Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HENRY STEVEN McCLAY
A resident of California since his sixteenth
year, Henry Steven McClay has occupied his present
farm since 1860, and during that time has had his share of uphill struggle,
ending in practical and assured success. This prominent agriculturist and fruit
raiser of the vicinity of Evergreen comes of sterling New England stock on both
sides of his family, identified for many years with picturesque Vermont. His
father, William McClay, was born and reared on a farm
in Vermont, and as a young man moved first to Ohio, and in 1820 to St. Charles
county, Mo., where he achieved independence by beginning at the bottom round of
the ladder, and availing himself of the chances that came his way. His first
piece of ground proved an incentive to larger possessions, and in time he
started a tannery on a small scale, gradually increasing his business as the
country round him was settled up. To tanning and farming he finally added boot
and shoe manufacturing, and his combined efforts made him one of the largest
employers of labor, and one of the most enterprising men in St. Charles county. The faith which had dictated his
emigration to Missouri, and the determination which had accomplished his
success after reaching there, were still factors to be dealt with, and came to
the surface when reports reached him of the undeveloped resources of the west. In
the meantime he had married and lost his first wife, and had married Mrs. Betsy
(Thomas) Killum, a native also of Vermont, and who
came to Missouri in 1830 with her family. There was but one child of this
union, Henry Steven, born on the home farm in St. Charles county,
Mo., March 11, 1837.
In 1847 Mr. McClay
left his wife and children in Missouri and crossed the plains to Oregon,
spending the winter in Oregon City, and looking around for a desirable
residence and business center. He seems not to have been favorably impressed
with the prospects, for the following spring he returned to Missouri, and
continued his farming and shoe manufacturing until 1853. By that time he had
disposed of his land and business interests, and with his family crossed the
plains again, this time following the trail to California. Henry Steven, then
sixteen years old, was an enthusiastic traveler on this occasion, and proved a
valuable assistance to his father in the management of the stock, and the care
of his mother. William McClay bought out a squatter’s
right to a claim of a thousand acres near Evergreen, but the right was hotly
contested, and finally lost to the ambitious and successful tanner. The
struggle embittered his life somewhat, and was in strange contrast to the even
and rapid progress he had made in Missouri. Fortunately his son met with no
opposition after purchasing his present farm in 1860, and the father thereafter
made his home with him, and died there in 1878, at the age of eighty-two years.
He was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, and in Missouri was quite
active, holding a number of local offices of trust.
Henry Steven McClay
received a fair common-school education in Missouri, and after coming to the
coast assisted his father in clearing the crude pioneer farm. The experience
strengthened his muscles and increased his determination to succeed, and when
he was able to purchase his present farm in 1860 he felt that the battle was
already half won. From time to time he has added to, or sold his land, and at
present has one hundred acres, fifty of which are under prunes, and several
acres under apricots and plums. His wife also belongs to one of the pioneer
families of this section, and before her marriage was Nannie,
daughter of James Ray, and a native of Ohio. Mr. Ray was born in Virginia, and
before coming to California in 1854 lived in both Ohio and Illinois. In Santa
Clara county he settled on a farm seven miles south of
San Jose, and died there at an advanced age. Five children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. McClay, three sons and two daughters,
the order of their birth being as follows: James William, who resides on the
home farm; Lena A., also at home; Lulu G., living in Oakland, Cal.; Arthur R.,
a rancher near San Jose; and Eugene Henry, living at home and managing the home
farm. Mr. McClay is an enthusiastic Republican, and
has served his township as deputy assessor for one term, and as school director
for several years. He is fraternally connected with the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He is one of the energetic and substantial farmers of this vicinity,
and exerts an influence towards progressive and practical upbuilding.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1186-1189. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.