Colusa
County
Biographies
JAMES D. McNARY
A native of Kentucky Mr. McNary’s
birth occurred in Muhlenberg County, on the 6th of January,
1850. His father, Hon. William C.
McNary, was born in Fayette County, that state, in September, 1801, and was a
farmer by occupation. Removing with his
parents to Muhlenberg County in 1811, he there spent the rest of his life, his
death occurring September 19, 1875, when his age was seventy-four years. He was an old-line Whig in politics and took
a very active part in advocating the issues of the day in which he believed. For a number of years he served as a member
of the state legislature and was a recognized leader in matters of public
moment. His parents, Mr. and Mrs.
William McNary, were among the pioneer settlers of Kentucky, and for many years
the name was inseparably interwoven with the history of that state. The mother of our subject was in her
maidenhood Miss Nancy B. Wilkins. She
was born in Todd County in 1811. In
October, 1891, she came to San Jose, California, where she died in April, 1895,
at the age of eighty-four years. Of
their four children, the following are living:
James; Dr. W. T. McNary, of San Jose, California; and Jennie, the widow
of Dr. T. H. Moore, of Earlington, Kentucky.
James D. McNary spent his childhood
days upon the old home farm, continuing there until twenty-six years of
age. He pursued his education in the
district schools and in Greenville.
Twice during his youth his father removed to Greenville, but afterward
returned to the farm, so that his surroundings in his minority were mostly of a
rural character. It is a noticeable fact
that the majority of the leading men of our community have spent their early
lives upon farms. At the age of
twenty-six, however, Mr. McNary left the parental roof and went to Evansville,
Indiana, where he took a course in a commercial college. He afterward returned home to settle up his
father’s estate, and on the 27th of October, 1877 arrived on the
Pacific coast, and a few days later took up his abode in Colusa. He first engaged in the hotel business as a
clerk, and later was an agent for the Sacramento Transportation Company,
continuing with this organization for a year.
Subsequently he spent some years in grain dealing, and then became agent
for a number of insurance companies, which he represented until 1887. In the meantime he became connected with the
furniture and undertaking business in Colusa, but in 1894 he disposed of his
furniture, continuing the undertaking, and has since carried on operations
along that line. In 1898 he was elected
coroner and public administrator, receiving a majority of two hundred and seventeen
in a Democratic county. He is not only a
staunch Republican, but is an advocate for temperance principles, and did not
use a single dollar in the saloons in order to win the favor and the votes of
men who could be bought in that way.
On the 15th of November,
1883, Mr. McNary was united in marriage to Miss Retta Deter, who was born in
Yolo County, California, August 21, 1859, and they now have five children,
namely: Miriam, William Campbell, Verda,
Rhea, John Deter and Annie Christine.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McNary are consistent and faithful members of the
Methodist church take an active part in its work and for the past six years the
former has served as a Sunday school superintendent. Mrs. McNary is a member of the Woman’s
Christian Temperance Union. Mr. McNary
has always abstained from the use of all intoxicants. By precept and example he has advocated
temperance principles, and he often speaks upon the question. Though not pretending to be an orator, if
called upon he can discuss his subject fluently, logically and in an
entertaining manner. Socially he is
connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
the Independent Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and
is active in all those bodies.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 300-301. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Colusa County Biographies