Nathan Oakes Murphy
14th Governor of Arizona Territory
In office
August 1 1898 – July 1 1902
Nominated byWilliam McKinley
Preceded byMyron H. McCord
Succeeded byAlexander Oswald Brodie
10th Governor of Arizona Territory
In office
May 11 1892 – April 12 1893
Nominated byBenjamin Harrison
Preceded byJohn N. Irwin
Succeeded byL. C. Hughes
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona Territory
In office
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897
Preceded byMarcus A. Smith
Succeeded byMarcus A. Smith
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Sarah E. Banghart (1884 – 1903, div.)
Emma D. Sells(married 1904)

Nathan Oakes Murphy (October 14, 1849 – August 22, 1908) was an American businessman and politician. Two time Governor of Arizona Territory.

Background

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Murphy was born in Lincoln County, Maine on October 14, 1849 to Benjamin F. and Lucy (Oakes) Murphy. In 1856, his family moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where he was educated in public schools. Following his studies, Murphy served as a teacher from 1866 till 1869.[1] After this he became involved with various mining efforts and with the practice of law. Murphy also moved to California before permanently settling in Prescott, Arizona Territory in the early 1880s.[2] In Prescott he partnered with his brother, Frank Morill Murphy, in a variety of real estate and mining ventures.[3] By 1887 he was made a land agent for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Murphy and his brother followed this by founding the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway, Frank serving as the new railroad's president.[4][3]

Murphy married Sarah E. "Nellie" Banghart, the daughter of an Arizona pioneer, on August 6, 1884. As a result of this marriage, he became the brother-in-law to newspaperman John H. Marion and Judge Edmund W. Wells. The couple had one son, Paul Tritle Murphy, and were divorced on September 19, 1903. Murphy married his second wife, Emma D. Sells, on April 11, 1904.[4]

In temperament, Murphy was a direct and outspoken individual with views typical of a late 19th century Republican. He was also noted for his habit of wearing musk perfume at all times. As a result of this predilection, an unfriendly newspaper labeled him the "Knight of the Musk Bottle".[5]

Territorial Secretary

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Nominated for position of Secretary of Arizona Territory by President Benjamin Harrison. Commissioned on March 12, 1889.[4]

Appointment occurred while 15th Arizona Territorial Legislature was in session.[6]

First duties included informing Treasury dept of damage to Legislature's furniture following three week trip from Prescott to Phoenix.[7]

Supported Governor Wolfley in efforts to deal with Democratic appointees who refused to turn over records and materials related to their duties to new Republican appointees.[8] Did not however support all of Wolfley's actions and counseled governor to show more restraint.[9]

Served as Acting Governor during period between Wolfley's resignation and John N. Irwin's arrival.

Service during 16th Arizona Territorial Legislature:[10]

  • Recommend adoption of Australian or secret ballot
  • Construction of bridge over Salt River near Phoenix
  • Establishment of a reform school
  • Outlaw gambling on the ground floor of all buildings
  • Initiate action to obtain statehood

Finding of eleven "lost laws"[11]

First administration

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Following the resignation of Governor Irwin, Nominated by President Benjamin Harrison to become Governor of Arizona Territory on April 21, 1892.[12]

Revived senate confirmation on May 9, 1892.[13]

Although he had applied for the position following the resignation of Governor Wolfley, Murphy did not become governor until May 11, 1892 following the resignation of Governor Irwin.[4]

Territorial Delegate

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In 1894, Territorial Delegate Mark Smith decided not to run for reelection.[14] Murphy was nominated to be the Republican candidate for Smith's seat by Maricopa county chairman Myron H. McCord. He ran on a platform supporting immediate statehood, free coinage of silver at a 16 to 1 ratio, lower taxes, and opposed to the return of Apache who had been removed from the territory. In Arizona's first use of the secret ballot, Murphy received 5,648 votes while Democratic candidate John C. Herndon and Populist candidate Buckey O'Neill split the Democratic base, gathering 4,773 and 3,006 votes respectively.[15]

Upon reaching the U.S. House of Representatives, Murphy was assigned to serve on the Committee on Territories, the Committee on Mines and Mining, and the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures.[16]

Second administration

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Formation of Arizona Rangers

Misuse of discretionary fund

After office

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Following his resignation, Murphy and his second wife traveled extensively, visiting Europe and the Mediterranean before returning to Arizona and staying in a resort at Castle Hot Springs. He was admitted to the Arizona bar in 1901, but rarely practiced law. During a visit to the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, Murphy died suddenly on August 22, 1908. He was initially buried in San Diego, California before his remains were moved in 1909 to the Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C..[17]


[18]

[19]

[20]

References

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  1. ^ Goff 1978, p. 128.
  2. ^ Goff 1985, p. 149.
  3. ^ a b McMullin & Walker, p. 43.
  4. ^ a b c d Goff 1978, p. 129.
  5. ^ Goff 1985, p. 148.
  6. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 260.
  7. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 252.
  8. ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 261–2.
  9. ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 267–8.
  10. ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 286–7.
  11. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 287.
  12. ^ "New Governor for Arizona". The Evening World. New York City. April 21, 1892. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Murphy Confirmed". Arizona Republican. Phoenix, Arizona Territory. May 10, 1892. p. 1.
  14. ^ Goff 1985, p. 150.
  15. ^ Goff 1985, p. 152.
  16. ^ Goff 1985, p. 154.
  17. ^ Goff 1985, p. 159.
  18. ^ "Former Arizona Governor Dies While In San Diego". Los Angeles Herald. August 23, 1908. p. 2.
  19. ^ "Flags are at Half Staff". Arizona Republican. Phoenix, Arizona Territory. August 23, 1908. p. 1.
  20. ^ "Ex-Governor N.O. Murphy Passes Away in California". Bisbee Daily Review. August 23, 1908. p. 1.
  • Goff, John S. (1978). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863-1912. Cave Creek, Arizona: Black Mountain Press. OCLC 5100411.
  • Goff, John S. (1985). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume III: The Delegates to Congress 1863-1912. Cave Creek, Arizona: Black Mountain Press. OCLC 12559708. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authormask= ignored (|author-mask= suggested) (help)
  • McMullin, Thomas A.; Walker, David (1984). Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing. ISBN 0-930466-11-X.
  • Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.


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Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Arizona Territory
1892-1893
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Arizona Territory
1898-1902
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona Territory

1895 – 1897
Succeeded by


Category:Governors of Arizona Territory Category:Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Arizona Territory Category:1849 births Category:1908 deaths