Murphy, W. J. (William John), 1839-1923.

Entrepreneur, developer, canal builder.

William John Murphy was born in New Hartford, New York on Aug. 23, 1839. He lived with his family in Ohio and Illinois. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Murphy and his second wife, Laura Jane Fulwiler Murphy, were married in 1874. William had two children by his earlier marriage, George and Lucy; he and Laura had four children: Ralph, Laila, Loise and Ray. The family moved to Northern Arizona in 1880, and to Phoenix, Arizona Territory in 1883 to build the Arizona Canal. In 1895 they planted the first commercial citrus and were early promoters of Phoenix real estate. By amalgamating the north side canal systems, Murphy and company put 475,000 acres under cultivation and paved the way for future water development in the Salt River Valley. Murphy prevailed upon President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to declare the Salt River watershed a federal preserve. Murphy was an active promoter of the Gila Bend Irrigation District and founded the towns of Glendale, Peoria and Marinette. His son, Ralph, was carrying most of his concern when W.J. died on april 17, 1923; his wife Laura died on May 21, 1943.

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