age of nineteen he began teaching, having charge of the first school that was opened east of the Des Moines river in Polk county. After a short experience as a schoolmaster he embarked in the mercantile business at Lafayette, Polk county, in partnership with A. Y. Hull, continuing for three years, when he became the pioneer merchant of Rising Sun, in the same county. From the beginning he had shown a decided ability in business affairs and in 1855 he entered the real-estate business at Des Moines, coming to Nevada three years later, where he dealt quite extensively in land for many years, becoming the owner of about three thousand acres in Story county. He was a man of quick discernment and wide observation and as time passed he became remarkably proficient in knowledge concerning current events, especially those of public and political interest. In 1861 he was chosen to represent Story county in the state legislature and served in the regular and special sessions of that year and also in 1862, this being a period of unusual importance on account of the Civil war.
In October, 1862, Mr. McCall proffered his services to the government and was sent to the front as quartermaster of the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry with the commission of lieutenant and continued with his regiment in the field. He was appointed by President Lincoln assistant quarter-master of volunteers with the rank of captain, March 22, 1864, and served in that capacity until November 27, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. He performed the arduous duties devolving upon him during these trying years of the war with absolute fidelity and his army record was a source of just pride to himself and is a splendid heritage for posterity. After resuming peaceful pursuits he was, in 1881, again sent to the legislature from Story county, being reelected in 1883, and was state senator, representing Boone and Story counties in 1892 at the time of his death. He was one of the most active and efficient representatives that this county has ever sent to the general assembly and by his efforts and personal influence accomplished much work that has been of special benefit to the county and state.
Captain McCall was three times married. By his first marriage he had one son, John A., who is now practicing law at Des Moines. His second wife was Mary A. Boynton and by this union three children were born : Minnie Ellen, now Mrs: A. C. Cronenwett, of Monrovia, California; Fred C., a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work; and Edward M., a practicing attorney of Nevada. The third wife of Captain McCall bore the maiden name of Clara Kennedy. She is now living in Nevada but the son born of this union died at the age of five years.
Captain McCall passed away August 11, 1892, being then sixty-five years of age and an acknowledged leader in the business and financial circles of Story county. He early realizes the value of industry and perseverance and his life was a remarkable exemplification of those principles carried to a legitimate conclusion. He was generous in his judgment and friendly toward every cause calculated to advance the public interest and in