James McCormick is one of the
first settlers and one of the most prominent business men of Redding, Shasta
County, California. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Philadelphia,
November 1, 1831. He comes of good old Scotch-Presbyterian stock. His grandfather, John McCormick, was one of the hardy sons of Scotland
who settled in County Donegal, Ireland, and reared his family there. His son James was born at that place, and when he grew to manhood, in 1829,
married Isabella Black, also a native of Donegal County. Immediately
after their marriage they emigrated direct to Philadelphia to make their
and fortune in the United States. They settled in Philadelphia and
Mr. McCormick engaged in the manufacture of starch. Of the two children
born to them in that city, the subject of our sketch was the second. The family removed to Quincy, Illinois, where the father purchased and
improved a farm. The mother died in 1845, and the father lived on
the property until his death occurred, in 1886. He lived the life
of an upright and worthy citizen.
James was given his fathers’
name that he might be an honor to it and perpetuate it in the world. He was reared to manhood on his father’s farm, went to school in winter
and drove the team and held the plow in summer. When he reached his
majority, like his parents, he started out for himself. He left his
home in Quincy, Illinois, in December, 1852, and arrived at San Francisco,
February 5, 1853, making the trip via the Isthmus of Panama. Little
did he think when he came to the El Dorado of the West in search of gold,
that he was going to help improve and built the grandest commonwealth of
the United States. His first venture was to dig for gold in Tuolumne
County. Some months later he went to Coloma. The business of
teaming was then very profitable and he engaged in that for a time. He afterward purchased a miners’ supply store in El Dorado County, and
conducted it for two years. After this, and until its collapse, he
was in the employ of the Adams Express Company. Then he acted as
Wells Fargo & Co’s. agent nine years, and purchased millions of dollars
worth of gold dust. He removed to Woodland, Yolo County, and worked
in the interest of the Western Union Telegraph Company two years. In 1873 Mr. McCormick came to Redding, and the following three years was
operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company.
In 1876 he went East to the
great Centennial and also visited his father and his friends whom he had
not seen for twenty-five years. On his return to Redding the firm
of McCormick, Saeltzer & Co. was formed, Mr. W. L. Smith being the
other member. They started with $9,000 capital, and conducted the
business with remarkable success for ten years. At the end of that
time they incorporated under the firm name of the McCormick-Saeltzer Company,
their capital having increased to $100,000. They have built a brick
store, 70x200, which comprises five departments, each 40x70 feet. They wholesale and retail general merchandise and furnish supplies to Northern
California and a part of Oregon. Mr. McCormick has been one of the
busy factors in building the city of Redding; was one of those who aided
in its incorporation; served two terms on its board of trustees. He was one of the originators of the Shasta County Bank and its first vice-president;
also aided in starting the Bank of Northern California, and is its present
vice-president.
The day after he was twenty-one
years of age Mr. McCormick voted for General Scott for President of the
United States. Since the organization of the Republican party he
has been one of its consistent adherents. His marriage occurred at
the residence of Judge Bush, December 16, 1877, the lady of his choice
being Elizabeth Buckingham, a native of Whitestown, New York. He
is now engaged in building one of the finest residences in the city.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler, July 2004.
SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of Northern
California, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1891. pg. 334-335.
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