Bent County, History of Colorado, BIOS: MURPHY, Will Richard (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 December 2, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 411-412 WILL RICHARD MURPHY. Will Richard Murphy is editor of the Las Animas Leader of that city and in this connection is displaying notable qualities as a newspaper man, through whose efforts his paper has become one of the valued mediums of his section, his editorials always standing for progress and development. He is a native son of Las Animas, born June 6, 1880, his parents being John A. and Frances A. (Stauffer) Murphy. His father is one of Colorado's pioneers, having come to this state in 1867 from New York. He was a member of the Fifth Infantry of the United States Army, having enlisted when but sixteen years of age. He was sent west and served under Kit Carson in General Miles' Regiment at Fort Garland, in the San Luis valley. After leaving the army he turned his attention to the cattle business, continuing very successfully along this line. This was in 1882. He had been connected with newspaper work since a boy and purchased the Las Animas Leader, of which our subject is now the editor. From 1878 until 1894 he served as superintendent of schools of Bent county and from 1892 until 1906, or for fourteen years, he was mayor of Las Animas, giving the city a resultant administration and instituting many measures which have proved of great benefit to the public. From 1912 until 1916 he served as postmaster, ably discharging his duties. Both he and his wife are still living, but he has now retired from the active labors of life. In their family were three children, those besides our subject being John A., Jr., and Mrs. V. A. Hagaman. Will R. Murphy, who is the eldest in the family, was educated in the public and high schools of Las Animas, graduating from the latter in 1896. During 1897 and 1898 he attended the University of Colorado and from 1898 until 1902 the University of Kansas, in which latter institution he took the civil engineering course. In 1902-3 he was connected with the Santa Fe Railroad Company in eastern Kansas and northern California and in 1904-5 was assistant division engineer of the Frisco Railroad. In the latter part of the year 1905 he held the position of engineer for the Wear Coal Company of Pittsburg, Kansas, and then gave his attention to the private practice of civil engineering in Las Animas until 1914, when he took over the editorship of the Las Animas Leader, to which he now gives his entire attention. The newspaper is conducted in a thoroughly up-to-date manner and has gained a large circulation. Its editorials are trenchant and to the point and its policy is progressive, so that it has been an important factor in the development of the community. On April 3, 1904, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Maud Alice Brown, of Independence, Kansas, and they became the parents of two children, Marilla Frances and Maxson Brown. Mrs. Murphy passed away October 26, 1908. In his political affiliations Mr. Murphy is a stanch republican and has always faithfully supported that party, being at this writing a candidate for the office of secretary of state on the republican ticket and his qualifications well entitle him to the honor. He has taken a prominent and resultant part in war service work and is secretary of the County Council of Defense and of the Liberty Loan committee, while he also is chairman of the War Savings drive and a member of the executive board of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Red Cross. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, in which he belongs, to the chapter and commandery, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, likewise belonging to Phi Delta Theta, a college fraternity. As a member of the Commercial Club he is active and he is also connected with the National Association of Education and the State Association of Education.