west then)—he declared himself to be in favor of preserving the Union regardless of the result of the election. That attitude led to his acting with the Republican party during the war between the States and on up to 1867. That year he supported Gov. Marshall F. Moore, an able general in the Union army, the Democratic nominee for delegate to Congress from Washington Territory. After that he was an independent Democrat the remainder of his life—always as ready to denounce wrongdoing in his own party as in the opposition.
Mr. Murphy was a member of the city council of Olympia for years, and was responsible for the organization of the Olympia Volunteer Fire Department. He was county school superintendent for one term, territorial auditor for two terms and state auditor for one term. In 1890 he built the Olympia Theatre—the first structure erected in that city especially for that purpose.
His passing marks the end of the career of a man who bore a prominent part in the history of Washington Territory and State, and whose record as an editor led to the most unique tribute ever given to any one in the profession on the Pacific Coast. This was evidenced by the gathering of editors and pioneers from all parts of the Pacific Northwest in Olympia at a banquet in his honor on the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of his paper and the presentation of a beautiful silver loving cup suitably inscribed.
He died on December 20, 1916, as the result of an attack of blood poisoning two and a half years before.
Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Eliza Jane McGuire in Portland on April 18, 1861, and to them ten children were born, three of whom survive their father. Their mother died in 1895. He was married a second time to Mrs. Susan Sprague.
WILLIAM ABERNETHY
The last person connected with the early Protestant missions of Oregon up to 1840, William Abernethy, died at his home
