Biographical Sketch of James McCord, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO >From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri. ********************************************************************** James McCord was born in Randolph County, Virginia, January 7, 1826, and came with his parents to Missouri, in 1836, settling first at Cape Girardeau, and afterwards moving to Morgan County. After his father's death, in 1839, James left school at the age of fourteen, and obtained a situation in a store at Calhoun, Henry County. His finances not admitting of any other mode of travel, he walked from his home to Calhoun, a distance of sixty miles. After remaining here three years, he went to Warsaw in 1843, and remained there until 1846, excepting an absence of two months. In the spring of 1846, he made a trip to New Orleans in the interest of his employers, and upon his return in June, closed his engagement and went to Northwest Miss- ouri, stopping until October in Savannah. Thence he went to Oregon, Holt County, and in company with Abram Nave opened a store under the firm name of Nave & McCord. This business continued three years, at the expiration of which time he withdrew and went to New Orleans. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, arriving in July of that year. In the month following he went to Nevada City and opened a provision store. Owing to ill health, he sold out and returned to Sacramento City, and met D. M. Steele, who had just arrived from Missouri. They immediately formed a partnership for buying emigrant cattle and feeding them until fat. Mr. McCord's health not improving, he sold his interest to Mr. Steele, and returned to Savannah, in Jan- uary, 1851, and once more formed a partnership with Abram Nave, under the old firm name of Nave & McCord, which connection has been main- tained in some form ever since. In January, 1852, the firm bought a drove of cattle for the California market. He was engaged in the cattle business for eight years. In 1857, in company with Mr. Nave, he came to St. Joseph and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1860, they were burned out, their stock being a total loss, but, not discouraged, they re-established their business. The firm has houses in other cities doing a large business and wherever their name is connected it is a synonym for success. Mr. McCord's success in life is due to sterling principles of truth, diligence and persevering application, and he affords a striking illustration of what a man can accomplish by concentrating his energies on one subject. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Mary E. Halleck, of Jessamine County, Kentucky. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================