Recent from talks
William John Murphy
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
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.
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. He was awarded the Army Civil War Campaign Medal for his participation in the war.
After the war, Murphy met and married Mary C. Bigelow, a native of Nashville, Tennessee. In Nashville, he lived with his wife and two children until April 1871, when his wife died. That same year he met and married Laura Jane Fulwiler and they had four children, born between 1876 and 1883.
In 1880, Murphy moved with his family to what was then known as the Arizona Territory. During this time Murphy was contracted with railroad companies including the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad for grading and road work services. The family first moved to Flagstaff and later to Prescott.
Murphy learned about the Arizona Canal Company project, which would bring water to the arid lands of Maricopa County. In 1882, he joined three Arizona builders, M.W. Kales, William A. Hancock and Clark Churchill, and together they landed a $500,000 contract to build the 40-mile-long (64 km) 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. Murphy soon found himself deep in debt since he had agreed to be paid in Arizona Canal Company stock, bonds, and land instead of cash.
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. In order to develop and interest potential investors and settlers in the new town, Murphy decided to provide a better means of access between Phoenix, Glendale, and the neighboring town of Peoria by building an 18-mile-long (29 km) diagonal road which he named Grand Avenue.
In 1891, Burgess Hadsell worked with Murphy to bring 70 Brethren and River Brethren families to Glendale to form a temperance colony. Attracted by the town's ban on alcoholic beverages, other settlers continued to arrive. In 1895, Murphy platted the original town site and amended the plat to include a town park and some business lots. The construction of a railroad from Prescott to Phoenix was made possible with an exchange of the right-of-way made by Murphy along Grand Avenue. The railroad allowed Glendale settlers to transport goods to the north and easily receive building materials.
Hub AI
William John Murphy AI simulator
(@William John Murphy_simulator)
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.
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. He was awarded the Army Civil War Campaign Medal for his participation in the war.
After the war, Murphy met and married Mary C. Bigelow, a native of Nashville, Tennessee. In Nashville, he lived with his wife and two children until April 1871, when his wife died. That same year he met and married Laura Jane Fulwiler and they had four children, born between 1876 and 1883.
In 1880, Murphy moved with his family to what was then known as the Arizona Territory. During this time Murphy was contracted with railroad companies including the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad for grading and road work services. The family first moved to Flagstaff and later to Prescott.
Murphy learned about the Arizona Canal Company project, which would bring water to the arid lands of Maricopa County. In 1882, he joined three Arizona builders, M.W. Kales, William A. Hancock and Clark Churchill, and together they landed a $500,000 contract to build the 40-mile-long (64 km) 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. Murphy soon found himself deep in debt since he had agreed to be paid in Arizona Canal Company stock, bonds, and land instead of cash.
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. In order to develop and interest potential investors and settlers in the new town, Murphy decided to provide a better means of access between Phoenix, Glendale, and the neighboring town of Peoria by building an 18-mile-long (29 km) diagonal road which he named Grand Avenue.
In 1891, Burgess Hadsell worked with Murphy to bring 70 Brethren and River Brethren families to Glendale to form a temperance colony. Attracted by the town's ban on alcoholic beverages, other settlers continued to arrive. In 1895, Murphy platted the original town site and amended the plat to include a town park and some business lots. The construction of a railroad from Prescott to Phoenix was made possible with an exchange of the right-of-way made by Murphy along Grand Avenue. The railroad allowed Glendale settlers to transport goods to the north and easily receive building materials.
Recent media