Lawrence Murphy

Lawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy, circa 1870s
Born	1831 County Wexford, Ireland
Died	October 20, 1878(1878-10-20) (aged 46–47) Lincoln County, New Mexico
Occupation	Old West businessman and member of the Santa Fe Ring
Known for	Main instigator of the Lincoln County War

Lawrence Gustave Murphy (1831 – October 20, 1878) was Irish, Union Army veteran, Grand Army of the Republic member, Republican Party leader, racketeer, Old West businessman and gunman, and a main instigator of the Lincoln County War.

Murphy was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and as an adult moved to the United States. He enlisted in the US Army starting in 1851 through 1855, and re-enlisted in 1856. After he was discharged in 1861, he ventured to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and reenlisted once again in the Union Army. He served for the duration of the Civil War but saw little, if any, combat. He mustered out at Fort Stanton in 1866 and quickly joining the Grand Army of the Republic which united Union Army veterans as auxiliaries of the Republican Party in Reconstruction America. He established relationships with other well-connected GAR-GOP members and went into business with Emil Fritz. Due to Murphy's connections, the partners immediately began securing military contracts to supply beef, vegetables, and other supplies to the Apache Reservation. They then hatched schemes to sell land they didn't own to unsuspecting farmers.

He eventually moved to Lincoln County, New Mexico, and in 1869 he started "L. G. Murphy & Co." By 1873 he had hired James Dolan, who by 1874 had become a business partner in a profitable mercantile and banking operation. The business saw success mainly due to there being no competition. Murphy also became influential within law enforcement circles, controlling the local sheriff, William J. Brady.