Patrick W. Murphy


Patrick Washington Murphy, also known as P. W. Murphy, was a Canadian-born American politician and rancher. He was the founder of Santa Margarita, California. Murphy was a Democrat representing Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties; and served in the California State Senate; and was a member of the California State Assembly. He is from the Murphy family who were on the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada, they were early settlers in California, and the founders of early Santa Clara Valley. Murphy was nicknamed the "Black Prince" due to his complexion.

Early life

Patrick Washington Murphy was born on September 17, 1837, in Quebec, Lower Canada, to parents Mary Bulger and Martin Murphy Jr. His father was born in County Wexford, Ireland; their family migrated seeking religious freedom as Catholics. He was one of eleven children, and his brother Bernard D. Murphy was also a politician who served in the same legislative house concurrently.

Migration

In 1840, the Murphy family moved to Atchison County, Missouri to a settlement called Irish Grove.
On May 6, 1844, the family started a wagon train from Missouri to California; it was made up of the Stephenson family, Townsend family and the Murphy family, called the Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party. It was the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada in 1844, and the journey took nine months to California.

Career

Murphy graduated from Santa Clara College.
In the 1860s, his father bought of land from Joaquín Estrada to form a cattle ranch in what is now known as Santa Margarita, California. This ranch was run by his son Patrick. This grew to a ranch of , with Rancho Santa Margarita serving as headquarters. In 1876, Murphy bought an additional .
Murphy gave the Southern Pacific Railroad the allowance to run their track through his Santa Margarita Ranch land. This decision has defined the current route of the train.
Murphy was a Democrat representing Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, and San Luis Obispo County. Murphy served in the California State Senate in 1865–1866, 1868–1869, and 1877–1881. He was a member of the California State Assembly from 1881–1883.
Governor William Irwin appointed him brigadier general of the Second Brigade of the California National Guard. He was one of the founders and directors of the San Luis Obispo Water Company and Bank of San Luis Obispo.
Murphy was known for his rancho hospitality, he hosted many gatherings and kept many of the traditions of the Californios. He was president of the San Luis Obispo Agricultural Society in 1883, and president of the Irish Land League of California.

Death and legacy

Murphy died of pneumonia on November 1, 1901, at the Lick House Hotel in San Francisco.
At the time of Patrick's death the ranch was in size. His ranch sold in 1904 to the Fernando Reis family.
The family were the subject of Marjorie Pierce's book, The Martin Murphy Family Saga ; and the PBS documentary film, The Forgotten Journey, produced by John Krizek.