San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MARTIN D. MURPHY
A record of public service to be
proud of is that of Martin D. Murphy, chief of the Stockton Fire Department,
who has for twenty-three years been connected with this efficient
organization. He is a native of
Cheyenne, Wyoming, born there June 15, 1877, and four years later was brought
by his parents to Calaveras County, California, where they located on a sheep
ranch. In 1886 they came to San Joaquin
County, living at Newhope and Roberts Island, where he received his public
school education.
Mr. Murphy’s mother passed away
during his youth and the home was broken up so that he early started out to
make his own way. When
fourteen years old, our subject was taken into the home of the late John Barrett,
one of Stockton’s prominent undertakers.
For a few years he worked with the Barrett undertaking firm in Stockton
and then was a clerk with the H. C. Shaw Company, dealers in implements and
hardware. On June 1, 1899, he joined the
Stockton Fire Department as a call man and he has been connected with the
department ever since. In 1905 he became
a permanent member of the department and worked his way up through different
posts, until November 1, 1907, he was made assistant chief. On June 1, 1912, he was appointed fire chief,
a position he now holds. He is a very
efficient officer and his record stands for itself. Stockton has one of the best fire departments
in the state and much of the credit for its status is due Chief Murphy. He has been through all its evolution, from
horse-drawn apparatus to motor equipment; when he joined the department it
consisted of only ten paid men and volunteers.
Now there are seventy paid men and eight engine companies, all motor
equipped but the ladder truck. There are
four combination chemical and hose wagons, six combination pumps and engines,
with hose bodies, and the truck has a seventy-five foot ladder, besides smaller
ones.
Mr. Murphy’s marriage united him
with Miss Gertrude Simpson and they have one daughter, Gertrude. Mr. Murphy is prominent in fraternal circles
and belongs to the Eagles, Elks, Foresters of America,
Moose, Knights of Columbus, and Woodmen of the World. Brave and fearless, he has shown himself to
be an organizer of unusual capability, and the citizens of Stockton can well
congratulate themselves that the safety of their life and property is guarded
by one so competent.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
788. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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