George J. McLachlin

MCLACHLIN, VARNUM, DEWEY, CARTER

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 15:02:11

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 813

GEORGE J. McLACHLIN has been a
resident of Audubon County, Iowa,
since 1887. He was born in Caledonia
County, Vermont, May 7, 1848, and is a son
of James and Almira (Varnum) McLachlin.
The father, a son of John McLachlin, was
born in Vermont in 1818; he is a farmer by
occupation, and still lives in Vermont. His
father was born in Scotland. The mother of
George J. was born in Vermont; she is living,
and also her four children, named as follows
-- William V., George J., Charles F. and
Merritt H. George J. was reared to the
life of a farmer. He received his early edu-
cation in the common school, and later he
entered the Caledonia Academy, pursuing his
studies there for three years. He remained
with his parents until his twenty-first year,
when, like so many other young men, he
was caught in the tide of emigration, and
drifted westward. In the spring of 1887 he
removed to Audubon County, and spent the
first summer working for Mr. George Gray
on his farm. He then rented a farm of W.
G. Cameron for one year, and in the mean-
time he bought eighty acres of wild land in
Lincoln Township, which he broke out and
began to improve. Four years later he sold
this farm, and removed to a farm of 160 acres
which he had purchased in partnership with
his brother. They still own the place, which
they have placed under good cultivation, and
to which they have added many improve-
ments. The residence, which is a neat two-
story frame building, was erected in 1880,
and is pleasantly situated on a high and
sightly spot. Mr. McLachlin was married
in 1871 to Miss Jane L. Dewey, of Caledonia
County, Vermont. She is the oldest daugh-
ter of Bela S. and Lavinia (Carter) Dewey,
natives of the State of New Hampshire, now
residing in Caledonia County, Vermont. Of
their two children Mrs. McLachlin is the
only one surviving. Mr. and Mrs. McLach-
lin are the parents of three children -- Glenn
D., Harvey C. and Elsie J. Mr. McLachlin
has been engaged in stock-feeding and rais-
ing, shipping from three to five car loads
annually, he is enterprising, industrious,
and honorable in all his dealings, and has the
respect and confidence of all who know him.