McCHANE, John, Sr.

MCCHANE, MOLEN, JOHNSTON, MUIR, COWIN

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/14/2005 at 21:02:51

John McChane, Sr., who died at his home on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets, La Porte City, Iowa, Sunday morning, July 31, 1904, was one of the pioneer settlers of Black Hawk County, Iowa. He had been very successful in his agricultural operations in Spring Creek and Poyner townships, in which he was actively engaged until about 14 years ago when he retired to the remainder of his days in La Porte City.

He was a self-made man in every sense of the word, having accumulated his possessions after many years of hard and constant toll, and he fully deserves a prominent place among the representative pioneer farmers of this county.

He was born in Galloway, Scotland, January 20, 1821, and was a son of John and Agnes (Molen) McChane. His father was a native of Scotland, and spent his entire life in that country, engaged in farming. Seven children were born to him and his good wife. One son, Robert, fought in the English army during the Crimean War, and was killed in the siege of Sebastapol.

The father of the subject of this sketch was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

John McChane, Sr., the subject of this sketch, was married in Scotland to Maragaret Johnston in 1851, and two years later, they emigrated from Dumfrieshire, Scotland, to Joliet, Illinois, making the voyage of six weeks and three days across the Atlantic, in the sailing ship "Columbia." At Joliet, Illinois, Mr. McChane was engaged in general teaming about two years, and then removed to Chicago. There for two years he was engaged in improving land belonging to Governor Joel A. Matteson, which is now a part of the tract occupied by the Union Stock Yard. In May, 1857, Mr. McChane and his family came to Black Hawk County, where he lived until his death.

He first settled on a farm in Spring Creek township, where he lived about 15 years, and then bought a farm across the township line, in Poyner township, where he lived about 15 years. Later, he bought the farm near the bridge across the Cedar River, which is known both as the Gunther and the McChane farm. There he lived between four and five years, and then this farm for town property in La Porte City, where he continued to make his home thereafter. The farm in Poyner township, at one time during the period of his occupancy, consisted of 700 acres; part of this he sold and the remainder was give to his children. At one time, he owned, besides this farm in Poyner township, about 1,500 acres situated in other parts of Black Hawk County, and was ranked as one of the largest land owners in the county.

At the time of his death, he owned 150 acres in Poyner township. Mr. McChane had a high reputation for upright and honest dealings. As shown by the statement of his real estate holdings given above, a hard working man, and a good manager in his younger days, he accumulated considerable property. On account of the hard work done by him earlier in life, he aged rapidly during the 14 years that he lived in retirement.

Mr. McChane was a Democrat, and held a number of township offices. Mrs. McChane died March 10, 1891, after which time his daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Muir, and her daughter, Maggie, made their home with Mr. McChane, and kept house for him. Eight children were born to Mr. McCane and his wife, namely: John, Jr., who is engaged in farming in Spring Creek township; Mary Ann (Muir); Henry H., who is engaged in the real estate business in Waterloo; James, a farmer of Poyner township; Margaret, who is the wife of Elmer G. Corwin, of Seattle, Washington; Edward, a farmer, of Kossuth County, Iowa; William, a farmer, of Black Hawk County, residing near La Porte City; and Joseph, who is a resident of Waterloo. Besides the eight children named, Mr. McChane was survived by 17 grandchildren, who lived with their parents at the places above named.

[ History of Black Hawk County and It's People,
1915 ]