San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY R. McCOY
The name borne by Henry R. McCoy is
indelibly connected with the history of San Joaquin County, for he was one of
the pioneer farmers on Roberts Island, an eyewitness to its growth and development
from a wild and desolate place, much of the land under water, to one of the
most fertile districts in the whole state.
He was born at Nevada City, California, on July 12, 1872, a son of
Hamilton Robert and Mary S. (Gaughenbaugh) McCoy, the
former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The parents came to California via Panama in
1861 and engaged in mining in Nevada County until 1873, when they came to San
Joaquin County, settled near Woodbridge and engaged in farming for the following
six years. In 1879 Mr. McCoy went to
Roberts Island, where he was one of the first to grow grain on the island; this
was before the land had been reclaimed and many were the losses and
discouragements from floods. Mr. and
Mrs. McCoy had four children who grew to maturity: Hugh died in Honolulu in 1918; Isaac L. died
in 1920 in Stockton leaving three children; Henry R., of this review, and Clara
E., the widow of John Nassano. The father passed away in 1892 and Mrs. McCoy
in 1902.
Henry R. McCoy received his
education in the public schools of Woodbridge and Roberts Island and in early
life gained practical knowledge of farming.
After his father’s death he rented land on Roberts Island and in
partnership with his brother Isaac L. farmed from 400 to 800 acres of
land. In 1910 he had 3000 acres of
celery, besides potatoes, beans, onions and grain. His farming activities were accompanied by
many discouragements. For four years he
lost his crops by floods, but by patience and hard work he made a success of
farming and he is now considered an authority on land reclamation, having made
a close and scientific study of the question.
The first reclamation work on the island was done by the Glascow California Land Company, who employed 3,000 Chinese
and wheelbarrows; next the bucket dredgers were used, and now the clam shell
dredgers.
Thee marriage of Mr. McCoy united
him with Mrs. Edith Oard of Portland, Oregon. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, belonging to
Stockton Lodge No. 11. He is a self-made
man, and by his own industry has progressed steadily to his present position.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1419-1420. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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