SQUIRE HENRY B. McLEAN, a well-known, popular and successful citizen of this County, was born in Fayette county, Penn., May 19, 1822. The McLean family came to Fayette county in an early day, where the grand parents died many years ago. Alexander, a brother of John McLean, the grandfather. served his county and party as register and recorder for many years. The grandparents had a family of seven children, all of whom are now deceased. John McLean, father of subject, was born in 1771. He Was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving as captain of a company from Fayette county. He was a surveyor and farmer by profession, and in early life was united in marriage with Mary daughter of John Jackson, of Washington county, Penn. The family finally settled on a farm in Fayette county, where Mr. McLean died in 1831, at the age of sixty years. His widow afterward became the wife of John Gattenby, of Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn. She died in 1872, having borne to her first husband a family of eleven children: James, Samuel, John, William, Robert, Henry B., Clarissa, Helen, Sarah, Mary Ann and Margaret, of whom John, Mary Ann and Henry O. survive. A few moved West, and they were widely scattered, our subject being the only one who settled in Washington county. Henry B. McLean attended the log-cabin school of the day, the walls of which were decorated with pegs, whereon were placed whips of all sizes, tending to strike terror into the juvenile bears. Sometimes a stick, happening to be more convenient to the hand of the irate pedagogue, was thrown at the head of the offending urchin. He resided on the farm until eighteen years of age, when he began life for himself in Washington county, first learning the carpenter's trade of James Rogers (deceased) and a brother-in-law. After serving a three years' apprenticeship, he followed his trade ten years, beginning work at 4 o'clock in the morning and closing at 8 in the evening, receiving in payment the munificent salary of $1 per day. On May 19, 1847, Mr. McLean married Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel Rogers, who came from Maryland in 1820, and died on Squire NcLean's farm a few years ago, at the age of sixty eight years, the mother having passed away some years before. In 1852 our subject bought the farm he now owns, upon which an old log house was then standing. By hard work he continued to improve this home until a comfortable income was secured, and in 1867 erected a dwelling-house. While working on this building, he fell from a high scaffolding, striking his head on a stone, and crushing his ribs. He was senseless for over a week, and has never fully recovered from the terrible accident. Squire McLean has attained the prominent position he now occupies in Washington county by years of untiring industry, and deserves the most sincere and hearty commendation. His marriage has been blessed by One daughter, Sarah Ellen (Mrs. J. Y. Scott, of Washington, Penn.). In politics be was a Democrat until 1856, when he became a Republican. He has served in all the township offices, also filling the position of county commissioner for one term, and has acted as justice of the peace for fifteen years, being especially fitted for the latter office, for he has always been a peacemaker. Mr. and Mrs. McLean are members of the M. E. Church. She has a brother, John A., living in Baltimore, Maryland.

Text taken from page 224 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by John R. Mort of Salt Pointe, NY 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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