El
Dorado County
Biographies
FRANCIS WILLIAM McCUEN
The
distinction of being one of the oldest residents of Camino belongs to Francis
W. McCuen, who for many years has been actively identified with the Michigan
California Lumber Company and its predecessor, the C. D. Danaher Pine
Company. He was born in El Dorado
County, California, on the 2nd of April, 1868, and is a son of C. H.
and Annie (Murray) McCuen. His father
was born in Scotland, where he was reared to the age of twelve years, when he
came to the United States, locating in Pennsylvania. In 1852 he came to California by the way of
Cape Horn. While in Pennsylvania he was
married and his wife came to California in 1853. Mr. McCuen had worked in copper mines before
coming west and here he took up mining in El Dorado County, which he followed
until 1872, when he turned his attention to farming, cultivating the soil
during the remaining active years of his life.
Both parents are buried in Placerville.
They had eleven children, two of whom were born in Pennsylvania, and
four are still living.
Francis
W. McCuen attended the Union school of El Dorado County and for several years
was engaged in farming. He then took
charge of freight and express for the firm of Hayward & Lane. Later he conducted a livery stable there for
about ten years, and also had a livery stable in Camino. He then entered the employ of the C. D.
Danaher Pine Company and has been with that business continuously since. When the present mammoth plant was built in
1911 the honor fell to Mr. McCuen to drive the first spike in the construction
work and he has long been recognized as one of the company’s most capable and
valued employees.
Mr.
McCuen was united in marriage to Miss Bella M. Burdis, who was born at Shingle
Springs, El Dorado County, and who also is a member of one of the state’s old
pioneer families. They have two
children, Burdis and Mrs. Eleanor Harper.
They also have two grandchildren, Virginia and William Harper. Mr. McCuen is a member of the Native Sons of
the Golden West. He casts his vote for
the candidates who meet with his approval, regardless of party lines, and has
consistently stood for those things which make for the good of the community.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 462-463. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies