San
Joaquin County
Biographies
EDWIN HAMILTON CARY
Well-known in the city of Stockton
as a dealer in musical instruments, band supplies and musical merchandise,
Edwin Hamilton Cary has contributed much towards the development of the business
and social conditions, and ever since he took up his residence here in 1882,
has given Stockton all that is highest and best in music, being the pioneer in
the field of endeavor. A native of
Oregon, he was born at Portland, March 25, 1851, a son of Luther and Rebecca (Harbart) Cary.
Luther Cary was born in New London County, Connecticut, July 24, 1817,
and accompanied his parents to South Warren, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and
in 1837 he taught school there. The next
year he moved to Peoria County, Illinois, where he married and farmed. In 1850 he located in Oregon, having crossed
the plains with ox-teams. He settled
about Vancouver and conducted a ferry, but in 1852 he settled in Marion County
and farmed and taught school.
Circumstances necessitated his taking the lecture platform and he
lectured on astronomy, qualifying himself by close study for several
years. He lectured all over Oregon and
California with occasional trips east, and filled engagements in Washington,
Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, British Columbia and elsewhere. In 1863 he came to San Jose, California,
where he lived for ten years. Many of
the leading citizens of San Jose, among them J. J. Owen, editor of the Mercury,
Dr. Clark and other urged him to seek a position in connection with the Lick
Observatory, when that institution was projected, as a desirable field for a
man of his attainments. But his travels
precluded his accepting any local position.
He married Louisa Humphrey on
January 1, 1839, and they had five children.
His second marriage, September 25, 1848, united him with Rebecca Harbart, born July 14, 1831, and they had eight children,
four living: Edwin H., of this sketch; George
W. A. in Sacramento; Charles A. and Mrs. Frank Parker, in Oregon.
He engaged in raising Angora goats
on Mt. Hamilton and in 1875, in company with his son, Edwin H., moved their
flocks to Calaveras County, purchasing a range of 1800 acres on Bear
Mountain. Later he drove his goats to Oregon,
where he sold them and retired from the business to take the lecture
platform. He died April 2, 1890, near
Seattle, Washington. The mother of our
subject passed away January 7, 1894.
The genealogy of the Cary family, so
far as known by our subject, is traced back to Benjamin Cary, who was born in
Massachusetts, and later moved to Windham County, Connecticut, where he reared
a family. Although there is known to
have been a book printed regarding the Cary family, which perhaps connects them
with the poets, Phoebe and Alice Cary, who were both born near Cincinnati,
Ohio, daughter of Robert Cary, is not available at this time. Benjamin Cary had a son named Luther Cary
(this name seems to run all through the Cary families) who was born on November
11, 1768, in Windham County, Connecticut, and he had five brothers who served
in the War of the Revolution; one named Oliver, went to Pennsylvania; another
went to Vermont, and one of his sons, in 1812, went to Sacketts
Harbor and from him are descended the Cary’s on the Pacific Coast. Luther Cary married Rispah
Allen on November 11, 1792. She was born
at Groton, New London County, Connecticut, February 18,
1772. One of their sons was named
Luther, father of Edwin H. In an academy
at Portland, Edwin H. secured his schooling and in 1874 went to San Jose with
his father, who had extensive interests in Santa Clara County, and in 1875 went
to Calaveras County, where they engaged in raising Angora goats. After the father sold his herd, the son
continued in that business independently, later selling his ranch and driving
the herd north to Shasta County where he disposed of it. Returning to Calaveras County, he engaged in
mining at Angels Camp and while there organized and conducted a band, also
taught music. His services were much in
demand in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, Cary’s Band and Orchestra still
being a pleasant remembrance to many of the old settlers of those mining
districts.
In 1882 Mr. Cary settled in
Stockton, where he followed the carpenter’s trade and aided in building for L.
G. Thompson the first harvesters made in the city. While at Angels Camp he secured an agency for
the sale of pianos in San Joaquin County from the Kohler & Chase Company of
San Francisco, and after coming to Stockton he took up the sale of pianos as a
side line, making his home at that time on East Channel Street. In 1888, he decided to devote his entire
attention to that business and opened his present store at No. 547 East Market
Street, putting in a good line of musical instruments and becoming the pioneer
in that line in the city. He carries a
complete line of band instruments and supplies and general musical
merchandise. His creative ability led to
the invention of the Cary snare drum, which has met with a large sale and is
regarded as one of the best on the market.
At the Panama-Pacific Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915, his drum
was awarded a gold medal. In association
with his sons, Edwin Liberty and Francis R., Mr. Cary managed and conducted the
Sixth Regiment Band in Stockton, while his son, E. L., became its
director. Many enjoyable concerts were
given in the Plaza and the organization reached a high standard, being regarded
as the best band ever established in the city.
On September 16, 1871, Mr. Cary
married Miss Caroline A. McLeran at Albany, Oregon,
and her demise occurred at Stockton, December 28, 1920. She was a native of Wisconsin and crossed the
plains to Oregon with her parents in 1865.
While residing on their mountain ranch in Calaveras County Mr. and Mrs.
Cary became the parents of two sons:
Edwin L. and Francis R., the former a resident of Stockton and the
latter of San Francisco. When they were
seven years of age their father began their musical education and they are now
talented artists, having been members of the orchestras of the leading
playhouses of San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton. Edwin L. Cary, a cornetist of more than
ordinary ability and a talented musician, is a teacher of wind and string
instruments. When the Boston Opera
Company produced the opera “Robin Hood” at the old Avon Theatre he was
cornetist in their orchestra, being at that time twelve years of age, and the
manager of the company was so favorably impressed with his playing that he
sought to induce him to become a permanent member of the organization, but on
account of his age his parents did not favor the idea of traveling. Edwin L. married Gladys Fine Osborn, November
25, 1903, and they have to children:
Ellen Lorraine and Earl Lauren.
The other son, Frank R. Cary, is a violinist in the orchestra of the
Casino Theatre of San Francisco, and is also an expert performer on the
trombone, being a teacher of both instruments.
He is the father of two girls, Alice M. and Elizabeth. Both sons inherited their father’s musical
ability and the family is an exceptionally talented one.
Mr. Cary’s life has been an active
and upright one, filled with varied experiences and characterized by the
successful accomplishment of valuable results.
For many years he has been closely identified with Stockton’s
development and upbuilding and his record is a matter of pride to its citizens.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1203-1204. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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