Joseph Rankin McLain, p. 210

JOSEPH RANKIN McLAIN, a citizen of Claysville, was born January 8, 1828, in Cross Creek township, Washington Co., Penn., a son of William and Margaret (McClelland) McLain.

The family are of Scotch-Irish descent, the great-grandfather, William, having come to this country from the North of Ireland at a very early day, settling in Adams county, Penn. Two of his sons, who were civil engineers, assisted in locating the dividing line between Maryland and Pennsylvania, and his son, John, grandfather of Joseph R., was born about the year 1740, in Adams county, Penn., where he was reared to manhood and educated. When he had reached maturity he set out for the then "Far West," arriving finally about the year 1770, in Washington county. Here he married Hannah Marshall, of that county, after which they at once made their home on a farm near Canonsburg, where they remained some few years. The children born to this pioneer couple were: Joseph (who was in the service of the Government for the suppression of the Whiskey Insurrection, and died in the service), Mary (Mrs. John Rankin), William, Hannah (Mrs. John Hayes), and John. The father of this family died when He was yet a comparatively young man. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church.

William McLain, their second son, was born in Chartiers township, this county, June 23, 1779, and was reared to manhood in that township. He was a great lover of books, and, although he had no school facilities (the death of his father imposing on him hard work on the farm from early boyhood, yet, by close application to study, he overcame what appeared to many insurmountable difficulties. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching, continuing in same for thirty years, and proving himself at once an apt scholar and skillful teacher. besides leaving an impress on his scholars not readily forgotten. On March 4, 1806, he was married to Agnes Fink, who bore him two children: John, born December 21, 1806, and Samuel A. (who became a minister of the Gospel), born July 23, 1808. John lived with his father until 1846, when he bought a farm in East Finley township, and resided there until his death, March 13, 1890; He was it zealous worker in the Church, and gave liberally toward its support. The mother of this little family lying August 21, 1808, Mr McLain married, November 7, 1811, Margaret, daughter of Thomas McCIellan, of this county, and to this union the following children were born: Agnes (now the deceased wife of James Sawhill, also deceased), born August 8, 1812; Hannah (now deceased wife of Ira Blanchard, also deceased), born January 14, 1814; Mary, born November 1, 1816; Martha (decease wife of Rev. Alexander McCarroll, D. D., also deceased), born September 21, 1818; Thomas (deceased in childhood); Margaret (Mrs. Robert McKahan), born February 15, 1822; William (died in childhood); Eliza J. (deceased wife of James Wright, also deceased), born February 11, 1826, died July 10, 1857; Joseph R. (subject of this sketch), and Sarah (widow of Hon. A. K. Craig, deceased), born December 7, 1830. Mr. McLain remained in Chartiers township until 1817, when he removed to Cross Creek township, then in 1830 purchased a farm in Buffalo township, on which he made his home until 1866, In which year he removed to Claysville, where he died March 2, 1872, at the patriarchal age of ninety-three years; on April 1, 1875, l, wife followed him to the grave. In politics Mr. McLain was a Democrat until 1828, when he became a Whig, remaining so until 1850, and then voted the Free soil ticket until 1860, after which he was a staunch Republican until the day of his death. For many year he was a justice of the peace. He and his family were adherents of the presbyterian Church, of the Session of which he was a member for forty years.

Joseph R. McLain received a liberal education at the schools of his locality, and was reared to the practical life of a farmer. On November 27, 1849, he was married to Susanna, daughter of James Ralston, and to this union the following named children were born: Luretta Mary (deceased wife of John M. Gamble), W. J. E., Maggie (wife of Dr. J. N. Sprowls), John A., Joseph M. (now deceased), David C., Susan, Rebecca, and George W. Mr. McLain resided in Buffalo township from 1830 until 1856; then moved to Claysville, but two years thereafter purchased the home farm in Buffalo township, to which he removed, remaining there until 1866, when he bought a farm in Donegal township, and there he had his home until 1872, in which year he came to Glaysville, where he is yet residing. After this he was engaged in the general mercantile and wool business until his retirement in 1888. When about the age of seventeen years, he commenced teaching school, in which he continued eighteen consecutive winter terms.

Mr. McLain, in politics, was first a Whig, and since the formation of the party has been an active Republican. He had been elected to and served in various important offices. In 1867 he was elected a jury commissioner of the county, holding the position one term in 1870 he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature serv mg in the sessions of 1877 8 In 1878 he was again a candidate, but was defeated by Finley Patterson, b fourteen votes In 1886 he was elected to the State Senate, serving four years. He was a school director for Buffalo and Donegal townships and the borough of Claysville. Mr. McLain and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and since 1883 he has been a member of the Session of the Claysville Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 210 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed March 1997 by George and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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