Francis A. "Frank" McLain (1837-1924)

MCLAIN, LOCKARD, DOYLE, BRICKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/25/2013 at 18:04:03

From Nevada Journal December 1924

FRANK M'LAIN WAS REAL PIONEER OF STORY COUNTY

CAME HERE AS BOY IN 1854 AND LIVED HERE NEARLY CONTINUOUSLY

Frank A. McLain, whose death occured at the home of his son, Clark McLain, at Pasadena, Calif., at the age of nearly 88 years, was a real pioneer of Story county, having lived here continuously for over 70 years, with the exception of the past couple of years, during which time he had been with the family of his son in the coast city.

Mr. McLain was not only a pioneer of the county and state, but he was one of the outstanding citizens of the community. Not because of public or political preferment, but for his accomplishments in the community. Through his industry, integrity and frugality he had aided much in building up the community to what it is today, and at the same time accumulated a large heritage for his family.

The body arrived here Sunday morning over the Rock Island from the California city where he had died, accompanied by his son and wife, in whose home he had found comfort and care during his last days.

Funeral services were held from Central Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon, where a wide circle of old-time neighbors and friends gathered to pay their final tribute of respect to the memory of their old friend. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. Geo. Walz and the casket containing the body was bourne to its final resting place by J. G. Dutton, J. A. Mills, C. M. Minkler and John W. Cook, Jr. of Nevada, Henry Garlock of Maxwell and U. S. Griffith of Ames all oldtime friends.

The following biography of Mr. McLain was read by Rev. Walz during the service:

Frank A. McLain, the third child of Wilson and Sarah E. Lockard-McLain, was born in Bedford county, Penn., January 7, 1837. When he was two years old his mother died and shortly after Wilson McLain with his three small children, Russell, Catherine and the baby Frank, moved to a location in the State of Ohio near Upper Sandusky. Wilson McLain was a farmer and there he tried to carve a farm from the primeval forest that then covered the greater part of Ohio. In a few years he succombed to a malady that in those days carried off man of the pioneers of that region.

Framk, the eleven year old, went to live with his paternal grandfather, but not for long. At the age of fifteen young Frank was in the state of Illinois, near the city of Rochelle and making his own way in the world. In April of 1864, when he was in his seventeenth year he made his way to the pioneer location of Nevada in Story county.

There was but one house at that time to what was to become the future county seat of Story county. Young Frank's first job at Nevada was to go into the timber and fell trees, cut them into rail lengths, and then split the logs into fence rails to be used in fencing pioneer farms. For making these rails he received one cent each, of ten dollars per thousand. By hard work and strict economy in about two years he had saved up enough money to buy a yoke of cattle and a wagon. With this outfit he at spare times hauled wheat from the vicinity of Nevada to Iowa City, then the western terminus of a railroad, and on the return trip hauled goods back to Nevada. The round trip covered 200 miles and the pay was five dollars each way and the road was a mere trail, crossing unbridged streams and winding its way across the grass prairies and through the woodlands bordering streams. At nights he slept under his wagon and out of his pay he had to buy the food he ate.

In June 1861 he was united in marriage with Mary A. Doyle. In the following year the young couple moved onto a farm southeast of Nevada. Two children were born to them, Clark, now living in Pasadena and Mildred Lee so was the wife of Joseph M. Bricker died in Nevada in 1912.

From the date of their marriage for the next thirty years, Mr. and Mrs. McLain were actively engaged with the other pioneers of Iowa in transforming the prairies of Iowa, with their ponds and sloughs, into the world's finest and most productive farms. Success attended their labors and in the early 1900s they moved from the old home farm to Nevada, where they had their home until in May of 1921, when Mrs. McLain died in Pasadena. Since that time he has made his home in Pasadena with the family of his son, Clark. While he had lived in Pasadena h still considered Nevada as his residence and his dearest interests all centered there.

It was his wish that he be buried by the side of his wife in the Nevada cemetery where now lie so many of his relatives and the friends of his earlier days.

Frank A. McLain lived an active, clean and honest life. His preparation for his life work was gained in the University of "Hard Knocks" and he took the full course and emerged from his Alma Mater with a degree of self reliance that served him well during the long and busy life.

Besides his son Clark, he leaves five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.