Born in New York, his parents had moved to McHenry County, Illinois, when he was but an infant, and he grew up on a farm in that state.
In 1853, when he was 16 he sailed to California by the Nicaraguan route and joined a brother who had preceded him in Trinity County, where they engaged in mining and farming.
The mining excitement at Aurora brought him to Nevada, arriving in the state on April 16, 1863.
Although his opponent, the incumbent John R. Kittrell, was a strong candidate, Murphy was elected by a large majority.
[1][2] Murphy died at his home in Carson City, Nevada, from pneumonia, following a long illness, at the ago of 72.