William C. McCulloch (1862-1936)

MCCULLOCH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/3/2022 at 22:27:58

William C. McCulloch
(May 25, 1862 – August 2, 1936)

W. C. McCulloch was born in Canada, in county Dundas, May 25, 1862, his parents being William and Prudence (Johnson) McCulloch, who were of Scotch and Irish lineage. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1864 removed with his family to Rock County, Wisconsin. There he resided for about six years, and in October,
1870, came to Calhoun county, Iowa, settling at Twin Lakes, where the father purchased a homestead claim. In 1896 he took up his abode in the town of Pomeroy, where he is still living in his seventy-seventh year. His wife, however, passed away in 1899. Throughout His business career he carried on agricultural pursuits and his well directed efforts brought to him a comfortable
competence. In his family were six children, of whom three reside in this locality: W. C. of this review; Annie, now Mrs. Blake;
and Johnson, who is a clerk in a hardware store in Pomeroy. The educational advantages which our subject received were very limited, for at an early age he began to work on the farm and since that time has depended entirely upon his own resources for a living. In 1881 he began farming on his own account at Twin Lakes and also dealt in stock, meeting with a gratifying degree of success in both branches of his business. In 1888 he left the farm and entered the employ of the firm of Moody & Davy, taking charge of their large ranch in Pocahontas County. In the spring of 1893 he removed to Pomeroy and continued in the service of Moody & Davy, supervising their ranch in connection with his duties in this place. On the 1st of January, 1894, however, he embarked in business on his own account as a dealer in hardware and machinery, in connection with Oliver Tall, but in the fall of 1899 he sold his interest to O. A. Merrill. In 1900 he purchased one-half of Mr. Tail's interest, and the firm is now Tall, Merrill & Company. In April of the same year Mr. McCulloch purchased the business of Drommer & Myers, dealers in farm implements and machinery, but in October of the same year he sold that stock to the firm of Drommer & Dodge, and on the 1st of January, 1902, he disposed of his interest in the hardware store to Mr. Tall. He is now engaged in buying and selling stock and is an excellent judge of stock, so that his investments are carefully made and bring to him a good return. While connected with the firm of Moody & Davy he became interested in buying and selling land and has since dealt in real estate to some extent. In connection with his other interests he is now the vice-president and one of the directors of the First National Bank.
On the nth of July, 1884, Mr. McCulloch was united in marriage to Miss Lura E. Freeman, who was born March 27, 1865, and is a daughter of Marcus Freeman, a farmer of Calhoun County. Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch now have one son, Roy, who was born September 26, 1885, and is a student in the Pomeroy schools. In his political views Mr. McCulloch is a stalwart Republican and has served for six years as a member of the city council, while for three years he was a member of the school board of Pomeroy. Fraternally he is connected with Solar Lodge, No. 475, A. F. & A. M., and he and his family are Methodists in religious faith. He had erected a new residence and had his household goods stored in his barn ready to move into the new home when the memorable cyclone of July 6, 1893, swept over the town and carried away with it his barn, his home and all his possessions. He had three cousins who were killed in the storm. Mr. McCulloch was the second person to build after the cyclone had swept over, his characteristic energy in this regard being an index to his entire life. In his business affairs he has been determined, purposeful and energetic, brooking no obstacle that could be overcome by honorable effort and resolution. Thus he has advanced steadily from an humble financial position to one of affluence. He owes his success entirely to his own efforts and from early boyhood he had been dependent Upon his own resources for all that he has acquired and enjoyed. His example in this regard is certainly worthy of emulation and should serve as a source of encouragement to others who, at the outset of their careers, are forced to face the world without the aid of wealth or influential friends. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.437]