MARTIN MURPHY, SR., AN IRISH PIONEER OF CALIFORNIA.[13]

MARTIN MURPHY, SR., AN IRISH PIONEER OF CALIFORNIA.^[13]

BY MISS MARCELLA A. FITZGERALD.

Pioneer! name that like a Conjurer summons

All the past before our eyes,

Toils, struggles, want and hardships,

Perils, dangers, sacrifice.

—Annie Fitzgerald.

Martin Murphy, Sr., is held in loving reverence as an early pioneer of California. A native of Ireland, nurtured on Wexford’s historic soil, he imbibed a love for his native land which was as the breath of his life. Her joys, her sorrows, her glories, were his.

In his boyhood he witnessed the gallant struggle of “’98,” when kindred and friends perished in the vain effort to cast off the English yoke, and beheld the cruel persecution and bloodshed that followed the suppression of the Rebellion, scenes which left their impression indelibly impressed upon his heart. No distance could alienate him from, no pleasure cause him to forget, the “Niobe of Nations.”

Years afterwards, when a dweller on the Pacific Coast, at a time when intercourse with the outer world was difficult, and mails scarce more than semi-annual, a tourist who shared the hospitality of his home wrote thus:

Eager to hear news of Ireland, he listened as I told him the sad story of famine and death which had desolated his native land; tear-dimmed eyes and quivering lips told his deep emotion. When I ceased, the venerable patriarch bowed his head, murmuring, “O my unhappy Country! will your suffering and sorrow never end.”

But if he loved Ireland much, he loved freedom with the devotion of his race, and longed for a clime where right, not might, held sway. 83The Canadian colonies offered an opportunity to settlers of obtaining homes by purchase, homes free from the tyranny of a landlord’s whim, and thither Mr. Murphy resolved to emigrate. Disposing of his leasehold, whose tenure extended for the term of his life, he embarked for the New World, reaching Quebec in 1820.

He purchased land in the township of Frampton, 30 miles from the quaint old city which has since given its name to the province. “It was the forest primeval,” but he bravely set to work at the labor incidental to the building up of a home in the northern wilderness, the clearing of the land of its dense growth of timber before the plow could penetrate its rich virgin soil.

The long, cold winters with their mountainous snowdrifts and cutting blasts, and the countless inconveniences of frontier life to which he and his gentle wife were so unaccustomed, were borne with cheerful Christian patience. Soon many of his old friends and neighbors joined him, and a thriving Irish settlement grew up around him. His home was the center to which all new comers self-exiled from Erin turned while seeking a haven for themselves. There they found the whole-souled welcome of truly hospitable hearts, and kindly care when overtaken by sickness.

Prior to the erection of a church and the formation of a parish, zealous priests at his request visited the settlement to celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments and instruct the children, thus keeping aglow the light of Faith in the hearts of the exiles.

But the desire for more perfect freedom remained in Mr. Murphy’s heart, and although past the golden milestone of life he prepared to seek a new country. In 1840 he bade farewell to his friends, and taking with him his wife and his unmarried children, set out upon his westward journey to Missouri. He made his home in Holt County, then known as the Platte Purchase, since divided into Holt and Atchison counties.

There he was joined later by his sons Martin and James with their families, and his daughter Mary, Mrs. James Miller, with her husband and babes. His eldest daughter, Margaret, Mrs. Thomas Kell, with her husband and family, came subsequently from Upper Canada, whither they had emigrated in 1838.

Many of those who had cast their lot with him in Canada followed him to Missouri, and formed the prosperous settlement known as Irish Grove. Among these were the Sullivans, Enrights, Corcorans, Jordans, Walshes and Whites, names since familiar as pioneers of California.

84The soil was fertile, the climate mild and pleasant, but unfortunately the malarial fevers common to the Mississippi and its tributaries prevailed, and the colonists suffered much from sickness. Mrs. Murphy succumbed to the dread disease, and on June 9, 1841, yielded her pure soul to the hands of her Creator. A model wife, a loving mother, a devoted friend, an ideal Christian woman, pious and charitable in word and deed, of her it may be truly said:

None knew her but to love her,

None named her but to praise.

A Catholic missionary who visited the colony told Mr. Murphy of California, a land of health, where almost endless summer reigned, under whose cloudless skies fertile valleys smiled unfurrowed by the plow, and thither he resolved to direct his course.

Disposing of his lands, he procured the outfit required for such a long and dangerous journey, and bearing with him a passport from Governor Reynolds of Missouri, assuring him and his the protection due American citizens, he once more turned his face toward the setting sun.

The party of devoted pilgrims started on their westward course May 6, 1844, reaching California in November of the same year. The names of the members of the company are given as follows:

Martin Murphy, Sr.

Miss Helen Murphy.

Bernard Murphy.

John Marion Murphy.

Daniel Murphy.

Martin Murphy, Jr., wife and four children.

James Murphy, wife and one child.

James Miller, wife and four children.

John Sullivan.

Miss Mary Sullivan.

Michael Sullivan.

Robert Sullivan.

Dr. Townsend and wife.

Moses Shallenberger.

Allen N. Montgomery and wife.

Joseph Batton.

John Luffumbo.

Vincent Calvin.

John R. Jackson.

J. E. Foster.

Edward Bray.

David Strickien.

William Bragg.

Vincent Snelling.

Daniel Snelling.

John Thorp.

Fielden M. Thorp.

Elvan A. Thorp.

David Johnson.

William Case.

Daniel R. Kinsey.

Joshua Shaw.

A. C. R. Shaw.

85Thomas M. Vance.

Jacob Hammer.

William Clemmons.

John Eldridge.

Ben. Q. Tucker.

John Owen.

Harmon Higgins.

William Higgins.

William Prattier.

Theodore Prattier.

Britain Greenwood.

Caleb Greenwood.

John Greenwood.

William Martin.

Patrick Martin.

Dennis Martin.

Matthias Harbin.

Daniel Durbin.

Mr. Hitchcock and family.

Mrs. Patterson and family.

Oliver Magnent.

Francis Magnent, and

Captain Stephens, who had command of the expedition.

“Captain Stephens was a native of North Carolina, reared in Georgia, a trapper for 28 years, and was accustomed to frontier life. He had no trail to guide him across the plains and started without even a pocket compass, but no train that traversed the continent to the Pacific was more blessed, freer from disaster, or so safe from savage attacks.”

The toils and dangers of the way have been told so often that it is needless to repeat them here. That they were many we know; deep rivers had to be forded, roads made through almost impassable mountain fastnesses, vigilant watch kept to protect the train and its belongings from prowling savages and predatory animals.

At Fort Hall, the train separated, those whose destination was the Northwest taking the Oregon trail; Mr. Murphy, his family and friends continuing to California. The difficulties of the route were augmented by the lateness of the season. Snow had fallen when they reached the Yuba, and further progress with wagons was impossible. Cabins for the accommodation of the families were erected, and there a number of the emigrants remained until March, 1845. Among those who wintered there were James Miller and family and Martin Murphy, Jr., and family.

Mr. Murphy, his daughter Helen, his sons Daniel, John M., Bernard D., James, the latter’s wife and child, Dr. Townsend and wife, with others of the party, proceeded on horseback to Sutter’s Fort, where they were hospitably received by that grand old pioneer, J. A. Sutter.

When Mr. Murphy reached California he found the country in a state of rebellion. “The native Californians had revolted against Mexican rule, seized the government arms and ammunition stored 86at the Mission of San Juan Bautista and marched upon the capital. The Mexican military force in the country was small and Governor Micheltorena, fearing defeat, called for aid upon John A. Sutter, who had been a foreign resident in the country since 1839. Sutter responded, and with one hundred mounted men, mostly foreigners, hastened to the rescue.”

Mr. Murphy and his sons were of the number who journeyed southward, “making haste slowly” ’neath winter’s sun and showers through the fairest land on which the light of Heaven shone. They reached Los Angeles late in January or early in February, 1845. After the battle of Chauvenga and the overthrow of the Mexican administration, Mr. Murphy and his sons returned to Santa Clara valley. Here he found the glorious realization of his hopes in a soil of rare fertility and a climate equable and healthy, and here he made his home.

He purchased the Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche, Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas, Rancho de las Uvas, that portion of the San Ysidro ranch now known as Ba Polka, and one-sixteenth of the Rancho de Las Animas, a stretch of country extending from mountain top to mountain top east and west, and from the vicinity of Madrone station in the North to the present town of Gilroy in the South.

His home at the Ojo de Agua de la Coche was well known by all who traveled the Camina Real from Monterey to San Francisco, and its generous hospitality was shared by the distinguished men of all nations which held the balance of power during the formative period of our state’s existence, and who with decisive energy moulded its chaotic elements into the perfect whole which has made California the wonder of an admiring world.

Clergymen, distinguished soldiers, grave statesmen, and authors whose names are honored, loved to linger there. Bayard Taylor describing a ride made in company with Mr. Murphy to the summit of El Toro, the lofty peak near his home, draws a vivid picture of the wondrous beauty of hill and valley in his exquisite word painting.

In 1850, Helen Murphy became the wife of Capt. Charles W. Weber of Stockton, John M. Murphy married Virginia E. Backenstoe Reed, and in 1851 Daniel wedded Mary C. Fisher. In this year also Bernard, having revisited Canada, there married Catherine O’Toole. On his return to California he was accompanied by his sister, Mrs. Johanna Fitzgerald, who with her children came at her father’s request to share his loving care, she being recently widowed. 87Mrs. Kell had reached the Pacific in 1846, and the family were again citizens of one land.

April 11, 1853, Bernard, while en route to San Francisco, was killed by the explosion of the boiler of the steamer Jenny Lind, plying between Alviso and the city. With him was his nephew, Thomas Kell, who shared his sad fate.

In 1854, Mr. Murphy erected a commodious chapel on the San Martin ranch, that the Catholic families settled in the neighborhood might enjoy the consolation of religious instruction. It was visited monthly by the pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, San José, until 1856, when it was placed in charge of the pastor of San Juan Bautista, the Rev. Francis Mora, who later became bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles. In 1864, a resident pastor, Rev. Thomas Hudson, was appointed and a church erected in the town of Gilroy. St. Martin’s chapel was destroyed by an incendiary fire April 2, 1879.

To the last, Mr. Murphy never faltered in the performance of life’s daily duties. He personally attended to business, and his real estate in city and country benefitted by his immediate supervision. He saw to the details of the wearying lawsuits entailed in the quieting of land titles, making long journeys to distant parts of the state, paying with scrupulous exactness every claim, lest the shadow of wrong might rest upon him.

Notwithstanding his advanced age he never failed to keep the fast of Lent, and his charity to the poor was bounded only by his ability to help them. Food and shelter were never refused an applicant. He was his own almoner and broke his bread with the needy and the orphan. He shrank from public applause and press notoriety, and loved the quiet of peaceful country surroundings. His life in word and deed inculcated strict obedience to the commands of God, and a faithful compliance with the laws of the land.

On March 16, 1865, Mr. Murphy laid down the burden of life. He went peacefully to rest, “like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.” Supported by the consolations of religion, surrounded by his children, the venerable pioneer passed away, sincerely mourned by all. I quote here a few lines taken from the tribute to his memory offered by F. B. Murdock, a pioneer editor of California:

We have known Mr. Murphy personally and well for the last twelve years. He seemed to enjoy as good health, and look as young a few weeks before his death as when we first saw him twelve years ago. He was in 88many respects a remarkable man. He was always gentlemanly, always kind and considerate, with a countenance singularly mixed with an expression of gravity, gentleness and cheerfulness. We don’t think he had an enemy, we never heard of one; we never heard any one speak of him except in terms of high respect. Truthfulness, conscientiousness and natural goodness, in its broad sense charity, were prominent marks in his character. We never heard Martin Murphy, Sr., say an unkind word of a single being, living or dead—we have often heard him utter a word of excuse or apology, something to extenuate when others were condemning. Certainly that was a most beautiful Christian trait in his character, and it is not to be wondered at that such a man should live beloved and respected and die regretted.

These sentiments voiced the feelings of the immense concourse that attended the solemn funeral rites at St. Joseph’s church, San José, heard the eloquent eulogy of the deceased pronounced by Rev. Father Kenny, S. J., and followed Mr. Murphy’s remains to their last resting place in the Catholic graveyard in Santa Clara.

As a token of respect for Mr. Murphy, and that all who desired might attend the funeral, the County Court adjourned immediately upon opening on the 18th.

Realizing the wide influence of Mr. Murphy’s long years of gentle unostentatious virtue, it is not too much to say in closing this brief notice of his life, that “the world is better because he lived.”

Mr. Murphy married early in life. His wife was Mary Foley, daughter of Daniel Foley of Enniscorthy, Ireland. Of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy’s children, Martin, James, Margaret, Johanna, Mary and Bernard were born in Ireland, Helen, John M. and Daniel in Canada.

Martin married Mary Bulger; died Oct. 20, 1884.

James married Anne Martin; died Jan. 14, 1888.

Margaret married Thomas Kell; died Dec. 30, 1881.

Johanna married Patrick Fitzgerald; died Dec. 28, 1899.

Mary married James Miller; died Dec. 26, 1883.

Bernard married Catherine O’Toole; died April 11, 1853.

Helen married C. M. Weber; died April 11, 1895.

John M. married V. E. B. Reed; died Feb. 17, 1892.

Daniel married Mary C. Fisher; died Oct. 22, 1882.

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