Overview

"Ice & Oil is indeed a biography of an unlikely titan. Meet Dan Murphy, the man who shaped Los Angeles as the 19th century turned into the 20th century Murphy and his endeavors parallel the history of California. But, because he's shunned renown his name is virtually unknown. Author Joseph Francis Ryan delves into the complex life of Dan Murphy, businessman-turned-tycoon: Mentored by Southern Pacific's Charles Crocker, he built the town of Needles the transfer point for a second transcontinental railroad. His ingenuity made it possible to transport citrus across the country. He honored Mojave culture in and the Native American's respect. He saved the day when Edward Doheny needed money for his oil company. His California Portland Cement Company provided cement for Los Angeles just as it was becoming a 20th century metropolis and for the construction of Boulder dam. ""Another important piece of California history has emerged."""

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9781629672687

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"I found it to be a fascinating, feet-on-the-ground history of the expansion of the great West of America, a story told of courageous and expansive thinkers and doers. Yes, the mindset was often the exploitation of resources, which at the time must have seemed endless and bottomless. It's a tale of mining, pioneers, railroads, oil wells, water, transportation, and ice, but in the telling reveals the humanity of many of the characters Mr. Ryan limes. The saving grace to the story of our forefathers' trampling on the rights of Native Americans and exploiting what we now know as finite resources of water, oil, people and even....yes...ice is that Dan Murphy did care about all of these things, and he had a very unusual attitude towards his partners, workers, and especially Americans who were there before he was and would carry on after he left his giant, but quiet, mark on the West. Mike Lyons Joseph Ryan's new book ""Ice and Oil"" is a must have for any California history buff. This book about an unknown California Titan, is well researched as well as well written. Mr. Ryan spent years researching Dan Murphy's life in the railroad, mining, early refrigeration, oil and cement industries. It also shines a light on Mr. Murphy and his families support of the Catholic Church in the Las Angeles, from the turn of the century right today. Little know, Mr. Murphy was on par with Croker, Huntington, Doheny but surpassed these tycoons in many ways. A must read. William S. Bryan, Professional Genealogist, Mesa, AZ As an author of both fiction and nonfiction, I know solid research when I see it and these days, solid research is extremely rare. Joseph Francis Ryan gives us that plus wonderful writing skills. This is an exceptional work. John Dandola, author ofLiving in the Past, Looking to the Future: The Biography of John Hays Hammond, Jr. June 17, 2021This book is superb. Packed with tons of facts about this important aspect of California history. Eric Jessen, Laguna Beach, CA"

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