Sacramento County
Biographies
DAVID McLANAHAN
DAVID McLANAHAN was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in 1825, his parents being James and Susan (Blacley) McLanahan, both natives of that section of Pennsylvania. Grandfather John McLanahan settled there, and was married to Miss Nancy Farris, a native of that State, who lived to the age of eighty. The parents of D. McLanahan moved to Ohio, near Masillon, about 1837, and owned a farm there. The son received but little schooling before or after removal, but learned farming pretty thoroughly for his age. He also learned the trade of carpenter, and worked at it some years. In 1852 he came to California and went to mining in Mosquito canon, above Coloma, about nine months, scarcely making wages. Worked some at his trade, getting six or seven dollars a day, but could not get enough work. In 1857 he went into the business of buying and selling cattle and horses, continuing until about 1864. He then made a visit East, not doing much of anything for two years, except the one most important act of life. In 1864 Mr. McLanahan was married to Miss Jennie Harkins, a native of Wisconsin, daughter of William and Kate (McAuley) Harkins, both of whom are now deceased. Returning to California Mr. McLanahan, in 1866, bought 640 acres on the Mokelumne, a mile and a half below his present home. He increased his acreage from time to time until it reached 2,000, in 1879. Since then he has been more occupied with building and beautifying a home and grounds. The house was erected in 1881. On his ranch he raises wheat, hay and barley, cattle and horses,—about thirty horses and 200 head of cattle, besides a dairy business of ninety cows. Mr. McLanahan’s mother died in 1882, and his father in 1886, aged eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. David McLanahan are the parents of four children: Mamie, born December 16, 1866, now Mrs. Thomas Elder, of Tempo, Arizona; Anna, October 14, 1870; Katie, September 6, 1873; and James David, November 3, 1880.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 659. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.