Benedict’s Adult Choir, Home Remedy singing group, Catholic Daughters of America and St. Marie’s Circle. Fred was 6 foot tall, 180 pounds, bald-headed and of Scotch-English descent. He loved to read, play cards, fish and garden. Virginia was 5 foot, 3 inches tall with auburn hair and hazel eyes and of English, Irish, Scotch, German and Bohemian descent. She loves to sing and garden.

McLain, William and Lovina (Bolger)

(Edna Stromseth)

Back: George and William.

Front: Theodore, Nettie and Clarence.

William McLain was born in the U.S. of Scottish ancestry. His ancestors occupied Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull off the coast of Scotland. The castle first appeared on record in 1390 although it appears that 1250 would be a more likely date for the first foundations on this site. After the disasters of 1715 and 1745, the castle was occupied by a garrison of English “Red Coats” and after their departure in 1751 the castle fell into ruin and was uninhabited until restored 160 years later in 1912 by Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Some of the walls are 12 feet thick. The castle is presently occupied by a grandson, Sir Charles Maclean and his wife. Their home is open to the public and a visitors’ book is kept for Maclean clansmen.

The spelling of Maclean underwent several changes as the years passed-from Maclean to MacLean, McLean and finally to McLain.

William McLean’s parents were John and Mary Adamson McLean. William was born in Wayne Co., NY 22 Mar 1837 and at age 10 moved with his family to Woodstock, IL. Besides William, John and Mary had 4 other children: John, Thomas-killed in the Civil War, George B. and Jeanette.

In the spring of 1857 William came to Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co. and worked for a wealthy Englishman Col. Taylor who built a log “mansion" and raised elk. The story has been told that William spent his first winter in Iowa living in a tent near a large spring which is about two miles from the location of the farm which he later purchased.

On 25 Dec 1860 he married Lovina Bolger. She was born in Blair Co., PA 2 Mar 1843 and came with her family to Grant Co., Wl in 1852. Three years later they moved to Canoe Twp.

William and Lovina were only becoming established in farming when President Lincoln appealed for volunteers for the Civil War Army. William responded and left his wife, 2 small boys and a partially completed house and joined the armed forces. He was a private in Company H, 13th Iowa Infantry wherein he served until the close of the war. He served under General Sherman and was with him on the famous march from ‘Atlanta to the Sea”. When he returned home following his discharge from the service he found that he was the father of a daughter.

William and Lovina continued to farm and acquired more land, paying for one tract of 40 acres with a single load of wheat which he hauled to the Mississippi River. They had 5 children: George, Clarence, Nettie, William and Theodore.

George, born 30 Jan 1862, married Caroline Seebach and homesteaded near Royal, NB. They had 5 children. The three sons became ranchers in Wy and raised their families there.

Clarence, born 28 Jun 1863, married Ida Olson and was a member of the police force in Decorah before moving to a homestead in Canada for a few years. They were parents of 7 children. After returning from Canada they lived in Decorah for several years and then moved to LaCrosse, Wl where they spent the rest of their lives.

Nettie, born 3 Dec 1864, spent all her life on the farm where she was born. She lived to age 93.

William C.. born 29 May 1870, married Cora Abbey and spent his life farming in Winneshiek Co. They had 6 children; Harry, Arthur, Clifford, Irene who now lives in FL, Earl and Marian who died at age one.

Theodore G.. born 24 Aug 1877, married May Headington 8 Oct 1907. They spent all their married life on the home farm and were parents to Walter, Roger, Fred and Edna (the writer of this sketch).

After the death of his father in 1950 Fred and his wife Virginia (Harms) worked the home farm and raised their 5 children. Fred died in 1982.

McManus, John (Family)

(Colette Dahms)

My great-great-grandfather John McManus was born in the late 1700’s in Ireland where he married Elizebeth Howe. John was of the Catholic faith and Elizebeth was Protestant. They emigrated to Canada prior to 1851 and located in Ottawa, Canada, Carleton Co., Marlborough Twp. (1851 Census). At this time John was 79 years old and Elizebeth 60 years. They had 7 children: John, Hugh, Anne, Elisa, and Margaret, all single, and Alice and Philip who were married. All were born in Ireland. This entire family had all immigrated together with their families.

Within this family was my great-grandfather Philip McManus. He had married Lucy McGuire in Ireland and had 6 children: Eliza, John, Martin, Mary, James and Hugh, all born in Ireland. Anne was born in 1850 and Philip in 1852 in Canada.