San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY C. KINNEY
When Henry C. Kinney arrived in
California in 1876, the San Joaquin Valley was one vast plain covered with
native grass, where thousands of head of fat cattle ranged with no fences to detain
them, herded and guarded by the cowboy of frontier days. Soon afterward the railroad was built through
the valley and changes from frontier conditions to the present high state of
cultivation began, in which Mr. Kinney took an active part. He was born in Joliet, Illinois, February 13,
1853, a son of George H. and Caroline Elizabeth (Burnham) Kinney, and early in
life was taken to Madison County, New York, where he was reared and
educated. In the fall of 1876 he came west
and located at San Jose, where he remained for two years. He then removed to Placer County and there
entered the employ of Towle Brothers, prominent lumbermen of that county, who
ran large lumber mills, and with whom he remained for seventeen years. Twenty-six years ago he came to Stockton,
where he purchased land south of the city and set out an orchard of walnuts,
cherries, figs, etc. Later he sold his
ranch and devoted his time to walnut-growing in the San Joaquin Valley. His years of study and experience along this
line have made him one of the best-informed men in California on soil and
climatic conditions best suited for the successful growth of walnut trees. His success in grafting and budding of fruit
and walnut trees has been attained by his characteristic thoroughness and
industry. At one time he grafted 250
walnut trees in the city of Stockton without loss of one. He has top-grafted trees throughout the
county, and is an authority along this line of horticulture. His work has been productive of better
orchards, more abundant crops, and finer quality of fruit, a most substantial
contribution to the development to his community.
The marriage of Mr. Kinney united
him with Miss Adelaide L. Willard, a native of New York; and two children have
blessed their union, Clinton P. and Mary Grace.
While residing in Placer County, Mr. Kinney was a member of the county
board of education for ten years.
Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He and his estimable wife are among the
well-known and representative pioneer people of this section of California, and
enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1083-1084. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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