McLEAN, John Wills - 1912 Bio (1834-1924)

MCLEAN, LONG, WORTHINGTON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/23/2007 at 14:18:05

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 293-295

John Wills McLEAN was for many years closely associated with farming interests in this county but since 1883 has lived retired, save for his service in connection with public office. He has now passed the age of seventy-seven years and his record is that of a useful life well spent. He was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, February 6, 1834, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (LONG) McLEAN, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia. The mother came to Ohio with her parents in her girlhood days and Mr. McLEAN became a resident of that state in young manhood, or about 1812. They were married there and continued residents of Ohio until 1837, when they made their way westward and settled on the Black Hawk purchase before the territory of Iowa was organized. It was on the 1st of March, 1838, that they crossed the Mississippi and for five years remained residents of Lee county, coming thence to Jefferson county in 1843. Here they located on a farm three-quarters of a mile west of the Rock Island depot and lived there until death called them. The father entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. There was a small frame house upon the land and about sixty acres broke and fenced when it came into his possession but with unfaltering energy and firm purpose he began to break the sod and till the fields which in course of time brought forth abundant harvests. He died November 4, 1864, at the age of seventy-five years, one month and eleven days, and his wife's death occurred April 21, 1871, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years, one month and fourteen days. They were parents of three sons: William L., now deceased; John Wills; and Daniel Frazier, who was born in Lee county in June, 1838, and now resides on the old homestead farm in this county.

John W. McLEAN was only four years old when the family came to Iowa and from the age of nine years has lived in Jefferson county. With the family he shared in all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life, aiding in the arduous task of developing new land and converting the unbroken prairie in cultivable fields. His youth was indeed a period of earnest and unremitting toil. He continued with his parents until they were called to their final rest, after which he and his brother divided the place, John W. McLEAN remaining upon his half of the farm until 1883, when with a comfortable competence gained through his labors he removed to Fairfield where he now lives retired. He has since sold his farm.

The only interruption that came to Mr. McLEAN's labor as an agriculturist was in May, 1864, when he enlisted for service as a member of Company I, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days, being mustered out in the following October. It was after his return from war -- in 1867 -- that he wedded Miss Mary Adelaide WORTHINGTON, who was born in Iowa City in June, 1845, and died November 7, 1880. She was a daughter of the Rev. David WORTHINGTON, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman and a pioneer of the state of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. McLEAN became the parents of two children: Elizabeth, who was born September 24, 1868, and resides with her father; and Thomas E., who was born July 28, 1873, and is a jeweler in Fairfield.

Mr. McLEAN gives his political allegiance to the republican party which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont and several times filled local office, serving as assessor of Center township for thirteen years and for a number of years as overseer of the poor, which position he is filling at this time. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Old Settlers Association of Jefferson county of which he served as secretary for twenty years. His long continuance in that position is indisputable proof of the high regard entertained for him by his fellow townsmen who, appreciative of his worth, honored him with election. He has always been a man of genial disposition, kindly, courteous and approachable, and his social qualities have won for him the friendship of all who know him.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.