page_title: William John Murphy
section_title: The Arizona Canal Co.
hierarchical_section_title: William John Murphy / The Arizona Canal Co.
caption_attribution_description: English: The historic William J. Murphy House was built in 1895 and is located at 7514 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona. William J. Murphy created the Arizona Improvement Company in 1887 and bought land in areas that would eventually become the towns of Peoria and Glendale. The house is listed as historic by the Phoenix Historic Property Register.
context_page_description: William John Murphy was an American businessman, contractor, land developer and founder of the Arizona Improvement Company. He is also remembered as the "Founder of Glendale, Arizona" and an important contributor to much of the early development in the Phoenix area.
context_section_description: In 1880, Murphy moved with his family to what was then known as the Arizona Territory. During this time Murphy was contracted with railroad companies including the Atlantic and Pacific (Santa Fe) Railroad for grading and road work services. The family first moved to Flagstaff and later to Prescott.
  Murphy learned about the Arizona Canal Company project, which would bring water to the arid lands of Maricopa County. In 1882, he joined three Arizona builders, M.W. Kales, William A. Hancock and Clark Churchill, and together they landed a $500,000 contract to build the 40-mile-long (64 km) Arizona Canal from Granite Reef to New River. With the use of whatever machinery was available and the help of 225 mules, Murphy and his team completed the canal by 1885. Murphy soon found himself deep in debt since he had agreed to be paid in Arizona Canal Company stock, bonds, and land instead of cash.
caption: The William J. Murphy House was built in 1895 and is located at 7514 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona
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