William John Murphy

William John Murphy (August 23, 1839 – April 17, 1923) was an American businessman, contractor, land developer and founder of the Arizona Improvement Company. He is also remembered as the "Founder of Glendale, Arizona" and an important contributor to much of the early development in the Phoenix area.

Early life

The William J. Murphy House was built in 1895 and is located at 10 W Orangewood Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona Murphy was born in New Hartford, New York, to George Alexander Murphy and Nancy Allen, both immigrants from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. His family soon moved to the state of Ohio, where he received his primary education. During his youth, his family moved to Chicago and later Pontiac, Illinois, where he continued to receive his education.

Murphy joined the Union Army upon the outbreak of the American Civil War and participated in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, as an officer under the command of General William T. Sherman. The Union forces overwhelmed and defeated Confederate forces defending the city under General John Bell Hood. Murphy was honorably discharged from the military on July 24, 1865. and together they landed a $500,000 contract to build the Arizona Canal from Granite Reef to New River. With the use of whatever machinery was available and the help of 225 mules, Murphy and his team completed the canal by 1885.

Glendale, Arizona In 1887, Murphy founded the Arizona Improvement Company. His objective was to sell the land and water rights south of the canal; he decided to name the area "Glendale". Murphy had to raise capital from out-of-state sources in order to meet payroll and construction expenses. Murphy is credited with establishing the Valley's citrus industry in the northern extension of Central Avenue in 1895. The roadway, which he developed, was first paved in 1920, and cut through the Orangewood subdivision. Known as the "Murphy Bridle Path", it begins at Bethany Home Road and ends north at the Arizona Canal. The earliest known reference to the Murphy Bridle Path, discovered by the city's historic preservation office, dates to 1948, when the bridle path was dedicated by the "Arizona Horse Lover's Club". The North Central Avenue streetscape is now on the Phoenix Historic Property Register and has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Murphy's successes in the cultivation of citrus fruit trees also inspired him to consider the development of a sugar beet industry for Glendale. Together with other entrepreneurs, he founded the Arizona Sugar Company in 1903 and construction of a $1 million sugar beet factory began that same year. The Eastern Sugar Co., which was responsible for selling bonds for the construction of the factory, failed in their mission and the venture went into receivership. However, in 1905, Murphy was able to secure new investors from New Jersey and Michigan.

Murphy built the Ingleside Club, complete with a golf course, near the Arizona Canal and the town of Scottsdale with the intention of attracting investors and potential landowners to what became known as the Salt River Valley.

In 1912, the park which Murphy donated was renamed Murphy Park in his honor. It is located at 58th and Glendale Avenues and has a public library. Murphy's family home at 10 W Orangewood Avenue is preserved as the William J. Murphy House. The Murphy Bridle Path also exists today; the trail runs along Central Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Northern Avenue.