New-York tribune., 1920-02-25
Extraordinarily
OF New jersey
Dies i'm Florida
Civil War Veteran and
Prominent Politician Had
Been in Declining Health
For More Than Two Years
Served i'm State Assembly
Was Prominent Candidate
for Vice-Presidency and
Sought u. S. Senatorship

Colonel Franklin Murphy, Of New
ark. N. j., yesterday received news of
the death of his father, former Gov
ernor Franklin Murphy, at the Royal
Poinciana Hotel, Palm Beach, Florida,
whittier he had gone on February 7
In company with an old friend, Charles
r. Brooker. Of Ansonia, Conn. Mr..
Murphy had been in declining health
for more than two years and on
Wednesday last was seized with an
acute abdominal trouble, for which he
was operated upon on Thursday.
The New Jersey State Senate adj
Journed yesterday Immediately after
assembling, as a mark of respect for
his memory.
Veteran of the Civil War, former
Governor of New Jersey, conspicuous
candidate for the Vice-Presidency.
Franklin Murphy was for full zen,
GRAFTON one of the foremost citizens
OF New Jersey in political and business
lie. He came of Connecticut Colonial
stock, transplanted to Bergen County.
n: D., in 17G6, and was born in JERSEY
CITY on January 3, 1876, the son Of
William Hayes and Abby Elizabeth
(Hagar) Murphy. The family soon re-
moved to Newark, where Franklin was
educated in the famous Newark Acad-
emy until he was sixteen, when he left
school to enter the army. He was
mustered m into the 18th New Jersey
1862; was in the thick of Antietam'
Charlottesville, Gettysburg, Mission
airy Ridge, Lookout, and from Atlanta
to the Sea-; and after nineteen battles
was mustered out in June, 1865, as
a first lieutenant.
Organizes Varnish Company
Immediately upon returning to civil
life, though still in his teens. he
organized the firm of Murphy & Co.,
varnish manufacturers, in Newark.
Thls concern had from ,he first pros
porous career, steadily growing until
1T ranked among the foremost in that
business. 1t was Incorporated in 1891
as the Murphy Varnish Company, with
It's founder as its president a place
century. Its headquarters have al
ways been in Newark. with branches in
Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and other
cities.
After he had established his bust
ness affairs on q secure foundation
Mr.. Murphy interested himself in poll
tics, always as a Republican. He was
member of the Newark Common
Council in 1S83-18S6, serving in the
last year as president. In 1885 he was
elected to the State Assembly; for a
number of years he was trustee of
the State Reform School at James burg;
he was one of the commissioners who
laid out Essex Countys great park
system; in 1897 he declined the Am
bassadorship to Russia, and in 1000
President Mckinley named him as one
Of the American Commissioners to the
Paris Universal Exposition. He was
for many years chairman of the Re-
publican State Committee. and from
1900 to 1918 q member of the Republi-
can National Committee. In 1908 he
was a conspicuous candidate for the
Republican nomination for Vice Presi-
the nomination for United States SEN
ator, being defeated by Joseph S.
Frelinghuysen. He was a delegate to
five national conventions.
Backed Many Reforms
Mr.. Murphy was elected Governor
in 1901 by handsome majority and
served three years. During his admins-
tration, and largely through his in
'uSh val iShuSASiAiV, ANSV oSIScy SOC
its first primary election law, child
labor law, workshop ventilation law
and tenement house commission law.
The State Sanitarium for Tuberculous
Patients at Glen Gardner was founded,
appropriation was made Tor the In
dustrial School for Colored Children
at Bordentown, the fee system in state
and county Offices was abolished,
complete audit system of state ex-
pendtures was established, and banks
were compelled to pay interest on state
deposits. After his retirement from
the Governorship he continued to ex-
ert much influence as one of the
Elder Statesmen" of the state.
Mr.. Murphy was married in 1868 to
Miss Janet Colwell, daughter of Israel
d. and Catherine (Hoagland) Colwell,
Of Newark She died in 1904. leaving
two children who survive These are
Colonel Franklin Murphy jr.. who sue
ceeded Mr.. Murphy as president of the
Murphy Varnish Company in 1915, and
Mrs. Helen Murphy Kinney, wife Of Will
lam B. Kinney, of Newark. Mr.. Murphy
had home in Broad Street, Newark,
and a country estate in Morris County,
beween Morristown and Mcndham. He
was member of many social and
business clubs and na+riotic orror,,o