San Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM RILEY McGRAY
W. R. McGRAY,
a farmer of Elliott Township, was born in Washington County, Arkansas,
September 1, 1853, a son of Matthew and Martha (Graham) McGary,
the former a native of Indiana, born January 31, 1824, at the present time the
owner of a farm in his native State, and the latter a native of Alabama, born
March 25, 1823. W. R. McGary, the subject of this
biographical sketch, remained on his father’s farm until 1875, when he left
home on the 23d day of March for California, arriving in Sacramento, April 4,
1875, without a cent of money. He met his cousin and borrowed $2.50 of him, and
at once took the train for Lodi, San Joaquin County; he has remained around
this section of the country ever since. The first man he worked for was James Falkner, Staten Island, Union Township; he was taken sick
the first summer but soon recovered. He then came to within a mile of where he
now resides and went to work for a man named Edward Bryant, whose
step-daughter, Fannie A. Parker, became his wife, November 14, 1876, at Mackville, this county. She was the owner of this land (160
acres) on which they now reside; they also own 227 acres on the south side of
the Mokelumne river, between Lockeford
and Clements. Mr. McGary is a member of the
Progressive Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 190, and of the I. O. G. T., No. 115.
Mr. and Mrs. McGary have four children, namely: Walter M., born
September 13, 1877; Mable A., August 31, 1881; Ethel
C., July 18, 1883; and Riley Q., May 10, 1887.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 459-460. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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