Butte County
Biographies
ALEXANDER McHARDY
ALEXANDER
McHARDY.—A resident of California since December 18, 1890, Alexander McHardy
has been, since that date, steadily employed. He has been frugal in his
habits and has invested his savings in land, the same being now devoted to
horticulture. He also owns a comfortable home in Chico, where he lives in the enjoyment of the society of his
family. He was born on a farm in West Fenwick, near Banchory, Kincardineshire, on the
River Dee, Scotland. His father was George McHardy,
a highly respected tiller of the soil who married Jessie Allen, a native of
that same place, whose father, Andrew Allen, was a farmer. Both families
were Presbyterians. The grandfather on the paternal side was named
Alexander McHardy, and he was a successful farmer
near Banchory. There were eight children born to
George and Jessie McHardy, seven of whom are living,
Alexander, of this review, being the second in order of birth and the only one in America.
The education received by this sturdy lad
was obtained in a private school and he was reared to farm life until he was
apprenticed to learn the trade of granite-cutter in Aberdeen,
Scotland. To perfect himself in the various branches of the
trade he spent four years in the building and setting yards, then one year in a
monument yard, where he became an expert in finishing. In 1882 he came to
the United States and soon found work at his trade with Mitchell Brothers
at Quincy, Mass., in one of the largest granite-cutting yards in the United States. He later worked in various until he went to Barre, Vt., then to the Goodale Granite
yards at Burlington, that state. After some time spent working at his
trade, Mr. McHardy took a vacation, going to Boston. While there he met John Robbie, of the firm of
Reynolds, Robbie and Company, and in conversation with Mr. Robbie he expressed
a desire to go to the Pacific Coast, particularly to California, if he felt that he could find employment in this
state. Mr. Robbie had a brother, Williams Robbie, in business in Chico; he wired him about a position for his friend and soon
received the answer for Mr. McHardy to "come
on." He started very soon after and upon his arrival, came direct to
Chico, where he found Mr. Robbie, and the next morning, December 19, 1890,
began work at his trade at the corner of First and Main Streets, in the Chico
Granite Works, where he has continued ever since. During his many years of
employment at this plant he has done nearly all the monument work.
So enthusiastic has Mr. McHardy become over the possibilities of Butte
County that he has invested his savings in lands and
lots. His first purchase was a quarter of a block on the corner of Cherry
and Third Streets, where he built a residence; later he erected three more,
which he rents. He early became interested in horticulture and purchased
one hundred sixty acres of land in Little Chico Canyon, where he set out ten
acres of almonds; he next bought forty acres eight miles northwest of Chico,
and here he set out fourteen acres of prunes; besides these properties he owned
a place two miles out on the Shasta road. He raises his own nursery stock
in his home yard. The development of these properties has been a diversion
from his work at his trade and is very much enjoyed by Mr. McHardy,
besides enhancing the value of them.
On August 31, 1915, in San Rafael,
Mr. McHardy was married to Ella L. Wilson, a native
of Chico. Her father, William S. B. Wilson, was born in
Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tenn., in 1834, and in 1855 he went to Washington County, Ark., where he farmed and taught school. He crossed the
plains in what was known as the Arkansas train, arriving in Butte
County in 1857. Mr. Wilson at once went to the mines and
followed mining and teaming until 1868, when he came to Chico. He was a likable man, became well and favorably
known and was appointed deputy assessor in 1875 and served eight years. He
then was elected to the office of county assessor and served two terms of four
years each, after which he once more became a deputy in the office, serving
until he died, in 1891. Mr. Wilson was a Mason, belonging to the Lodge,
Chapter and Commandery of Chico, and was buried with
full Masonic honors. He was a stanch Democrat. In 1866, he married,
in Butte County, Miss Paulina Olive Conkel,
born in Three Forks, Ohio, and brought across the plains to California by her parents, when she was a girl of
nine. Grandfather Isaiah Conkel was a California pioneer. Mrs. Wilson died in Chico, in March, 1894, leaving eight children, of whom Mrs. McHardy was the fourth in order of birth. She was born
on the corner of fourth and Flume Streets, Chico, attended the public schools and learned dressmaking
with her sister. Soon she went to San Francisco, where she was located on Van Ness Avenue, between Eddy and Turk Streets, until she was burned out
in 1906. She reopened in another location and carried on her trade until
her marriage in 1915. Mrs. McHardy is a member
of Josephine Chapter No. 104, O. E. S. Both Mr. and Mrs. McHardy attend the Church of Christ, Scientist, at Chico.
Transcribed 2-4-08 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 692-693, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
©
2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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