Biography

12/02/1842 - 09/25/1927

Joseph Murphy Gazzam, Sr. (R43) Allegheny (Part) County 1877-1880

Early Life:

Joseph Murphy Gazzam, Sr.; born December 2, 1842, Pittsburgh Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; son of Edward Despard and Elizabeth Antoinette Gazzam; Western University of Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh), read law, David Reed, 1860; admitted, Allegheny County bar, 1863; attorney; became Pennsylvania’s youngest attorney to receive the privilege of practicing before the United States Supreme Court, 1870; member, Pittsburgh’s First Ward, Common Council, 1876; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1877-1880; moved, law practice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;  supporter, Beech Creek Railroad; president,  Philadelphia Finance Company, Bridgewater Cordage Company, Kenilworth Inn Company, North Carolina Kenilworth Land Company, Etowah Iron Company (Georgia), Wilkes-Barre and Western Railroad Company; Vice President, Quaker City National Bank, Philadelphia; Ames-Bonner Company, Toledo, Ohio, Auer Light Company, South America, Pennsylvania Central Coal and Coke Company, Dent’s Run Coal Company, Pennsylvania; member, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Fairmount Park Art Association, American Academy of Political and Social Science, Union League; married, Mary Anna Reading Gazzam, (d.1907), married, second, Nellie May Andrews Gazzam, children, Sada Gazzam, Joseph Murphy Gazzam, Jr.; died, September 25, 1927 (aged 84), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.     

Pennsylvania Politics:

Member, Pittsburgh’s First Ward, Common Council, 1876.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 43rd district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1877-1880

Legacy:

Father, Pennsylvania State Senator Edward Despard Gazzam, 22nd district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1857, 24th district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1858-1859.

Edward Despard Gazzam  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov) 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Joseph Murphy Gazzam (1842-1927) - Find a Grave Memorial