Merced County CA Archives Biographies.....Meany, Anthony Warfield 1882 - 
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Author: John Outcalt (1925)

ANTHONY WARFIELD MEANY

   A native son of the Golden State and an educator of prominence and influence
in Merced is Anthony Warfield Meany, the principal of Merced High School and
supervising principal of the Livingston High School. Mr. Meany is blessed by
nature with a healthy mental and moral outlook on life and early in his career
manifested a desire to enter upon a professional career; this desire was
gratified largely through his own efforts. A son of the late Anthony J. Meany,
he was born on March 24, 1882, in Merced. A. J. Meany was a prominent citizen of
the San Joaquin Valley and was born in Ireland on March 1, 1842, was taken to
Canada when a babe in arms and there grew to boyhood. At about the age of eleven
he left home and went to Pennsylvania, where he served an apprenticeship, under
an older brother, to learn the trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker. In early
manhood he worked on an Ohio River steamboat for a time, then drifted into St.
Louis, where he remained and made his start for California via Panama about
1863. Upon arriving in California he at once located in Mariposa County and
followed his trade and became a very well-known and successful contractor and
builder. In time he located in Snelling, Merced County and worked at his trade
and while living there was elected sheriff of the county in 1872, serving in
that office for twelve years. When the county seat was removed to Merced he
located in that city and ever afterwards made it his home. After his term in
office expired he resumed the building business and continued active until his
death, passing away in November, 1891, at the family home in Merced. He was
twice married. His first wife was Emma Ruddle, niece of the late John Ruddle,
and one daughter is now living, Daisy Meany the wife of J. F. King, an Oakland
dentist. His second marriage, in 1881, united him with Miss May Tackett, who was
born in Tuolumne County in 1858. Her parents crossed the plains in 1856 and
settled near Sonora, where her father was engaged in the building business. By
this second marriage a son, Anthony Warfield Meany, was born. A. J. Meany had
served two terms in the California State senate.

   Anthony Warfield Meany was reared in Merced and attended the public schools
for his preliminary education, graduating from the high school in 1900. His
father dying when he was a lad of nine, he has but little recollection of him.
Determined to get a good education he next entered the University of California
at Berkeley, meanwhile working in warehouses during vacations to pay his own
way. He was active in the student body at college and was on the track team for
three years, was on the Blue and Gold staff and Rally committee and was a member
of the Skull and Keys, and the Golden Bear, honor societies, and still holds his
membership in the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was graduated with honors in 1905
with the A. B. degree. He took a position in a warehouse for a time, then spent
three years as an employe of the Yosemite Valley Railroad during its
construction. His next position was as bookkeeper for John R. Graham, where he
remained until he began teaching in the Merced school in 1908; six years later
he was appointed principal of the high school when there were eight teachers and
a student body of 150. This has been increased to twenty-seven teachers and a
student body of 450 in Merced, and when the Livingston branch was added the
faculty was increased to thirty-five and the student body to 600. The new
buildings have been erected since Mr. Meany has been in charge.

   The marriage of A. W. Meany with Miss Kathryn Stradley, of New York, took
place on July 6, 1914, and they have a daughter, Kathryn Christine. In politics
Mr. Meany is a Democrat and served as chairman of the County Central Committee.
He is an exempt fireman, having served as a volunteer of the Merced department
for six years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons, the Elks and the
Native Sons; and he is a member of the Rotary Club, the California State
Teachers' Association and the California High School Principals' Association.
During the war he was County Food Administrator under Ralph Merritt, and served
on the County Defense Committee and various Bond and Speaking Committees. As a
citizen he is progressive and a champion of all measures for the benefit of his
town, county and State. All in all he is a man of whom his city may be justly
proud.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925

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