Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 


JAMES McDOUGALL.� Among the honored pioneers of Salinas occurs the 
name of the venerable James McDougall, a native of Scotia, having been born 
March 8, 1815. 

In his native land he learned the baker's and confectioner's trades and came to Amer- 
ica in 1841, and located land in Lake county, Illinois, where he resided until 1852. At 
that date he came, overland to California, via Salt Lake and Southern route into San 
Bernardino county, with an ox team, bringing with him his wife and one child. The first 
winter was spent in Santa Barbara county, and from there the little family removed to 
Monterey county, where the father found employment with David Jacks, Esq., of 
Monterey. Mr. McDougall worked for wages for one year and then engaged in farming 
for himself in the Carmel valley, later removed to Blanco, near Salinas, and in 1868 
he located in Salinas, from which point he did a general teaming and freighting business. 
This he pursued about ten years. At present Mr. McDougall is engaged in merchandising 
at Salinas, where he has spent 80 many years, and where he is greatly esteemed by all 
who know him for his sterling qualities of character and strict honesty in his business 
dealings. 

While discharging his duties as City Marshal of Salinas, which position he held ten 
years, he received seven gunshot wounds, which seriously impaired his health for some 
time. 

Mr. McDougall was married, October, 1835, to Miss Margaret Parlen, also of Scottish 
birth, and the following children have been born to them: James H., leading business 
man of Salinas; Daniel T., a carpenter by trade, an ex-soldier, resident of Salinas; 
Margaret, now Mrs. M. M. Huges; Bell, wife of J. A. McCollum, Tax Collector of 
Monterey county; John and George, of Santa Barbara county.