California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


A. E. CLARY. The farm property occupied and operated by Mr. Clary lies near Newman, his 
residence being one and one-half miles west of that town, while in the immediate vicinity he 
superintends more than twenty-three hundred acres devoted to grain and stock-raising purposes. 
Mr. Clary is a California pioneer of 1864, and by birth a Missourian. descended through his pa- 
ternal grandfather, a Revolutionary patriot, from Scotch forefathers. His father, Daniel, who was 
born near Frostburg, Md., in early life settled near Louisville, Ky., and there married Rachel 
Llewellen. a native of that locality, of Welsh extraction. Accompanied by his family, in 1836 
he removed to Pike county. Mo., and from virgin soil developed a fine stock and grain farm in the 
vicinity of Louisiana, that county. During the spring of 1852 he disposed of his landed pos- 
sessions there and removed to Montgomery county. Mo., where he bought raw land and again 
developed a valuable farm. At a time when his neighbors held slaves he refused to follow the 
universal custom, believing that the institution of slavery should be abolished. It was his priv- 
ilege to survive the period of the Civil war and to witness the extermination of slavery from the 
entire country. In religion he was a devout Baptist and in politics voted with the Democratic 
party. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1868, be was seventy-two years of age. His 
wife passed away in Montgomery county. Mo., on the last day of January, 1864. They were 
the parents of eleven children, of whom four sons and four daughters attained mature years. One 
of the sons, J. A., died at Livermore, this state. At this writing one son and three daughters sur- 
vive, among the latter being Mrs. Smith, a resident of Kern county, this state. 

The youngest son in the family, A. E. Clary, was born in Pike county, Mo., July 22, 1842, and 
at ten years of age accompanied his parents to Montgomery county, where, as . he grew old 
enough to work, he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm. Habits of industry were incul- 
cated in him at an early age and thus became fixed in his character. Self-reliance, too, was devel- 
oped by the necessity of assisting in the management of the farm. In March of 1864 he married 
Miss Joanna Smith, who was born in Pike county, Mo., her parents, Felix and Barbara (Dismuth) 
Smith, having removed to that state from Kentucky. The month after their marriage Mr. 
Clary and his wife started for California in a train composed of horse teams. The journey 
was made up the North Platte, through Wyoming, down the Humboldt river and along the 
Carson route to Sacramento, where they arrived September 16, 1864. With an energy charac- 
teristic of him, Mr. Clary immediately began farming, which occupation he followed in Colusa, 
Yolo and Sutter counties until 1871. During the latter year he was elected county assessor by a 
majority of forty-four. Shortly afterward the legislature passed a law extending the length of 
assessors' tenure of office to four years, and in accordance therewith he served until 1875. Dur- 
ing the latter year he was elected for another term of four years, receiving a majority of seven 
hundred and five votes, and continuing in office until January of 1880. 

On the expiration of his second term as assessor Mr. Clary removed to Nevada City, where 
he engaged in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1881 he settled near Sunolglen, Alameda 
county, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits for four years. The year 1885 found him 
a resident of Stanislaus county, where he first raised stock and grain on property near Crow's 
Landing, and now cultivates a large tract near Newman. Since coming to this county he has 
for twelve years served as deputy assessor under Assessors Tullock and Campbell, and in 1900 he 
was elected without opposition to the board of county supervisors, whereupon he resigned as 
deputy assessor. In national politics he favors Democratic principles, but in local matters has 
never displayed a spirit of partisanship. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen and in religion worships with the Christian Church. In his family there 
are four sons and three daughters. The eldest and youngest sons, C. M. and E. F., are engaged 
in the mercantile business at Modesto, and the other sons, J. E. and W. E., have adopted their 
father's calling of agriculturist. The daughters are Mrs. Belle Hiatt, of Sutter county, Mrs. 
Lulu Schoaff, of Gilroy, and Pearl, who is with her parents.