Willis W. McLain (ca. 1847-1880)

MCLAIN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/27/2010 at 11:41:15

The Nevada Representative, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, April 7, 1880.

Died.

In Burlington, this state, on Wednesday, March 31st, 1880, of pulmanory consumption, Willis W. McLain aged 32 years and 6 months.

Willis W. McLain was a son of John H. McLain, who came from Illinois and settled in this county in 1854, and resided in the county for fully 20 years. With the early history of both this county and this town, the name of McLain occupies a prominent place. Willis W. and H. P. McLain, brothers, the latter now in Ames, will always be remembered as occupying a leading position, socially, among the young people of the young town of Nevada, and in their mature years, they note with much sadness the early demise of their former associate. At the time of his death, Mr. McLain was the Traveling Auditor for the American Express Company, over the C. B. & Q. and its branches west of Burlington, with headquarters at that city. In different capacities he had been connected with the Express company for about ten years, working himself up upon his merits from route agent to the position of Traveling Auditor. As an evidence of his worth and popularity with the Company and its employes, he was presented with a fine hunting case gold watch in November last. Besides his fathers family and friends, he leaves a wife but no children to mourn his loss. He died with a life insurance policy of $2,500 in force which goes to the benefit of his widow. His remains were brought to the Nevada Cemetery on Friday last for interment, the widow being accompanied by Mrs. Morehouse and Mrs. Foot, of Burlington. The bearers were W. J. Hancock Superintendent of the Iowa Division of the American Express Company, W. A. Naylor, Agent at Burlington, J. A. Gillett, Agent at Cedar Rapids, Chas. Sloan and John I. Russell rout agents with headquarters at Cedar Rapids and S. M. Child, of Dunlap.