Solano
County
Biographies
HON. HENRY EWALTZ MCCUNE
As one whose career is worthy of note and who furnishes a splendid
example of what is commonly termed a self-made man, Mr. McCune stands
pre-eminent among the citizens of Solano county. From
a small beginning he has climbed the ladder of success step by step until he
has neared its topmost pinnacle, and to-day he is one of the largest
land-owners in Solano county, Cal., which has been the
scene of his successful labors for half a century. A native of Pike county,
Mo., where he was born June 10, 1825, he is the son of John and Rebecca (Ewaltz) McCune, his father being of Scotch ancestry and his
mother of German, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of
Virginia. These parents went west from Kentucky, where they were married, to
Pike county, Mo., where they reared a family, and it
was there the father died in 1853. There Henry E. McCune was educated. Upon the
outbreak of the Mexican war he joined the mounted volunteers and served
gallantly for eighteen months being wounded at the battle of Vera Cruz, and
honorably discharged from further service.
Returning home, he turned his attention to stock-raising, especially to
cattle. In 1854, in company with R. K. Biggs, he purchased three hundred head
of cattle which they drove across the plains to California. Locating in the
northern part of Solano county, Mr. Biggs sold his
interest and returned east. Mr. McCune retained his, and selecting a favorable
site, he preempted a quarter section of government land, and it is a notable
fact that he still owns it. Building a board house 16x16 feet, with the boards
running up and down, and also a lean-to shed ten feet square, he was considered
fortunate among his neighbors. From this rude dwelling he cared for his stock
and made his start.
At that early day there were no trees
from the creek to the hills. About 1862 Mr. McCune began to fence his land and
to raise grain. The nearest postoffice (sic) was at
Vacaville, and frequently when going for his mail he was asked how things were
out in the “desert,” as it was then called. This so-called desert proved in
time to be a valuable section. In 1868 Mr. McCune planted a grove of gum,
walnut and elm trees, and to-day he probably has the largest gum tree in the
whole state, showing the strength and fertility of the soil to grow or produce.
Some time later, Mr. McCune erected a residence,
which was destroyed by fire in 1880. He prospered in all his business ventures,
investing his money in real estate. He not only purchased land in Solano, but
also in other counties, and he has made and maintained an excellent record as a
stockman and cattle raiser, keeping both thoroughbred Hereford and Durham
cattle on his ranches. He also raises hogs and sheep extensively, having
generally about twenty-five hundred head of the latter. His cattle are also
numbered by the hundred, and at one time he and J. S. Garnett brought fifteen
hundred head of fine cattle to Solano county.
Mr. McCune is one of the largest
land-owners on (sic) the county, owning twelve hundred acres in one body
devoted to grain; twenty-five hundred acres in another place, part of it being
in the foot-hills, utilized as both a grain and stock farm; seventeen hundred
acres known as the Big ranch, devoted to grain; the Bank ranch of four hundred and
seventy-five acres, also a grain farm; the McMillan ranch of three hundred and
twenty acres, devoted to the same; and, in addition, he is associated with
other capitalists in various tracts of land in other sections of the state.
Although some attention has been given to raising fine fruits, the greatest
part of Mr. McCune’s fortune has been made from stock and grain pursuits.
The marriage of Mr. McCune, February 1, 1849, in Ralls county, Mo., united him with Miss Barbara S. Rice a native
of Kentucky, who shared his trials as well as his success. She was an exemplary
wife and mother, rearing a large family of children, and was blessed with a
large circle of grandchildren. Their children and grandchildren are enumerated
as follows: Mary M., wife of J. A. Hill, who has three children, Irene, Edna
and J. Silver; Ruth A., wife of P. R. Garnett who has three children, Inez,
Reba and Hugh; Rebecca E., wife of H. C. Silver, who has two children, Ruth and
Rose; Jessie L., wife of C. A. Rice, who has one child, Sadie; Sarah E., wife
of Dr. M. Gardner; Joseph H., a farmer by occupation, who married Miss Lizzie
Baker, a daughter of William Baker, and they had two children, Barbara and
Willie; Elizabeth R. and Rose B. McCune are deceased Mrs. McCune died, and by a
second marriage, to Sallie Baker, daughter of Dr. Samuel Baker, two children
have been born, Josie and Ermel. A number of years
ago, Mr. McCune purchased the Hockham residence in
Dixon and still occupies this place as a residence, which he improved and beautified
in many ways. About 1892 his wife planted two palms near the entrance to the
grounds and they are now thirty-five feet high and three feet diameter.
The political career of Mr. McCune began about 1873, when he came before
the public as a candidate for joint senator of Solano and Yolo counties, and
although a Democrat, he was elected on the People’s ticket and served two terms
of two years each. He has always been interested in the cause of education and
his services in this direction have ever been given freely and gratuitously and
he has frequently spent large sums in perfecting some of his plans in this
line. For thirty years he was a trustee of California College, for more than
twenty years was president of the board of education, and since its
organization he has been president of Dixon College.
Mr. McCune is a generous contributor to
religious causes. In early manhood he united with the Baptist Church, and for
over forty years has served as deacon, being also active in Sunday-school work.
Upon first locating in Solano county there was no
Baptist Church, and the first services were held in the school house at
Vacaville in 1856 and later in the Vacaville high school building. Early in the
‘60s a church was built at Silveyville, Mr. McCune
being largely instrumental in securing it erection. In 1870 this church was
sold and afterward moved to Dixon, it now being the residence of Mr. Van Sant. Subsequently the present fine edifice was built in
Dixon. In fraternal circles, Mr. McCune is a member of the Masonic order, a
member of Silveyville Lodge No. 201, F. & A. M.,
Dixon Chapter No. 42, R. A. M., Sacramento Commandery No. 2, K. T., and both he and his wife were members of
the Eastern Star during the existence of that order in the community. Few men
have attained individual success for so long a period in one community and the
splendid record of Mr. McCune is worthy of emulation by the rising generations.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: "History of the State of
California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, Pages
381-382.
The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.