Contra Costa County Biography

HENRY C. McCABE

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
               Henry C. McCabe, one of the progressive and representative 
ranchers of eastern Contra Costa County, was born on October 5, 1844, in 
Illinois. He is a son of Thomas McCabe, who was numbered among the pioneers of 
this section, his activities being a force in progress and his citizenship a 
valuable asset to the eastern section. Thomas McCabe was born in Guernsey 
County, Ohio, May 28, 1810. He acquired his early education in the local schools 
of his locality. At the age of eighteen he engaged in boating on the Ohio River, 
and later on the Wabash River in Indiana, which was in 1830. Later he removed to 
Illinois, where he followed farming for four years. The balance of the time 
until 1850 he farmed in various counties in Illinois. On May 8, 1850, he with a 
company of others crossed the plains to the new mining camps. Mr. McCabe was 
chosen captain of the party. They arrived in Placerville, August 3, 1850. Mr. 
McCabe engaged in mining at once, and followed this vocation for two years, when 
he returned to his home in Illinois. In the spring of 1853, he returned with his 
family to this coast and located at Snow Point, Nevada County, where he again 
engaged in mining pursuits until 1857. He then took up farming in Solano County 
for three years. The next five years he spent on a ranch in Napa County. In the 
fall of 1867 Mr. McCabe moved to Contra Costa County and purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres of railroad land, and his son, Henry C., purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres adjoining. Thomas McCabe was united in marriage to Miss Maria 
Peacock, a native of Ohio, January 12, 1831. To this union have been born nine 
children. The subject of this review, Henry McCabe, became identified with 
ranching. This vocation he followed until he disposed of his holdings and 
retired three years ago. Henry C. purchased the one hundred and sixty acres 
belonging to his father after the latter's death, which occurred on December 3, 
1888, and continued to operate both places until he retired. He disposed of 
fifteen acres to the Standard Oil Company, where they now have a pumping station 
named McCabe. The remainder of the ranch, consisting of three hundred acres, was 
sold to Doctor Fredericks, of San Francisco. Henry C. was united in marriage to 
Sarah A. Powell on March 23, 1870. To this union there have been four children. 
Henry Herbert was born January 3, 1891, and died December 1, 1916. Clara E. and 
Thomas Clifford (twins) has resided for the past three years in Fresno County, 
where he has managed his father's ranch. He married Miss Lena Grennenger, of 
Contra Costa County, and their three daughters are Genevieve, Helen, and Grace. 
Pearl E. McCabe was born April 3, 1872, and was united in marriage to George E. 
Martin, of Watsonville, California.  To this union have been born Henry A., 
Kenneth, and Maria N. Thomas McCabe was a broad-minded man, liberal in thought 
and honorable in purpose, and his life was fruitful of good results. His son, 
Henry C., whose name heads this review, is an intensely loyal and 
public-spirited citizen of Contra Costa County.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 582 - 583.