McClelland, Robert B.

MCCLELLAND

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 13:38:30

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.561

ROBERT B. MCCLELLAND
Robert B. McClelland, whose well formulated plans are leading him to the goal of success, is numbered among the enterprising and successful merchants of Milo. In his veins are the mingled streams of Scotch, Irish and German blood. His grandfather, Jack McClelland, was long a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and Robert B. McClelland was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1849. His parents, James and Phoebe (Bottomfield) McClelland, were both natives of Pennsylvania and at an early day went to Ohio, settling in Iowa in the spring of 1853. The father was born in 1821 and died in 1881, while the mother passed away at the age of eighty-two. Their family numbered eight children, of whom Robert B., was the third in order of birth. The others are: John W., who resided in Lebanon, Kansas, but is now in Breckenridge, Colorado; Clarinda, the wife of William R. Williams, now living in Breckenridge, Colorado; Sarah E., the wife of James M. Barnes, who resides at Hot Springs, South Dakota; Emma J., the wife of Joseph L. Stites, living in Holdridge, Nebraska; James L., who died at Greeley, Colorado; Barbara, the wife of Charles Wood, also living in Greeley, and Mary E., who married John M. Allen and resides at Lebanon, Kansas.
Robert B. McClelland attended the common schools and remained at home until 1872, after which he spent some time in Kansas, where he secured a government land claim. In the fall of 1876 he secured a clerkship in a general store at Hammondsburg, Iowa, owned by John A. Overday, and continued in his employ there and at Milo until February, 1888, as a most trusted employe. He gained, too, broad business experience which well qualified him to engage in merchandizing on his own account, which he did in 1888 as senior partner of the firm of McClelland De Vore. About six months later Mr. De Vore sold out to Frank P. Runyan and after a few months Mr. Runyan disposed of his interest to Silas Westerfield. The firm of McClelland Westerfield then continued business until 1900, when Mr. Westerfield was succeeded by L. B. Bloom. Two months later Mr. McClelland became sole proprietor, purchasing the interest of his partner and not long after the firm name was changed to McClelland Sons and so continued to the first of August, 1908, when he sold to A. S. White, of Grinnell, Iowa, who has continued the business. This store has been longer established than any other mercantile enterprise and their stock is also the largest.
Mr. McClelland was married April 21, 1878, to Miss Martha J. Coulter, a daughter of James N. and Louisa (Gill) Coulter, who were natives of Ohio but came to Iowa at an early epoch in the development of this state and here lived until called to their final rest. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McClelland are: Edward C., who married Molly Pebler and was in business with his father; James, who was also a partner in the firm of McClelland Sons; Ada M., the wife of Earnest Trueblood, a resident of Milo; Grace, Carl, Robert B., Jr., and Paul Roger, all at home; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. McClelland is a member of Milo Lodge, No. 409, A. F. A. M.; Milo Lodge, No. 413, I. O. O. F.; Milo Lodge, No. 160, K. P.; Milo Camp, No. 617, M. W. A., and the Yeoman Lodge, No. 476, of Milo. He has been a representative of the craft for a quarter of a century and at one time he was treasurer of all these different fraternal organizations. He has likewise served as treasurer of the school district and has been a member of the city council. No trust reposed in him is ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his devotion to the public interests of the community is proverbial. He gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is a most loyal and helpful member of the Presbyterian church. His entire career has been marked by steady progress. He has always made good use of his opportunities and thus has advanced from year to year, while at the same time he has maintained an unassailable reputation for the integrity of his business methods.