John Marion Murphy

John Marion Murphy Sr. (June 10, 1824 – February 17, 1892) also known as J. M. Murphy, was a Canadian-born American rancher, businessperson, politician, and an early settler in California. He was a member of the Murphy family and co-founded the mining town of Murphys, California. Murphy active in the early administration of Santa Clara County, California, and held many political and civic roles.

Early life, and migration John Marion Murphy was born on June 10, 1824, in Frampton, Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada), to Irish parents Mary Foley and Martin Murphy Sr. He was a middle child in a family of nine children.

In 1840, the Murphy family moved to Atchison County, Missouri to a settlement called Irish Grove. His mother died at Irish Grove, there had been many diseases.

California During the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), Murphy served as the first lieutenant in the California Battalion (San Jose Volunteers), from November 1846 to February 1847.

After the war John and his younger brother Daniel Martin Murphy earned a living as merchants, but like many others, they began prospecting when the California Gold Rush began. at what they called "Murphy's Old Diggings" (now Vallecito, California), and later they moved to "Murphy's New Diggings," "Murphy's Camp," and eventually by 1835 it was just Murphys, California. The Murphy brothers made far more money as merchants than as miners. Although some sources state John had abundant wealth from this period of gold mining.

Murphy was elected in 1850 as the first Treasurer of Santa Clara County, a role he held for two years. In 1861, he was the sheriff of San Jose.

Death and legacy Murphy died on February 17, 1892, in San Jose, California. and a second one dedicated to the location in which the Murphy brothers pitched a tent was erected in 1977 by Matuca Chapter E.C.V. in Murphys, California.

The Murphys Hotel (formerly the Mitchler Hotel) in Murphys, California was named for the two brothers, and is reportedly haunted.