My Genealogy Hound

Edward M. Murphy, whose rise in the business world has been little short of phenomenal, is president of the Pontiac Buggy Company and is identified with many other manufacturing interests of Pontiac. His start in life was made without means and the success he has attained is due solely to his own energy and foresight.

Mr. Murphy was born December 19, 1864, in Wayne County, Michigan, and attended the common schools of Wayne and Detroit. His father is deceased and his mother resides in Pontiac. He has three brothers and one sister, namely: Ann, who lives in Pontiac; J. B., of Wayne, Michigan, who travels for the Crescent Carriage Company; Robert R., express messenger on the Michigan Central Railroad; and J. J., who is a physician of Pontiac.

Mr. Murphy’s first active work was in a retail hardware store at Wayne, and later with the Black Hardware Company, of Detroit. He came to Pontiac in 1887, and for, a period of five years was identified with C. V. Taylor, a pioneer vehicle manufacturer of this city. He learned all the details of the business and in 1893 was one of the organizers of the Pontiac Buggy Company. He was elected president of the company, F. A. Emmendorfer, vice-president, and S. E. Beach, secretary and treasurer. The business was started in a small way at the present location on Oakland avenue, and as the trade increased the quarters were enlarged from time to time until at the present time the company has an immense brick building of three stories, with a total floor space of about 120,000 square feet. The factory is thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and good office fixtures, and the company gives employment to 250 skilled employees. A specialty is made of medium grade work to be sold at popular prices; phenomenal success has followed the adoption of this plan. As is customary in this line of manufacture, the wheels and bodies are purchased and in the factory are ironed, painted, trimmed and crated for shipment, the various departments of the work being in charge of different superintendents. The plant is the largest of its kind in Pontiac, a city which is known for the great number of its vehicle manufactories. The territory in which the product is sold extends from Maine to California, and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, seven men traveling over the Eastern territory, while in the West the product is distributed through jobbers. The business has increased steadily and rapidly and reflects great credit on the management. Mr. Murphy has direct charge of the departments of manufacture and sales, while Mr. Beach attends to the office and financing.

Edward M. Murphy is identified with other interests of Pontiac. He is president of the Pontiac Axle Company, and financially interested in the Vehicle & Spring Company, the Pontiac Wheel Company, and the Reason Air Pump Company. In politics he is Independent. Mr. Murphy married a daughter of F. A. Emmendorfer, who is vice-president of the Pontiac Buggy Company, and who has been a resident of Oakland County for almost half a century. Mr. Emmendorfer has been a prominent farmer and general business man, and with Hon. Byron G. Stout, Dr. LeBaron, Dr. Wilson and W. H. Stout, of Kansas, organized the Pontiac & Orchard Lake Gravel Road Company, of which he was elected president. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have four children, and reside in a comfortable home at No. 163 Saginaw street, South. Religiously they are members of St. Vincent de Paul’s Catholic Church, of which Rev. F. J. Ryan is pastor.

S. E. Beach was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and is a son of Col. S. E. Beach, who died in 1893, at the age of 70 years. Colonel Beach was a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars. In the latter he organized a company from Oakland County and served as colonel of the 5th Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf. He was wounded at Williamsburg and when able to leave the hospital returned to his home at Pontiac. He later served as sheriff of the county, and at his death was a justice of the peace. Colonel Beach was born in Lewiston, New York, and early in life came to Michigan, first locating at Bridgeport, Saginaw County, but later removing to Oakland County. His widow and three daughters are living in Pontiac, his daughters being: Mary L., Mrs. R. J. Lounsbury, and Mrs. Dr. M. W. Gray. S. E. Beach married a daughter of Judge Taft, and they have two children: Margaret and Stewart. The family resides at No. 301 Saginaw street, North. Mr. Beach is a Democrat, and in religious belief the family are Presbyterians.