San Diego County Biographies
 
J. H. McCANNA

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


of Perris, is one of the solid, active business men and ranchmen of Perris. He 
was born in Clinton County, New York, July 16, 1833. His father, John McCanna, a 
native of Ireland, came to the United States when quite young, and married Ann 
Young. They had a family of nine children, but two of whom are now living. Mr. 
McCanna, the subject of this sketch, went to the then new State of Iowa in 1843, 
when but eleven years of age. His educational advantages were limited.        
        He began his business career as a peddler, which he followed for two 
years. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army and served three years. While in 
the service he was two years forage master, and was engaged in the hazardous 
business of making raids into the enemy's country for supplies. While on one of 
these expeditions he was made prisoner by the enemy, who took from him his arms 
and valuables, and threatened to shoot him for being a spy. He saw three mules 
near him and sprang upon one of them and made his escape amid a shower of 
bullets. He reached the Union forces about midnight with the three mules. He was 
in the battle of White river, at the siege of Vicksburg, at Cherokee Station and 
at the battle of Suffield Station. At this latter battle he received a slight 
wound in the head from a ball; another ball went through his coat, and a third 
one killed his horse and wounded him slightly in the leg. He did efficient duty 
in gathering supplies for the army while with Sherman on his march from Atlanta 
to the sea. When the war was over he engaged with his brother in the business of 
buying bankrupt stocks of goods and selling them again at auction and at private 
sale. He continued in this business eight years, when he came to California and 
traveled all over the country for four years. He went to Los Angeles in 1883 and 
opened a grocery store, but, after a year, sold out and came to Perris, where he 
took a Government claim of 160 acres of land, a short distance east of the town, 
on which he built a good brick house and made other improvements. He built the 
first store in Perris, and now owns four store buildings. He is engaged in 
several kinds of business in addition to carrying on his ranch; he has a brick 
and lumber yard, a livery and feed stable, buys and sells stock, and rents his 
buildings. He was married to Miss Almira Carpenter, and by her had one son, 
James Harrison, born September 20, 1864, who is now married, owns property and 
resides in Perris. This wife and mother died in 1872. ]r. McCanna was again 
married in 1882 to Mrs. Bennett.
 
S�URCE:  An Illustrated Histo�y of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  331-332