DAVID MURPHY.—Those were energetic pioneers in the old days who made the tedious journey to California across the plains in ox-wagons or by sailing-vessel around Cape Horn, either journey being attended by the many inconveniences of travel in early times, not to mention hardship and danger. The father of David Murphy, a rancher and bear-hunter of Blocksburg, Cal., was one of the settlers of this state who made the journey around the Cape. The elder David Murphy was born in the state of Ohio and was married in Missouri to Polly Ann Raglan, a native of that state, by whom he had ten children, the two oldest being born in Missouri, the others in California. In 1856 the family came to California, where for three years they lived at Hydesville, and in April, 1873, settling near Blocksburg. The father then bought the Foster ranch where he devoted his time and energy to stock-raising, and died sixteen years ago at the age of seventy-six, his wife having passed away the previous year aged sixty-five years.

The seventh of his children, David Murphy, now a prosperous resident of Humboldt county, was born at Cottonwood, Tehama county, Cal., October 10, 1867, receiving his education in the public schools of Blocksburg district, for some time remaining at home where he assisted his father and was employed also on various other ranches in the vicinity. In 1890 he took up a preemption of forty acres which he proved up and still owns. He has also held large stock-ranch interests at Fruitland, Cal., which he sold in 1914 and rented the G. F. Connick ranch of fifteen hundred acres and about one thousand acres of Fruitland property whereon he raises cattle and hogs. Besides being a successful rancher, Mr. Murphy has gained for himself the distinction of being the most successful bear-hunter, at the present time, in the county, having killed twenty bears in Humboldt county during the season of 1913 and 1914, so that he may be said to rival Roosevelt as a bear-hunter. His reason for hunting so industriously was because the bears were destroying the hogs in the neighborhood.

Mr. Murphy’s home life on his ranch is of the pleasantest. His wife is Susie F. Heryford, whom he married in 1891; she is the daughter of Paul and Josephine (Elkins) Heryford, also pioneers of California, crossing the plains when children ; they were married in California ; the father died in Blocks-burg and the mother now resides in Santa Rosa. Mrs. Murphy was born in Tehama, California, but was reared and educated at Blocksburg. She is the mother of five children: Viola, the wife of Bert Johnson, living near Harris ; Neta, the wife of Charles Flora, living at Fruitland ; David, William and Eva.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=SDU18660515.2.13&srpos=25&e=——-en–20-SDU-21–txt-IN-murphey—-#

Justifiable Homicide.— A correspondent of the Tehama Observer, writing from Cottonwood, May 9th, has the following:

Yesterday a lady by the name of Murphey, residing on the Middle Fork of Cottonwood, Tehama county, killed a man by the name of Wilson by shooting him through the head with a pistol. Mrs. Murphey has a husband, and is the mother of seven children. She is the only daughter of John Raglan, and an estimable lady in every respect. Murphey was not at home at the time the killing occurred. The wretch Wilson, who was killed, was attempting to force the lady to submit to his beastly will. I presume she was obliged to resort to the extreme measure she did in order to prevent the beast from accomplishing his hellish purpose. Squire Ruff was sent for to hold an inquest upon the body, and to officially investigate the case. He went up to Murphey’s to-day. From what little I have heard, I have not a doubt the lady was perfectly justifiable, and that the Squire will so decide.

Fred