Background
Muphy was born in San Francisco, California, on Minna Street, between 7th and 8th, in September 1894. His parents were Irish immigrants who owned a fuel and feed store which fronted on Mission Street behind the family home on Minna. This area of San Francisco was called "South of the Slot" by locals in those days, and comprised a sprawling ghetto of mostly Irish immigrants and their children who made up the majority of the local labor force.
Murphy's mother died during the April 18 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Murphy's father left him in the care of his cousin, San Francisco firefighter Lt. Tom Murphy (later to become San Francisco's fire chief and recognized as one of the pioneers of modern firefighting in San Francisco), and his wife Catherine. There are no records as to the whereabouts or fate of Murphy's father after 1906; it was not unusual in those days for single fathers to leave their children in the care of relatives and go "traveling", hopefully to find a new wife.
Murphy lived with Tom and Catherine and their five children in a house in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco until late 1907, when Murphy's mother's brother, Judge Martin O'Donnell of Vernon, California (now part of East Los Angeles), sent for Jimmy to come live with him.
In Southern California Murphy attended Huntington Park High School and commuted to and from school on a motorcycle given him by Judge O'Donnell. He became an expert rider and mechanic and, a few months short of graduation, opened a garage with a friend, developing a clientele of motorcycle and automobile owners from the Los Angeles area.
Read more about this topic: James Anthony Murphy
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