Simon Jones Murphy Sr. (April 2, 1815, Windsor, Maine - February 5, 1905 [1]) was an American businessman.
Murphy was born in Windsor, Maine and was a lumberman there, beginning as a logger on the Penobscot River and working his way up. In 1866, he moved to Michigan and worked in lumber there as well.[1] [2]
Operating out of Detroit, his company logged thousands of acres of Michigan pine forests.[1] Murphy was one of the first millionaires in Detroit.
In 1887, Murphy began wintering in Whittier, California after purchasing the Ramirez Rancho. While there, he was an irrigator, citrus farmer, oilman, and real estate developer.
He was founder of both the East Whittier Land and Water Company and the Murphy Oil Company, which drilled for oil in the Puente Hills.[3]
Murphy was an early benefactor of Whittier College. A hospital in Whittier bore his name, as does the neighborhood of Murphy Ranch, which was built on Murphy's citrus orchard.
In 1905, Murphy completed the process of gaining control of the Pacific Lumber Company, which, under Murphy's control and stewardship, would become a storied and one of the largest Coast Redwood lumber and milling operations to ever exist. At least five generations of Murphys, including Simon's son Simon Murphy Jr, Grandson Albert Stanwood Murphy, Great Grandson Stanwood Albert Murphy, and then Great great Grandson Warren Murphy managed and controlled[2] with main offices and the bulk of its massive log decks and milling operations in the historic company town of Scotia, California through 1985.[4]
Murphy and his company built several buildings in the Detroit Financial District. These include the Marquette Building, the Murphy Power Building, and the first Penobscot Building
A memorial commemorating Murphy exists in the second Penobscot Building.
In September 1845, Murphy married Ann Montgomery Dorr (May 21, 1828, Bradley, Maine-May 30, 1903, Detroit). Ann was the daughter of Charles M. and Ann (Morse) Dorr of Bradley and Milford, ME.
Simon and Ann Murphy had 12 children, of which five sons and a daughter survived infancy:
Son Simon J. Murphy, Jr. was a lumberman and Mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Son Frank E. Murphy, was a Lumberman, 4 term Alderman of Green Bay Wis, VP of The Morley- Murphy Company, and Developed Horse Shoe Bay Farms, in Door County Wisconsin, Frank E. Murphy Park was Donated to the Door County OF Wisconsin. In 1911 Bay View Beach was sold to Frank E. Murphy and Fred Rahr, who was owner of the Rahr's Brewing Company of Green Bay Wisconsin. In 1920 they donated the 11 acres, along with all its buildings and attractions, to the city of Green Bay.(5) The City Of Green Bay, then commemorated Murphy Park, on Green Bay's Far West Side, to his honor of Civil Service.
Son Charles, took over Murphy's real estate developments.
Son William went into business making car bodies for luxury cars. Simon. J. Murphy’s son William would thus be the main backer of Cadillac