JAMES McCAW

       It is usually found that the men who have succeeded best in life have had to struggle against adverse fate in starting out on their business career, but obstacles and difficulties have seemed to serve but as an impetus and incentive for greater effort.  Such has been the case in the life of Mr. McCaw, who is now a successful wood and coal dealer of Sacramento.  He is of Scotch parentage, but was born in the north of Ireland, on the 18th of January, 1846, the third of four children of William and Rosanna (Smily) McCaw.  Both of the parents were natives of Scotland, and died in that country.  The father was a foreman of a steam loom factory, first in Glasgow, and for nine years in Belfast, Ireland, and for several generations the family had been connected with the occupation of weaving.

       James McCaw was very young when his parents returned to Scotland, and his education was obtained in the schools of Glasgow and in Ireland, near Belfast, where he acquired a fair knowledge of the common English branches, thus being fitted for the practical and responsible duties of life.  The surrounding and occupations of his youth were such as were common to lads in his station of life.  He came to the United States in 1867, locating in St. Clair county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for three years.  On the expiration of that period he returned to New York city, where he married Miss Annie McCaw, a lady of the same name though not related by the ties of blood.  She is a lady of Irish birth, but of Scotch parentage, and was brought to America when quite young. The wedding was celebrated on the 4th of April, 1872, and the same year Mr. McCaw secured passage on a mail steamer bound for California.  For three years he operated a sawmill in Nevada City, and then returned to New York city, where he remained one year.  Realizing the advantages of the west and their superiority over the opportunities furnished in the east, he again came to the Pacific slope, locating in the capital city, where he has since resided.  For three years he was employed in the works of the gas company, the plant being at that time under the process of construction.  Later he was in the service of the firm of Huntington & Hopkins for a year, and when that period had elapsed, he established his present business as a dealer in coal and wood at No. 518 L Street.  In addition to the local trade he fills large contracts for parties in other sections of the country, and has now a very liberal patronage, which brings to him excellent financial returns.

       Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCaw have been born six children, namely:  Mary Jane, the wife of R.B. Laidlaw, and they have one son Rupert; Annie, Alexandria, Margareta, John, James and Irene H.  All of these are yet living, and they have lost two, William J. and Ellen, who died in childhood.  In his political views Mr. McCaw is a Republican and earnestly advocates the principles of that party, believing that they contain the best elements of government.  Socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Red Men, the Druids and also the Caledonia Club, of which he was one of the organizers.  He has filled many of the offices in those societies and is a valued representative of the different fraternities.  His business methods have always been straightforward, commending him to the confidence of those with whom he is brought in contact.  He has closely applied himself to the work engaging his attention, and his consecutive efforts and enterprise have won him a place among the substantial residents of California's capital city.