him to retire.
His wife is Virginia F. Reed, daughter of James F. Reed, and one of the
ill-fated Donner party.
ELLEN MURPHY
married Chas. M. Weber, of San Jose, afterwards of Stockton.
JAMES MILLER and his wife (Mary Murphy) settled in Marin County, where they became prominent citizens.
Sketches of the younger generations of the Murphy family will be found
in other pages.
STORY OF THE MURPHY DONNER PARTY- part one
STORY OF THE MURPHY DONNER PARTY- part two
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. p. 56
Transcribed by Kathy
Sedler
[Continuation of the excerpts on the members of The Murphy Party.]