The 1890 Story County history sketches two McLain households whose fathers were both born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, but it never says they were related. Frank A. McLain, born there in 1837, was on his own at ten, came to Story County in May 1851, broke prairie with J. R. Lockwood in 1852, and by 1890 owned 1,385 acres in one body near Nevada. John H. McLain, born in Bedford County in 1821, brought his family to Nevada on August 7, 1854, and built the town's second house, a log building that became McLain's tavern; he later kept the William House at Marshalltown and sold hardware at Ames before moving to Colorado and then Montana. His son Howard P. McLain rode the stage coaches from Marshalltown to Des Moines as an express messenger and from 1887 ran a hardware business at Ames. Every fact below is cited to the 1890 Story County history.
Earliest in the record
John H. McLain and Elizabeth C. (Ingham) McLainborn 1821Most recent in our records
Howard P. Mclainborn 1845Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Parents, of Pennsylvania and Ohio
Farmer and stock-raiser
Frank A. McLain, farmer and stock-raiser, Nevada, Iowa. Mr. McLain, one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of Story County, and one of the pioneers of the same, was born in Bedford County, Penn., on the 7th of January, 1837, being the youngest of three children born to his father's first marriage. In early boyhood he moved with his father to Ohio, received a rather limited education in the schools of that State, and when but ten years of age was obliged to start out in life for himself. He worked for one year and received in pay seventy-five bushels of corn and a pair of shoes. He came to Story County, Iowa, in May, 1851, and the following year, in partnership with J. R. Lockwood, he bought four yoke of oxen and broke prairie at $3 per acre, after which, for some time, he was engaged in teaming to the river. In 1865 he settled where he now lives, although previous to this he had farmer near Nevada. He is now the owner of 1,385 acres of land all in a body, well improved, and four miles from town. He is one of the leading stock-raisers in Story County, and while an agriculturist of advanced ideas and tendencies, he does not lose sight of the stock interests, in which industry he has gained quite a local reputation. In June, 1861, his nuptials to Miss Mary A. Doyle, a native of Virginia, born on the 24th of December, 1842, were celebrated, and two children have blessed this union: Clark (born July 17, 1863) and Mildred Lee (bom October 18, 1867). Mrs. McLain's father, Daniel Doyle, was a native of Ireland. In politics Mr. McLaiu is a Democrat, and is one of the representative men of the county. His parents, Wilson and Sarah ( Laugh ard) McLain, were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father died in Ohio in 1847, at the age of forty-four years. The mother received her final summons in the Keystone State in 1838. The paternal grandfather was born in Maryland and died in Story County, Iowa, when about eighty years of age.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Kept the first tavern in Nevada
Hardware dealer, Ames
Howard P. McLain, a dealer in hardware at Ames, Iowa, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, July 9, 1845, being a son of John H. and Elizabeth C. (Ingham) McLain, the former of whom was born in Bedford County, Penn., in 1821. He left his native State when he was about twenty years of age, and went to Hardin County, Ohio, where he remained until 1849, at which time he removed to Illinois, where he made his home until the spring of 1854. He then came to Nevada, Story County, Iowa, being the head of the second family settling in the town. He built the first tavern in the place, known far and near as McLain's tavern. Mrs. McLain was a native of Ohio, was a good cook and housekeeper, and those who lived at, or frequented their tavern, were always sure of a clean, comfortable bed and a square meal. If the old logs of the attic could repeat the wit of Finch, the humor of Crocker and the broader jesus of McFarland, Hull and "Old Timber," which were wont to house the echoes in that primitive bed-chamber, it would be better entertainment than any circus. The McLains made their home in Nevada until 1865, then moved to Marshalltown, and for three years Mr. McLain was the proprietor of the William House at that place. He then returned to Story County, and settled at Ames, where he was engaged in the hardware business until 1871. The following year he removed to Colorado, but at the end of twelve years removed to Montana, his home being now at Glendale. He was married in 1844, in Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Ingham, who died at Ames, Iowa, in 1871. Their son, Howard P. McLain, came with his parents to Story County, in 1854, and here he has since made his home. He was a student in the school of Nevada until he was eighteen years of age, then entered the employ of the American Express Company, and for two years was on the stage coaches running from Marshalltown to Des Moines as express messenger, after which he was transferred to the North- Western Railroad, from Boone to Omaha, a position he held for ten years. The following eight years he was agent for the company at Ames, and since 1887 he has been in the hardware business at that place, and has built up an excellent business. He was married, in 1 873, to Miss Julia F. Tilden, who was born in the State of New York. To them have been born a family of two children: Albert C. and Willis H. In his political views Mr. McLain is a Republican, and socially belongs to the I. 0. O. F.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Mother of John M. Wells
Wife of Norman Confare
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