Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MRS.
VIRGINIA REED MURPHY
MRS. VIRGINIA REED MURPHY. The memory of the pioneer goes back beyond
the peace and prosperity of the present time to the days when California was
but a wilderness, recalling the hardships and trials, the privation and
desolation which were not incident, but made up the warp and woof of such a
life. Through successive steps, each one
made first by the strong arm and stronger courage of the pioneer, the territory
was peopled, the territory became a state, and men and women whose names are
immortal in the history of those early times gave themselves, their ambitions,
their personality, their very character, to the cause of western
civilization. Of those who can truly
look upon the accomplishment of to-day and say “All of which I saw and a part of
which I was,” none holds a higher place or more deservingly than
Mrs. Virginia Reed Murphy, who, as a little child, crossed the plains with
the ill-fated Donner party, her people being in the vanguard of
civilization. The unparalleled suffering
which this party endured is so well-known in general that it scarcely requires
a reference from the biographer, but it is nowhere more graphically told than
by the pen of Mrs. Murphy herself, who recalls with striking vividness
every detail of that hazardous trip and their final rescue and entrance into
the “land of sunshine and flowers.”
Truly representative of the pioneer days and the efforts which made
possible California’s present prosperity, both Mrs. Murphy and her
husband, John M. Murphy, are gratefully remembered by the present
generation and given a place of honor in the annals of her citizenship.
In girlhood Mrs. Murphy was
Virginia Reed, born in Springfield, Ill., the daughter of James Frazier Reed, a
native of County Armagh, Ireland. His father being deceased his mother brought
her family to America, locating in Philadelphia, where James Reed made his home
until eight or nine years of age. He
then went to Virginia to live with his mother’s brother, Mr. Frazier, with
whom he remained until he was twenty-five years old, at that time coming as far
west as Sangamon county, Ill., and locating at Springfield. He was there married to Margaret (Keyes) Backenstoe, widow of Lloyd C. Backenstoe. Mrs. Reed was a native of Monroe county, Va.,
and the daughter of Humphrey and Sarah (Handley) Keyes, the family being
related to Francis Scott Key, the author of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Humphrey Keys became an early settler of
Sangamon county, Ill., where he engaged as a
farmer. One of his sons, Robert Caddon, crossed the plains to Oregon in 1845, and later
came to California, where he died November 25, 1862.
On account of his wife’s health
Mr. Reed decided to become a pioneer of the west, thinking the change
would be beneficial for her, and it was through his influence that the party,
afterward known as the “Donner party,” was organized, and outfitted for the
long and wearisome trip, all hopeful, however, as to the country which they
should reach and the homes which they hoped to establish beyond the Rocky
mountains. The winter preceding the
spring of 1846 was largely given over to the great preparations which the
entire company made, the Reeds making a wagon which they designed especially
for comfort, as Mrs. Keyes, who was then seventy-five years old, insisted
on accompanying them to California, as she would not be parted from
Mrs. Reed, who was her only daughter.
Well equipped with this wagon, which was large and roomy and so arranged
that much comfort could be taken in travel, and with two wagons of provisions,
in fact, everything that could be thought of for the needs of the company, and
with sufficient to last the first winter in California if the trip had been
made in the usual six months, the party started on their eventful journey. Horses, cows, oxen and a little pony which
belonged to Mrs. Murphy constituted the stock, and on the 14th
day of April, 1846, the party, which numbered thirty-one, took leave of friends
and relatives and started upon their journey.
Not many days had passed before they were called upon to meet their
first sorrow, as on the 29th of May Mrs. Keyes passed away, and
on the banks of the Big Blue river they laid her away
for her last rest. On account of the
swollen river they were unable to ford it and were compelled to build rafts and
lower the wagons by means of ropes, as the banks were very steep. On the other side of the river the party
continued upon its way, now being made up of forty wagons and commanded for a
time by Col. William H. Russell, then by George Donner. For some time the journey remained a pleasant
and interesting trip, the merry party hunting, fishing
and racing over the plains, and at night gathering around the camp fire, where
tales were told and laughter and song awoke the echoes of the lonely western
plains. At Fort Laramie the Fourth of
July was celebrated, and their journey was then continued.
A new route had just been opened by
Lansford W. Hastings, called the Hastings cut-off, which passed along the
southern shore of the Great Salt Lake, rejoining the old Fort Hall emigrant
road on the Humboldt. It was said to
shorten the distance three hundred miles, and after some discussion it was
decided to go this way, all being eager to reach California. Eighty-seven persons took the Hastings
cut-off, including the Donners, Breens,
Reeds, Murphys, C. T. Stanton, John Denton, William McClutchen, William Eddy, Louis Keseburg,
and many others too numerous to mention.
On the morning of July 31 the company separated, and those who
afterward became known as the Donner party took the Hastings cut-off, and at
once entered upon the trials and privations which marked the remainder of their
perilous journey. Instead of
accomplishing this part of the journey in a week they were on the way a month,
and after unnumbered hardships they reached the edge of the desert with their
stock in such condition that they were unable to cross. After providing what they thought an ample
supply of water and grass they set out across the desert, which they found to
be nearer eighty miles than the forty which had been represented to them. Suffering intensely from thirst, the oxen
fell to the ground and were unable to draw the wagons another step; they were
then unhitched and driven off to the water which was supposed to be about ten
miles away. All day long the little
party waited in the desert for the return of the drivers, the other wagons
going on out of sight. When night came,
desperation drove them to attempt to reach the other wagons by going on foot, a
journey which was safely accomplished, though they were threatened by destruction
from a steer maddened by thirst. The
following morning they learned that their stock had all disappeared, that they
had broken away at the scent of water and the drivers had been unable to find
them. Having only one cow and ox left
these were yoked together with a yoke of oxen which was given by the company in
the dire need of their comrades, to one of the wagons, while the others were
cached with all that could not be carried.
Without sufficient provisions to last the party until their arrival at some
point where supplies could be obtained, two members of the party were sent on
to Sutter’s Fort. Some time afterward
Mr. Stanton, who was one to go for supplies, returned and once more the
party sought to continue their journey.
The mountains now lay before them and their effort to reach the summit
was pitiable. The oxen, unable to draw
the heavy wagons through the snow, were unhitched and the goods packed upon
them and another start was made, men and women walking in snow up to their
waists, carrying children in their arms and attempting to drive their
cattle. So wearied were they that when
night came it found them still below the summit, and, despite the efforts of
some who realized their great danger, the majority of the party determined to
camp rather than travel by forced marches toward the top. The dreaded snow came in the night, and the
following morning it was found impossible to travel farther. Wearily they retraced their steps and camped
for the winter on the shores of a lake since known as the Donner lake, and
where so many of this little band laid down alike the responsibilities and
pleasures of life. Four months were
spent by the party (the Reeds among them) in their dark cabins under the snow,
enduring the horrors of famine, cold, loneliness and desolation. It must indeed appear almost a miracle to the
survivors of that little company that any were spared to again reach
civilization. Some attempted to reach California,
the greater majority perishing after the most terrible suffering that mind
could picture. Relief and rescue came
through Mr. Reed, who reached Sutter’s Fort and made known the desperate
situation of the emigrants, his relief, however, coming from Yerba Buena, now
San Francisco. After a weary journey the
buried emigrants were reached and once more taken back to civilization. Their journey over the mountains was one fraught
with the memory of intense suffering, for there were many who were unable to
travel, and many times all thought their labor was for naught and that even
then the party were doomed to disaster. Out of the eighty-three persons imprisoned at
Donner lake, forty-two perished, and of the thirty-one
emigrants who left Springfield that beautiful spring morning in 1846 only
eighteen lived to reach California.
With the courage and heroism which
distinguished the character of the pioneers, they were all able to put behind
them the horror of that fearful journey and enter upon the duties which life
still held for them. In Napa valley the
Reeds remained in the home of George C. Yount
for a time, after which they stopped the first winter at the old San Jose
mission, where Mr. Reed shipped the first grapes and also dried the first
apples, pears and figs which he shipped from San Francisco to the Sandwich
Islands.
In the spring of 1848 he located in San
Jose, and with the energy and enthusiasm which distinguished his character gave
his efforts heartily toward locating the capital at this place. January 20 of that year they moved into
an old adobe house, opposite the St. Joseph Catholic Church, and here a
son, Charles C. Reed, was born February 6, 1848. While living here Mr. Reed received a message
from Captain Sutter that metal found in the race resembled gold, and in company
with Dr. Cory and Mr. Miller he went to the mines, after moving his
family into a frame house upon the present site of the San Jose bank. He returned from the mines with a mule packed
with gold dust, remaining here then and purchasing a large tract of land in
this city. During this time he had spent
a fortune in trying to keep the capital at San Jose, exerting himself in every
possible way to secure this object, and with the removal of the capital he lost
heavily. Mr. Reed was always
interested in manufactures, and conducted the first starch manufactory in
Sangamon county, Ill., and in Santa Cruz he
manufactured lime for a while. He was
very successful in all his business dealings, and at his death, which occurred
July 24, 1874, at the age of seventy-four years, he was a wealthy
man. While a resident of Illinois he
served in the Black Hawk war, under the command of Captain Early. Fraternally he was a Mason. Mrs. Reed improved in health after
coming to California, in which state her death eventually occurred. To herself and husband were born the
following children: Virginia, now the
widow of John M. Murphy; Mattie J., the widow of Frank Lewis, of San
Jose; James F., who died here in 1901; Thomas Keyes, who resides at
Capitola; Charles C., already mentioned as the first child born to his
parents in California, his home being in San Jose; and William Yount, who was born and died in San Jose.
In San Jose, in 1850, Virginia Reed
became the wife of John Marion Murphy, who was born at Frampton, near Quebec, a
son of Martin Murphy, Sr., whose sketch appears on another page of this
work. When about sixteen years of age he
crossed the plains in company with the Murphy-Schallenberger
party, who made the journey in 1844, and upon his arrival here went at once
into the mines. On acquiring sufficient
means through industry and economy he engaged in general merchandising in what
is now Murphy’s, Calaveras county, trading with the
Indians in gold dust. Coming to San Jose
in 1850, he at once became an important factor in public affairs, and remained
so until he was incapacitated by illness.
He became the first recorder of Santa Clara county,
after which he was elected to the office of county treasurer, discharging his
duties in an efficient and capable manner and heightening the general esteem in
which he was held. As the choice of the
people he filled the office of mayor, and was then elected sheriff of the
county, his re-election following the expiration of his term. While in this position he was often called
upon to perform dangerous arrests, among them being that of Pancho
Daniel, a noted desperado, whom he delivered to the sheriff of Los
Angeles. Upon the expiration of his term
as sheriff he became engaged in the dry goods business in San Jose, and at the
same time handled real estate, this latter business, in connection with
insurance, later occupying his time exclusively. His death occurred here February 20,
1892, at the age of sixty-eight years.
There is no need to pass an encomium upon the life of Mr. Murphy,
for those who knew him best during his long residence in San Jose, as well as
various other parts of the state, revered and honored him most – his noble,
high-minded character, his generosity and liberality, which greatly lessened
his wealth, but of which he took no note, his strong, earnest and forceful
manhood, which spoke so eloquently in deeds rather than words, and all that
went to make up a citizen of exceptional worth.
It was natural for him to be a leader in all public enterprises and with
right good will he was accorded this place among his fellow citizens. It is true that his visible presence is no
more, but, though passed on in the wake of the pioneer life of the state, so
long as memory binds the early days with the present prosperity and developed
resources, so long will he be remembered as one who helped to lay the
foundation of a statehood.
Since the death of her husband
Mrs. Murphy has continued the business which he started, being the first
woman on the Pacific coast to engage in the fire insurance business, which has
grown to large and lucrative proportions under her able management. She is the mother of the following
children: Mollie, who is the wife of
C. Kenney and makes her home in the Hawaiian Islands; Va,
who is the wife of W. D. Sanborn, general agent of the Quincy and
Burlington Railroad, located in San Francisco; Ada, the wife of
S. P. Howes, an abstractor of San Jose; and Dan Reed, chief clerk of
the Westminster hotel, of Los Angeles.
In her religious faith Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Roman
Catholic Church, belonging to the congregation of St. Joseph Church, in
San Jose. She was converted to this
belief as a little child while imprisoned in the Breen cabin on the shore of Donner lake.
This family was of Catholic belief and, through all the terrible
suffering which they experienced, held religious services every night, and one night,
as the little girl thought of their terrible position and probable fate, she
suddenly found herself upon her knees making a solemn vow that if she were
spared with her people and should see her father again she would become a
Catholic. Her vow was fulfilled and no
more worthy member contributes to the growth and success of this church than
Mrs. Murphy. She is a member of the
Santa Clara Pioneer Association and an honorary member of the Western
Association of California, pioneers of Chicago, and holds a like position in
the California Women’s Pioneer Society of San Francisco. No higher tribute could be paid to her
womanhood, to the spirit of unselfishness and devotion to the cause of the
western state which has always been her dominant characteristic, than to say
she is best loved and appreciated where best known, in the midst of peace and
plenty, with the prosperity about her as evidence of the worth of the works of
the pioneer, and a circle about her where friends are numbered as liberally as
acquaintance, rounding out the evening of a well-spent life.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
MRS. VIRGINIA REED MURPHY
1891 Sep 10, San Francisco Chronicle,
P1, San Francisco, California
Observed in Chicago
How the Western Association of Pioneers
Kept Admission Day
Chicago, September 9 – On the site of
the proposed California building at Jackson Park the Western Association of
California Pioneers celebrated the forty-first anniversary of the admission of
California into the Union. Several
hundred invitations had been sent to members and friends and about 300 were
present. Large baskets of lunch were
carried to the grounds, and at 2 o’clock 300 sat down to the feast. <snipped>
Mrs. Virginia Reed Murphy, who has
recently written the history of the Donner party in the Century Magazine, was invited to be present, but during the
afternoon a telegram was received from her at San Jose, Cal., which read: “Greetings and cordial thanks to the Western
Association of California Pioneers.”
1900 Sep 8, San Francisco Chronicle, P9,
San Francisco, California
First American Flag Made in California
Mrs. Virginia Reed Murphy, one of the
best known of California pioneer women, gave some interesting information
yesterday in regard to the making of the first American flag in California, to
be used at the first celebration of the Fourth of July. She said:
“It was in the summer of 1847 that my father, J. F. Reed, and
his family were guests at the home of George C. Yount,
in Napa valley, near where Yountville now stands. It was there that the first Fourth of July
was celebrated by Americans in California.
My mother proposed the celebration, and “Grandpa” Yount,
as we children loved to call him, supplied the dinner. A long table was placed in a lovely spot
under the shade of the oaks, and everyone was invited. There were flowers on the table and flowers
under the table, as Napa valley in those days was simply a bed of
wildflowers. Some fine cooks were among
those pioneer ladies, and the table fairly groaned with good things. There were ‘jolly good fellows, with their
sweethearts and wives,’ at that Fourth of July banquet fifty-three years ago. The day was perfect and we all had a good
time. I helped make the flag that
decorated the table, and what a time we had in getting material for it. It was a small flag, still it was the Stars
and Stripes, and the very first American flag ever made in California. As such it deserves three cheers from our
Native Sons on this fiftieth anniversary of Admission day. That little flag, incased in glass, now hangs
in Pioneer Hall, San Francisco. We left
the flag with George C. Young, and years after he gave it to the Pioneer
Society. The flag was made by Susan
Cooper-Wolfskill, now of Winters;
Patty Reed Lewis of Capitola, and myself.”
1903 Mar 31, Evening News, P2, San Jose,
California
Mrs. Virginia Reed Murphy was given a
pleasant surprise at the Ramona last Monday evening, the occasion being a
farewell to Mrs. Murphy, who has gone to make her home with her sister,
Mrs. Mattie Lewis, after having made the Ramona her home for eight years.
1907 Dec 8, San Jose Mercury News, P36,
San Jose, California
Historical Society to Meet Next
Wednesday
<snipped>
Prof. Franklin of Stanford, chairman of
the program committee of the Santa Clara County Historical Society, has
announced the program for the next meeting of the society which will be held in
the public library building of San Joe next Wednesday, December 11. Mrs. Virginia Reed Murphy, who crossed
the plains in 1846 with the Donner party and was snowed in all one winter with
them at the summit of the Sierras, will relate her experiences on that famous
expedition. <snipped>
1921 Feb 16, The
Los Angeles Times, P29, Los Angeles, California
Came With Old Caravan
Seventy-five years ago Mrs.
Virginia R. Murphy came to California.
She died yesterday afternoon at the age of 87 years at the home of her
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Murphy, 151 South Union avenue.
Mrs. Murphy accompanied the Donner party, the most historic of the
pioneer caravans that crossed the plains to California. She was then 12 years old and at the
time of her death was the oldest surviving member of the Donner party, whose
expedition across the mountains and desert and plains in 1846 has added many
pages to California history. The Donner
party was first organized in Springfield, Ill., by Donner and Mrs. Murphy’s
father at the time when the United States was at war with Santa Ana and his
Mexican forces. Since coming to
California Mrs. Murphy lived in San Jose, up to six and a half years ago. She then came to Los Angeles to reside with
her daughter-in-law. Two children
survive her, Mrs. Samuel Howea of San Jose, and
Mrs. Cloud Kinney, whose home is in the Hawaiian Islands. The body will lie in state at the Cresse funeral chapel, Highland Park, tomorrow afternoon
from __ [copy is blank] to 5 p.m.
Thursday night it will be shipped to San Jose for burial.
1921 Feb 17, Santa Cruz Evening News,
P4, Santa Cruz, California
Murphy – At Los Angeles, Feb. 15, Mrs.
Virginia E. Reed Murphy, sister of Mrs. Frank Lewis, aged 86 years, a
native of Springfield, Ill.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1312-1315. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.