McClelland, Percival W. 1846-1912

MCCLELLAND, WESCOTT, WINKLEY, FAIR, HARROUN, ORR, STYLES

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/7/2019 at 16:06:20

Percival W. McClelland was born in Licking County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1846, and died at his home in Monona at 11 o'clock p.m. Aug. 7, 1912, aged 65 years, 9 months and 24 days.

The subject of this sketch came from a noted family; his father, Rev. E.J. McClelland, was a native of Niagra Co., N.Y., and a faithful and devoted minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; his mother, who is still living, was Miranda Wescott, a native of Erie Co., N.Y., where her ancestors, who ere of English descent, located at an early day.

Percival was the eldest in his parents family of three children. His boyhood days were passed in the Buckeye state, where he received his first schooling. At the age of twelve years, in 1858, he came to Iowa.

He was a student in the Iowa State University, from which he graduated in 1873 with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Didactics. In 1874 he came to Monona, where he served two years as Principal of the Public School, followed by a year's service as principle of the Elkader Pubic School. In 1876 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, serving two terms.

In 1882 he embarked in the lumber business at Monona, which he five years later sold to Gus Gregg, when he purchased the farm southwest of town, on which he resided for many years. On his coming into the city to reside, he sold this acreage to H.A. Hupfer and later erected the fine home on Main St. South.

In 1891 McClelland engaged in the clothing and furnishing business, which he continued until two years ago, when he transferred a half interest to his son-in-law, Creighton J. Orr, the firm becoming McClelland & Orr.

In 1880 P.W. McClelland and Anna M. Winkley were united in matrimony. A daughter, Anne E. (now Mrs. Geo. L. Harroun), was born to them. Mrs. McClelland died in 1882.

In 1884 Mr. McClelland was united in marriage to Anna M. Fair, who died in 1890. Two children were born to this union; Ray, the elder, died at the age of eight years, and the younger, Miss Jean (now Mrs. O.J. Orr), and Mrs. Harroun, with the aged mother, Mrs. Styles, survive the passing of the son and father over the great divide.

In September, 1862, Mr. McClelland enlisted in Company L, First Wisconsin Cavalry, as private, and was promoted to Sergeant, serving in the Eastern and Western armies, engaged in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and at the seige of Atlanta, and was with Col. Wilson in his great cavalry raid in 1865, terminating in the capture of Jefferson Davis. He was honorably discharged in July 1865. His enlistment was at 16 years of age. [the remainder of the paragraph is mostly illegible .... best guess is that it says: He was .... faithful soldier .... --scum .... cap--- .... as engaged. He was a member of .... Post, and never failed to do his share for the comrads of the armies, his comradeship was never questioned.]

McClelland was thoroughly well educated and all through his life kept in touch with passing events; he was an apt student to the books and papers, and became a cyclopedia upon general affairs. Few men were better posted than he in history, science and literature.

He was a liberal giver to all public enterprises; a citizen who was heartily in sympathy with every move having a tendency for the improvement and betterment of the community in which he has so long resided. He took a deep interest in educational matters, was a member and President of the School Board a number of years and labored to advance the best interests of the district school. He insisted that there was nothing too good for Monona children, and that it was the duty of parents to give their children the best of opportunities and aid in every way for the promotion of the public school to an ideal of excellence and efficiency.

He was an enterprising business man, dealing on the square, accomodating and socially friendly to all. He loved home comforts and enjoyed life until overtaken by the ravanges of disease Though ailing for two years or more, he maintained his usual equilibrium, and bravely met the final summons to the great camp ground in the beyond.

The community shares in the grief that has come unto the aged mother and to the daughters and other near relatives. The attendance at the funeral held on Friday at 2 p.m., Rev. J.B. Bird officiating, was an evidence of the relations of this community with the passing of this man from the activities of an arduous business and social life among a people with whom he has dwelt for better than 35 years.

The profusion of flowers that bedecked his casket were the emblems of love and veneration, and the fragrancy that sprang from them lent a charm to the soul that had gone before.

~Monona Leader, August 15, 1912

Note: burial is in the Monona City cemetery, with his 2 wives & son Ray.