McLEAN, John Wills 1834 - 1924

MCLEAN, LONG, WORTHINGTON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 2/11/2016 at 16:20:42

"The Fairfield Weekly Ledger-Journal"
Thursday, January 17, 1924
Page 1, Column 4

JOHN W. M'LEAN DIED AT 2 TODAY

Was A Pioneer Of Iowa Coming Here Before Territory Was Organized

From Monday's Ledger.

John W. McLEAN, pioneer citizen of Iowa, an old soldier and a highly respected member of the community, died at his home, 806 East Burlington street this afternoon at two oclock, following a week's illness.

Funeral services will be held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 2 30 o'clock and interment will be in Evergreen cemetery (sic - Old Fairfield City Cemetery).

Mr. McLEAN was 89 years, 11 months and 8 days of age. He leaves two children, T. E. and Elizabeth McLEAN.

John Wills McLEAN was born in Chillicothe, Mo., February 6, 1834, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth LONG McLEAN, both natives of Nova Scotia. The mother came to Ohio in her girlhood days and the father became a resident of Ohio about 1812.

They were married there and continued to reside in that state until 1837 when they joined the advance guard of pioneers and settled in the Blackhawk purchase before the territory of Iowa was settled. They crossed the Mississippi, March 1, 1838, and for five years were residents of Lee county, coming to Jefferson county in 1843. They located on a farm three-quarters of a mile west of where the Rock Island station now stands and lived there the remainder of their lives.

John W. McLEAN, a lad of four years when the parents came to Iowa, always retained a vivid memory of the pioneer days. He shared all the hardships and had a part in all the experiences of the arduous task of settling up and developing a new country. He has not only seen, but had been a factor in the trying period that set the standards and established the traditions of the new country.

He remained on the paternal farm until his parents died, the father Nov. 4, 1864 and the mother April 21, 1871, and then, after he and his brother, D. F., had divided the place, continued to live there. In 1883, having acquired a [illegible word], the family moved to Fairfield.

He enlisted in the army in May, 1864, as a member of Co., I, 45th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out in October, following. In 1867, he married Miss Adelaide WORTHINGTON of Iowa City. She died Nov. 7, 1880.

Mr. McLEAN cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He held a number of local offices, serving as assessor of Center township for thirteen years, and being for twenty years secretary of the Old Settlers' Association. He was an Odd Fellow and a Methodist.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Old Fairfield City Cemetery, not the Evergreen Cemetery (adjacent but separate), in Lot 16, East half. Wife Mary Adelaide is also in the same lot.