For the African-American Hall of Fame jockey see: Isaac Burns Murphy
| Isaac Murphy | |
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| In office 1864 – 1868 |
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| Preceded by | Harris Flanagin |
| Succeeded by | Powell Clayton |
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| Born | October 16, 1799 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 8, 1882 (aged 82) Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas |
| Political party | Republican |
Isaac Murphy (October 16, 1802 - September 8, 1882) was the first Reconstruction Governor of Arkansas. Isaac Burns Murphy ( April 16, 1861 - February 12, 1896) was an African-American Hall of Fame Jockey. The Governor of the State of Arkansas is the chief executive of the state and Commander-in-chief of its military forces. Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Harris Flanagin ( 3 November 1817 23 September 1874) was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas. Powell Clayton ( 7 August 1833 23 August 1914) was the first carpetbag Governor of the State of Arkansas and Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Huntsville is a city in Mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The following is a list of the Governors of the State of Arkansas and Arkansas Territory. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. He was the first reconstruction governor to come to power under President Abraham Lincoln's conciliatory policy. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal Unlike some other reconstruction administrations the Murphy administration was characterized by fiscal restraint and conciliatory attitude towards the soon to be defeated Confederates. The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Murphy is best known for casting the only vote against secession at the Arkansas Secession Convention. Secession (derived from the Latin term secessio is the act of withdrawing from an organization union or especially a political entity Although it never effected him during his lifetime, his involvement in the little known Huntsville Massacre during the Civil War has only come to light in recent decades. The Huntsville Massacre was an event that occurred during the American Civil War one mile northeast of Huntsville Arkansas, in which nine men believed to be Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
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Early life and career
Murphy was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a wealthy paper manufacturer. He was educated at Washington College in Pennsylvania and was admitted to the bar in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on April 29, 1825. See Washington (disambiguation for institutions with similar names The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Allegheny County is a County in the southwestern part of the U Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 1825 ( MDCCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
In 1830 Murphy moved to Clarksville, Tennessee where he taught school. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Clarksville is a city in Montgomery County Tennessee, USA Clarksville is the county seat of Montgomery County and is Tennessee 's fifth largest city In Clarksville he met and married Angelina Lockhart on July 31, 1830 against her father's wishes. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Angelina was disinherited by her father because Isaac was opposed to the institution of slavery. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another
In 1834 the Murphy's, with their newborn daughter, moved west to the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas in the territory of Arkansas. Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Fayetteville is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States, and is home to the University of Arkansas. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Murphy established himself as a school teacher, surveyor, and lawyer.
Murphy became the first County Treasurer of Washington County, Arkansas in 1836 through 1838. Washington County is a County located in the US state of Arkansas. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common He became a master in chancery in 1841. For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link In 1837 through 1838 Murphy ran the original government land lines for Franklin County, Arkansas. Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Franklin County is a County located in the US state of Arkansas.
On 30 November 1844 the noted Indian Missionary Cephas Washburn along with Murphy and other prominent individuals secured a charter for a college known as the Far West Seminary. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1844 ( MDCCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Cephas Washburn (1793-1860 was a noted Christian Missionary and educator who worked with the Indians of northwest Arkansas and eastern Murphy became the chairman of the Board of Visitors with the intent of establishing a facility that would educate both whites and Indians. Murphy served in this capacity until the building was destroyed by fire on 17 February 1845. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Murphy was elected to the General Assembly of Arkansas two times as the representative from Washington County in 1846 and 1848. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Murphy served on the Banking Committee and attempted to introduce reforms but was stymied by the powerful political cabal known as "The Family".
Murphy ran into financial difficulties around 1849 and left for California in an attempt to improve his fortunes in the California Gold Rush. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The California Gold Rush (1848&ndash1855 began on January 24 1848 when Gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California He returned to Arkansas in 1854 with nothing to show for his efforts. Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Upon his return he moved to Huntsville, Arkansas in Madison County, Arkansas. Huntsville is a city in Mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. Madison County is a County located in the US state of Arkansas.
Civil War era
When the secession crisis swept the State in 1861 a group of Madison County citizens called on Murphy to represent them at the Secession Convention to which he agreed. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Arkansas Secession Convention voted to remain in the Union.
When Fort Sumter was fired on and Lincoln called for troops from Arkansas the Secession Convention was recalled. Fort Sumter, a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston harbor South Carolina, was named after General Thomas Sumter The convention voted to take Arkansas out of the Union with only Murphy and 4 other delegates opposed. The convention chair called on the 5 opposition votes to change their votes so that Arkansas could speak with a unanimous voice. All 4 of the other nay voters changed their votes but Murphy refused.
Huntsville Massacre
As war broke out Murphy was forced to flee his home in Huntsville and spent much of the war traveling with the Union army in northwest Arkansas. Upon the fall of Little Rock an election of sorts was held with the approval of President Lincoln and Murphy was elected governor. On January 10th, 1863, the Huntsville Massacre occurred, prompted by complaints lodged by his daughters that local citizens were harassing them. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
In the early morning hours of January 10th, 1863, nine local men, previously arrested due to Murphy's daughters complaints, were taken from where they were being detained by members of Company G, 8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Elias Briggs Baldwin. 8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry ( August 6th, 1862 - July 20th, 1865) was a Union Army Regiment during the Lieutenant Colonel ( Lieutenant-Colonel in English from the French grade 's spelling is a rank of Commissioned officer in the armies Elias Briggs Baldwin (June 17 1834 - October 1893 was a Union Army lieutenant colonel, later Provost Marshal, and pioneer of Labette County Kansas Those nine men were Chesley H. Boatright, William Martin Berry, Hugh Samuel Berry, John William Moody, Askin Hughes, John Hughes, Watson P. Stevens, Robert Coleman Young, and Bill Parks. Of the nine, only Hugh Samuel Berry and Askin Hughes were soldiers, both being captains in the Confederate Army and home on leave. John William Moody was a former US Marshal, and William Martin Berry was a son-in-law to Isaac Murphy. In law and in cultural Anthropology, affinity, as distinguished from Consanguinity, is kinship by Marriage. All were shot, with eight being killed. Bill Parks was left for dead, but survived the shooting and later moved to Mississippi. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States
There were no known charges against any of the men. Months earlier a detachment of twenty five Union soldiers had been attacked by local Guerillas, which developed into a skirmish with eighteen of the Union soldiers being killed. The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc Skirmishers are Infantry or Cavalry Soldiers stationed ahead or alongside of a larger body of friendly troops That detachment had been escorting Murphy's daughters to Huntsville. It has never been confirmed as to whether the executions were in reaction to those Union soldiers killed, or if the incident was due to some other unknown cause. It has been since indicated that it is possible the nine men were suspected to have taken part in the guerilla attack that resulted in the killing of the eighteen Union soldiers. Two of the men executed were Confederate soldiers. There is no way of knowing for certain as to whether that did play a part in the executions. However, even in the event that any of those shot had been involved in the earlier attack on the Union detachment, it would have been considered an act of war on their part, and not punishable by death as the men would have then been considered prisoners of war.
After the executions, Bill Parks, who had been left for dead, crawled to a nearby farm house, where his wounds were treated. When asked what had happened and who did it, his response was "Men of the 8th Missouri Regiment. But Johnson, Ham and Murphy had it done. " He was referring to Isaac Murphy, attorney E. D. Ham, and Union Colonel James Johnson. Although Baldwin was present during the murders and directly ordered the executions, he was not mentioned by Parks.
Word of the executions spread quickly through the ranks of the Union Army, and Lt. Col. Baldwin was arrested and charged with "violation of the 6th Article of War for the murder of prisoners of war. " He was transported to Springfield, Missouri and held for trial. However, when many of the witnesses were found to be on active military duty and unable to attend the trial, and many civilian witnesses were displaced or not able to make the trip to Springfield, charges were dropped, and Baldwin was discharged from the army. The event had a negative effect on Murphy's reputation locally with the Masons, and caused them to cut off funding for two colleges being operated by Murphy, his daughters, and his wife. Both colleges closed, but short of this Murphy was effected very little over the event.
Reconstruction
Despite that negative event, during the Murphy administration Arkansas began healing its war wounds even as the war continued in the southern parts of the State. Murphy took a low-key approach to governance and stated publicly that "We have all done wrong. ". The 4th of July celebrations in Little Rock, Arkansas were led by pro-Union speakers but they refrained from any anti-Southern speeches or actions. In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July (or the Fourth) is a Federal holiday commemorating the adoption Little Rock is the Capital and the most populous city of the U
By the start of 1866 Murphy's plans began to erode due to events elsewhere in the country and the beginnings of political maneuvering at the State and National levels. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated and the radicals in Congress began advocating a harsh punishment for Southern States, essentially abandoning Lincoln's plan to "let them up easy". The elections of 1866 saw a pro-Confederate legislature elected which increased Murphy's problems dramatically. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Radicals in Congress finally pushed through their harsh reconstruction policy and the pro-Confederate legislature would not meet again. The South was divided into military districts and were ruled by the army until carpetbagger governments were in place. In United States history carpetbaggers was the term southerners gave to northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, between 1865 and 1877 Murphy decided to remain in office and worked for the best interests of the State while taking abuse from both sides.
When Murphy left office his administration left a budget surplus even though his administration had begun with no funds. This surplus evaporated soon after his successor took office. Murphy returned to Huntsville and took up farming and practicing law once again and lived a quiet life with his family. On September 8, 1882 Murphy died unexpectedly at his home. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It was not until 1974, when historian John I. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it Smith published several articles about the Huntsville Massacre, that Murphy's involvement in that event came into public view. A memorial to those murdered in Huntsville was erected and dedicated on September 30th, 2006. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
External links
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Isaac Murphy
| Preceded by : Harris Flanagin |
Governor of Arkansas 1864-1868 |
Succeeded by: Powell Clayton |
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