Industry
3
John Murphy founded Murphys in 1848. He and his brother Daniel established a trading post and hired Miwok Indians to mine gravel, paying them in merchandise. The place was first known as Murphys Diggings, then Murphys Camp, and later Murphys. In December 1849, John Murphy left the camp with $1,500,000 in gold and returned to San Jose. He married Virginia Reed of the Donner Party and later served as Mayor of San Jose and Sheriff of Santa Clara.
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Murphys, California · United States
