Amador
County
Biographies
ALLEN McWAYNE
The prosperity and welfare of every
community depends upon its commercial and industrial activity. A worthy representative of the business
interests of Drytown, Allen McWayne, is successfully engaged in merchandising
and also fills the positions of postmaster and express agent. He is numbered among the worthy sons of
California whom Ohio has furnished to the golden west, his birth having
occurred in the city of Toledo, on the 4th of August, 1855. As his name indicates, the family is of
Scotch origin. His grandfather came from
Scotland to America at an early day, serving as a soldier in the War of 1812 and
lived to the very advanced age of ninety-seven years. His son, U. McWayne, was born in New York and
when a young man removed to Toledo, Ohio, where he made his home for some
years. He became the owner and captain
of a schooner on the lakes and throughout his entire life was connected with
maritime interests. He married Eliza Cheeney, a native of New York, whose people were prominent
early settlers of the state of Michigan.
Four children were born of their union.
The father is was a valued member of the blue lodge, chapter and
commandery of the Masonic fraternity and exemplified in his life the ennobling
principles of that craft. He died in
1888, at the age of sixty-six years, but his widow is still living and yet
makes her home in Toledo, Ohio.
Allen McWayne, whose name introduces
this review, was educated in his native city and there learned telegraphy,
entering upon his business career in the capacity of a telegraph operator. He was first employed by the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern Railway; but, thinking that the west offered better
opportunities, he came to Drytown in 1876, and organized the mercantile firm of
McWayne & Company, being associated with two partners. This relationship was maintained until 1890,
at which time Mr. McWayne became the sole proprietor. He has since carried on a general store, being
the leading merchant in the town. In
1892 a fire destroyed his property and he lost a large stock of goods, on which
he had no insurance. With characteristic
energy, however, he again opened a store, purchasing the stock of William
Jennings, a grocery merchant, and now has a large and well appointed
establishment. His brick block, forty by
one hundred feet, is filled with a complete stock of general merchandise, and
he enjoys a very extensive trade and the goodwill of his fellow citizens. He is careful in purchasing, keeping in mind
the demands of the public; and his earnest desire to please, combined with his
reasonable prices, has led to his success. He is also a stockholder in several valuable
mining properties, including the Pocahontas mine, of which he is the
superintendent and secretary. This is a
very valuable enterprise, including a rich mine and a ten-stamp mill located on
the main fissure of the great northern Mather lode, which crosses Amador
County, and along it are located in this county about thirty mines and
mills. The Pocahontas Company is
capitalized for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, the shares selling at a
dollar each. Mr. McWayne also owns four hundred
acres of land near Drytown, on which he is extensively engaged raising
stock. He owns his freight teams and
hauls his goods from the railroad stations to his store. Recently two valuable mining claims in which
he was interested have been sold at a good profit, thus bringing him a ready
sum of money. His business career has
been a prosperous one, yet it has not been without reverses. Sometime after the fire, robbers entered the
store, blew open the safe and took all the money he had; but he was not
discouraged, his loss seeming to serve as an impetus for renewed effort. He carries forward to successful completion
whatever he undertakes, and his labors have been crowned with excellent
financial returns. He has also been the
postmaster of this town thorough the administration of both Presidents
Cleveland and McKinley, and is a representative of the express company.
In 1876 Mr. McWayne was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Williams, of Archibald, Ohio, a daughter of Henry
F. Williams, a respected pioneer in the Buckeye state. Their union has been blessed with two children: Earl C., who is now in college in San
Francisco, studying electrical engineering and assaying; and Edna, who is a
student in Stockton. On January 21,
1900, Mr. McWayne was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died very
suddenly in San Francisco. Mrs. McWayne
was a member of the Methodist church and a lady of culture and refinement,
occupying an enviable position in social circles.
In his political view, Mr. McWayne
is a pronounced Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the
party. He is a charter member of Amador
Lodge, A. O. U. W., and was made a Master Mason in 1882, in Drytown Lodge, No.
174; soon afterward he was elected to the office of secretary, and has since
filled that position in a very creditable manner, having the confidence and
respect of his brethren of the fraternity.
He has made a good record in Amador County, both as a businessman and a
citizen. He has a wide acquaintance among
the most prominent residents in this part of the state. His ability well fitted him for leadership in
political, business and social life. The
terms “progress” and “patriotism” might be considered the keynote of his
character, for throughout his career he has labored for the improvement of
every kind of business to public interest with which he has been associated,
and at all times he has been actuated by fidelity to his country and her
welfare.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”,
Pages 262-264. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies