John Laurence McClelland

JOHNSON, LAURENCE, MARKLEY, MCCLELLAND

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 21:52:20

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

John Laurence McClelland, a retired agriculturist and an honored veteran of the Civil war, is a well known and highly respected citizen of East Peru. His birth occurred on a farm in Coles county, Illinois, on the 15th of November, 1842, his parents being William and Sarah (Laurence) McClelland, who were born, reared and married in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and were people of Scotch-Irish descent. Leaving the Keystone state, they took up their abode near Columbus, Ohio, but at the end of two years removed to Coles county, Illinois, where the father entered land and engaged in farming. Mrs. McClelland there passed away in 1850 and six years later the father removed with his children to Des Moines county, Iowa, there residing until March, 1867. He then came to Madison county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Scott township on which he made his home until called to his final rest in 1887.

John Laurence McClelland attended a subscription school in the acquirement of an education and was reared to manhood on the home farm, assisting his father in its operation until he personally took charge of the property. In December, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company D, First Iowa Cavalry, under Colonel Dan Anderson. The command went to Little Rock, Arkansas, and took part in the Camden expedition under General Steele. They saw much hard fighting en route to Camden, and on reaching that place were driven back. Mr. McClelland was engaged in scout work until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Memphis, Tennessee, and mustered out of service.

He then returned home and resumed farming and after his father's demise took complete charge of the old homestead place in Scott township, Madison county, residing thereon until 1889. In that year he disposed of the property and took up his abode in East Peru, where he embarked in the livery business and was thus successfully engaged until 1902, when he sold out and the following year removed to Excelsior Springs for the benefit of his wife's health. In 1906 they returned to East Peru, where Mr. McClelland is now living retired, spending his declining years in well earned ease.

On the 11th of November, 1875, in Monroe township, this county, Mr. McClelland was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Bennett Johnson, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Markley) Johnson. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and a gentleman of Scotch-Irish descent. He followed the profession of teaching in early manhood but subsequently turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. His wife was born on the present site of Cincinnati and was a woman of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. Their marriage was celebrated in Cincinnati and in the fall of 1858 they came to Madison County, Iowa, locating twelve miles southeast of Winterset, in Monroe township, where Mr. Johnson purchased land and engaged in farming. In 1881 they removed to Adair county, Iowa, where Mrs. Johnson died in 1899, at the age of seventy-five, while Mr. Johnson survived until 1904, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-two years.

In his political views Mr. McClelland is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. His religious faith is that of the United Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. He has now passed the seveny-second milestone on life’s journey and enjoys the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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