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way to Santa Clara Valley and established his homestead. For $ 1500 he purchased the 9000-acre Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche, named for its many springs. Murphy’s ranch and hospitality created a welcome resting place for many travelers. Later the town of San Martin would grow up around the ranch and be named in honor of Murphy’s patron saint. Murphy’s sons, John and Daniel, struck gold in the
Sierras in 1849, but made their fortunes selling dry goods to the miners. The town they established bears the family name – Murphys. John became a prominent San Jose citizen, as treasurer, coroner, and sheriff for the newly formed County of Santa Clara. In 1854, Daniel took over the operation of Murphy Sr.’s ranch. He began purchasing cattle and land. At the time of his death in 1881, Dan’s landholdings in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona made him perhaps the largest landowner on the Pacific Coast. The Murphy clan’s pioneering spirit continued as they helped establish Santa Clara University, College of Notre Dame and the cities of San Martin, Morgan Hill, San Jose and Sunnyvale. After Dan Murphy died his property was subdivided and changed hands several times. The Harvey Bear family bought property to graze cattle. In 1997, the Bear family sold 4,445-acres to the Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department. The former Ojo del Agua Rancho lands have been added to Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. The historic Murphy homestead, pictured at left, once stood on the Bear Ranch property. Today, cattle still graze the parklands to fight weeds and reduce fire danger.
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In 1844, Martin Murphy Sr. brought his large, Irish family across the continent in the
Stephens-Murphy-Townsend overland part. Their determination, optimism and close family bonds helped them cross rugged terrain and become founders of early Santa Clara Valley. In 1846, Martin Murphy, Sr. made his
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crossed the
Sierras using the same route as Murphy, but started too late. Murphy was one of the rescue group members that helped the Donner Party. The routed would be later used for the Railroads. Murphy's Ranch was near the Monterey Trail, it led from
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There are a number of historical markers in
California about the Murphy Family's impact on Murphy California. The Santa Clara County Parks Department has a marker in San Martin, California at 2080 East San Martin Avenue.
251:, Ezekial Merritt, was the leader of a group of about 12 pioneers and settlers, that were able to overpower the troops of Lieutenant Francisco Arce and took a large number of
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275:. The next main event in the Bear Flag Rebellion was on June 14, 1846, in Sonoma, the taking of the Mexican administrative capital. Thus the founding of the
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383:(Carlos Maria Weber). Helen Murphy, the youngest daughter of Martin Sr., married Weber, the founder of the city of
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in 1844. The wagon train was made up of the
Stephenson family, Townsend family and the Murphy family. The
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on July 10, ended the
California Republic as Sloat claimed California for the United States. The arrival
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271:. The Mexican soldiers had stop for the night to rest the horses. Ezekial Merritt group was called the
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423:, California Historical Landmark no. 275. In 1851, Daniel married Maria Fisher, of the neighboring
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No. 680 listed on May 11, 1959. At Murphy's Ranch on June 10, 1846, was the start of the
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that lasted from June 14, 1846, to July 9, 1846. Americans
Independence declared from
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on June 14, 1846, and the
Americans occupied Sonoma July 9, 1846. The arrival of
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News-Sentinel, Ralph Lea and
Christi KennedySpecial to the (October 1, 2004).
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of the Murphy Ranch. The soldiers were taking the horses to
Mexican troops in
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Hoover, Mildred B.; Rensch, Hero; Rensch, Ethel; Abeloe, William N. (1966).
519:"The Mexican War and California: Monterey's Presidio Occupied and Improved"
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the Mexican capital in California. In 1849 Murphy moved to the
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and starting a wheat farm and ranch, named Bay View. At the
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For the abandoned ranch in Rustic Canyon, Los Angeles, see
537:"Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum - The Murphy Family Story"
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Martin Murphy Jr. (1807-1884) founder of Murphy ranch and
630:"Pioneering brothers: Murphys struck gold and built town"
610:. Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks
481:. Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks
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387:. Martin Murphy founded what is today called city of
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California Historical Landmarks in Sacramento County
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407:South of San Jose. Martin Murphy Sr. was born in
403:, (1785-1865) is known for founding the town of
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174:Location of Site of Murphy's Ranch in California
27:Historical Landmark in Elk Grove, United States
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576:"Pioneering Murphy Family Historical Marker"
419:found gold and started a mining town called
438:The Pioneering Murphy Family marker reads:
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693:History of Sacramento County, California
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225:Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California
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399:is a copy of his home. Murphy father,
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504:www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com
500:"CHL # 680 Murphy's Ranch Sacramento"
338:in Elk Grove. Martin Murphy was in a
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202:Murphy's Corral (the United States)
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517:Ruhge, Justin (February 8, 2016).
334:(1807-1884), located north of the
227:. The site of Murphy's Ranch is a
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255:soldiers horses that were in the
342:that was the first to cross the
326:Cosumnes River near Murphy Ranch
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688:California Historical Landmarks
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393:Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche
379:, at the invite of good friend
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559:Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum
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397:Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum
348:Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party
330:The Murphy ranch was owned by
229:California Historical Landmark
122:California Historical Landmark
51:First Bear Flag of California
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655:. Stanford University Press.
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205:Show map of the United States
651:Historic Spots in California
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608:"Murphys, California #275"
541:www.heritageparkmuseum.org
459:Adams and Company Building
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350:wagon train used strong
683:1846 in Alta California
377:San Francisco Bay Area
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177:Show map of California
53:June 14 – July 9, 1846
40:Site of Murphy's Ranch
479:"Murphy's Ranch #680"
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317:Sunnyvale, California
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247:American pioneer and
65:Elk Grove, California
301:California Battalion
421:Murphys, California
381:Charles Maria Weber
277:California Republic
265:Mission Santa Clara
237:Bear Flag Rebellion
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62:West Stockton Blvd
555:"The Murphy Story"
523:militarymuseum.org
425:Rancho Laguna Seca
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297:Robert F. Stockton
287:ships with leader
285:United States Navy
269:Mission San Rafael
137:Reference no.
92:38.372°N 121.359°W
662:978-0-8047-4482-9
594:"Murphy's Corral"
431:Historical marker
401:Martin Murphy Sr.
332:Martin Murphy Jr.
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365:New Helvetia
360:Donner Party
354:to pull the
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132:May 11, 1959
32:Murphy Ranch
413:John Murphy
340:wagon train
95: /
83:121°21′32″W
71:Coordinates
677:Categories
614:2012-10-07
485:2012-10-07
465:References
405:San Martin
129:Designated
80:38°22′19″N
389:Sunnyvale
448:See also
385:Stockton
373:Monterey
261:San Jose
59:Location
344:Sierras
253:Mexican
243:History
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358:. The
281:Mexico
257:corral
371:) to
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108:Built
657:ISBN
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