Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1901-09-26
NEXT GOVERNOR
OF NEW JERSEY.
Pen Picture of the Man Whom
the Republicans Will Name
Thursday.


the Republicans Will Name
Thursday.
Newark, N. j., Sept. %. Soldier,
city official, legislator, head of great
and successful business, chairman of
the State Republican Committee and
member of the National Republican
Committee is the summary of the life
of Franklin Murphy, who will in all
probability be nominated for Cover
nor of New Jersey by the Republicans
on Thursday. Mr.. Murphy was born
in Jersey City January 3, 1916, which
is probably the reason why the Re-
publicans of Hudson county claim
him as their own. He came to New
ark with his parents when ten years
old, and has made this city his home
since that time. His education was
obtained at the Newark Academy,
which institution has turned out
many of the successful men of New
ark. At the outbreak of the civil war
the lad, then scarcely more than Is
years old, begged to be permitted to
enlist, but his father was unwilling
to grant the desired permission, and
for nearly year the youngster chafed
under the paternal inhibition. But
when the organization of the Thir-
teenth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
was begun in Newark he succeeded in
gaining the necessary consent, and he
enlished in Company A of the new
regiment, in the summer of 1862.
With Sherman to the Sea.
AS a private in Company A Mr..
Murphy participated in the battles of
Antietam, Charlottesville and
Gettysburg and in the campaigns to
Atlanta and Savannah and through
the Carolinas with General Sherman.
On being mustered out of the service
at the close of the war he returned TO
Newark, and engaged in the varnish
business, beginning in a small way
and laying the foundation for the in
stitution which is now known all over
the world. Despite the fact that the
building up of the business demanded
great share of his time, Mr.. Murphy
still found leisure to help organize
and develop sundry patriotic societies,
and at present holds membership in
the Society of the Colonial Wars and
the Sons of the American Revolution,
OF which latter organization he has
servedsas president general of the ma
tional organization.
Mr.. Murphy came honestly by his
fighting blood. A descendant of good,
sturdy Revolutionary stock, his fore
bears having taken an active part in
the war for independence, his COM
bative instincts served him well dur
ing his military career, and later in
his business and political life. Amid
the pressure of business he turned to
politics, partly for recreation and
partly because of a settled conviction
that every American citizen should
bear hand in the burden of Govern
ment. His father, William HI. Muir
ply, now a sturdy, we'll l-preserved
man of more than four score years,
had served in the Common Council of
Newark while the son was fighting
for the Union, and when the young
man took up politics he became a
candidate for the same position. He
was elected Alderman, and served
from 1883 to 1886, inclusive, occupy
ing the chair as President of the
Council in 1885 and 1886.
While still a member of the Common
Council he was elected to the General
Assembly of the State, and his friends
enthusiastically say that the records
of both the Common Council of New
ark and of the House may be taken to
bear out the statement that he was
careful and conscientious servant of
the people. For six years he was
member of the Board of Trustees of
the State Reform School for Boys, at
Jamesburg, and was much interested
in the growth and development of
nst institution.
Twice Voted for Mckinley.
Murphy twice voted for the
ration of President Mckinley,
Louis, in 1896, and again at
delphia, last year. In both con-
4ons he figured as a delegate from
Jersey and his voice and in
,nce had much to do with the con-
S.dct of affairs in both gatherings.
President Mckinley appointed him
United States Commissioner to the
Paris Exposition last year, and he
discharged the duties of that office
with the same earnest attention to de-
tail that has characterized his bust
ness and official life.