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DAVID CARY – The stockmen and farmers are the ones who have made Harney county
what she is at this time, and it is they who have wrought out the wealth here that
gives the county a standing among her sisters and to them is due the credit of opening
the country and developing its resources in a commendable manner. One of this worthy
class is named at the head of this article and it is with pleasure that we grant
him consideration in this volume of this county’s annals.
Mr. Cary was born in Jackson county, Missouri, on January 16, 1836, being the son
of Armenious and Anna Cary. David grew up on a farm in the native country, gaining
an education from the primitive schools held in the log cabins. It was 1852 when
the father provided the ox team conveyances and undertook the long journey across
the plains to the Pacific coast. Six months were consumed on the trip and our subject
drove an ox team the entire distance. They arrived at Oregon City on October 22,
and settlement was made in Linn county. The train with which these people came was
composed of twenty wagons and some deaths occurred from cholera, the grandmother
and uncle of our subject being among those who perished. In 1854, David went to
California and engaged in mining and the following year he returned to Oregon, and
then enlisted in Captain Keeney’s company to fight the Indians and he participated
in the struggle until the savages were repulsed and then returned to California
and in 1860 came again to Oregon. Thence he went to Idaho and wrought in Oro Fino,
Florence, Warren, and other camps until 1865, when we see him again in Linn county
and on December 26, of that year he married Miss Rebecca A., daughter of Jesse and
Anna Barr, pioneers from Iowa in 1853, having made the trip with the ox teams of
the day. Our subject took up farming, and also operated at general merchandising
and in 1883 he sold out and removed to Harney valley. Here he gave his undivided
attention to stock raising. His present home is six miles northwest from Crane postoffice
and he owns one thousand six hundred acres of good grazing and meadow land. Mr.
Cary pays attention to cattle mostly and has a goodly band. He was one of the first
settlers and has always wrought on the frontier and while he started the battle
with nothing, he has now a commendable holding and is one of the substantial men
of the valley. He is road supervisor, and always active in the advancement of the
interests of the country. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Cary: Mahalie A., wife of George Shelley, ex-sheriff of Harney county; Mrs. Malinda
A. Stenffer; Clarence T.; John L.; Gracie. Mr. Cary has always so conducted himself
that he has maintained an untarnished reputation, and he stands high among his fellows.
Transcribed from Pages 670-671 of Harney County Biographies from “An Illustrated
History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties with a brief outline of the
early history of the State of Oregon”, Published 1902 by Western Historical Publishing
Company
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