McLain, Samuel 1862-1939

MCLAIN, BITCON, GILBERT, DEFORD, BOYLE, SPRATT, COOP, SWANSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/15/2010 at 13:14:53

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) July 3, 1939

SAMUEL MCLAIN
CHARTER MEMBER OF
U.P. CHURCH, DIES

Samuel McLain was born November 22, 1862, in Newtonard, County Down, Ireland, and died at his home in Grinnell, June 26, 1939.

January 14, 1884, he was married to Mary Bitcon, who has been his faithful companion for fifty-five years. Two years after their marriage they came to Poweshiek county. For the first years they lived on a farm and then coming to Grinnell he worked as a mason. In Grinnell they raised and educated the family. The surviving members are: Mrs. Minnie Gilbert of Grinnell; Messrs. Harvey and Harold McLain of Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. Jesse McLain of Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Isabelle Deford of Bay City and Mrs. Dorothy Boyle, of Dearborn, Mich.

Four of his brothers and three sisters are living. They are: Robert and John of Lansford, N.D.; Alex of Irvington, Iowa; William McLain of Grinnell. The sisters are: Mrs. Elizabeth Spratt, Mrs. Anna Coop of Grinnell and Mrs. Agnes Swanson of Monmouth, Ill. There are a large number of grandchildren.

Samuel McLain was a charter member of the United Presbyterian church. He was a trustee for a number of years. He had a large part to do with the erection of the building which stands as evidence in part of his faithfulness as an overseer. He prided himself on doing his work well.

The funeral services were held in the United Presbyterian church Thursday afternoon with the pastor, Rev. Walter J. Stewart in charge. The ushers were Norman Hockett and E.W. Gregson. A quartette composed of Messrs. Wendell Lewis and William Hixon, Mrs. M.O. Stanley and Miss Louise Cox, with Mrs. Eugene Holly at the piano sang, "The Father's Love" and "In The Garden."

The pallbearers were: T.H. McIlrath, William Hamilton, H.S. Conard, Alex Manson, William Morrison and M.G. Hart. Interment was in the family lot at Westfield cemetery.