In one of the most exacting of all callings Dr. James
Wharton McLean, of Fayette, Iowa, has attained distinction, being recognized as
one of the most successful physicians in the county of Fayette. . . . . . . .He
is, in short, a worthy descendant of a distinguished and sterling ancestry which
the genealogist is able to trace back to the fourteenth century, the numerous
branches of this fine old family being traced back without a missing link to the
old Scottish clan, McLeans, who possessed, by charter, as early as 1390, a part
of the Island of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. This clan traced its
origin to one Gillean, who flourished about 1250 and is named as its first
chief. From that time until the breaking up of the clan, the McLeans were led
by a succession of brave and warlike chiefs, who often found it necessary to
defend their rights or revenge their wrongs at the point of the sword. Each
clan enjoyed, in large degree, sovereign rights until the disastrous battle of
Culloden, April 16, 1746, when the Highland army was defeated by the English.
One of the results of the English victory was the taking away of the veritable
jurisdiction of the proprietors and investing it in the crown, and the
abolishing of the Highland garb. These and other inimical acts destroyed the
distinct existence of the clans and caused many to seek homes in other lands.
The United States alone has some twenty thousand Scotch descendants by the name
of McLean, many having won prominence as statesmen, authors, lawyers, doctors,
soldiers and divines.
A man of unusual sterling characteristics and the
benefactor of his race was the father of Dr. James W. McLean,
of this review, the Rev. John McLean, who was born July 22, 1805. Having been
reared in an exceptionally religious home, he was early impressed with the idea
of expounding the teachings of the Nazarene, in whom he confessed faith as the
redeemer of mankind when sixteen years of age. When about twenty-three years of
age he began the work of the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church, being
received on trial at the conference held in Salem, Pennsylvania, in 1828. His
lack of early text-book learning seems to have greatly distressed him
temperamentally and he became a very arduous student, educating himself,
becoming in due course of time a well informed man, possessing a ful store of
knowledge. In 1830 he was ordained a deacon at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and two
years later at the conference held at Wellsburg, West Virginia, was made elder.
After fourteen years connection with the Pittsubrg conference, it was divided,
and he was transferred to that part composing the Erie conference, thus becoming
identified with Methodism on the Western Reserve. In 1876 these conferences
were made into three and Rev. Mr. McLean cast his lot with the Eastern Ohio
conference. After a period of nearly half a century, forty-seven years of
faithful and devoted service in the ministry, he took a superannuated relation
and located in Canfield, Ohio, where his death occurred February 15, 1887. . . .
. He married Laury PRYOR, a
woman of rare beauty of character and strength of mind, and this union proved a
most happy one; she was a woman of positive character, as one illustration will
suffice to indicate. During the pastorate of her husband at Wesleyville, a
saloon was opened in the village in spite of protest and defiance of law, so
Mrs. McLean, assisted by a score of other local women, proceeded to demolish the
saloon and its contents with axes and hatchets, and although the proprietor of
the place attempted to have the despoilers of his place of business prosecuted,
the grand jury refused to indict them.
Eight children were born to this
worthy couple, of whom Dr. James W., of this review, was the sixth in order of
birth. He is a native of Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, and the date of his
birth is recorded as November 13, 1843. He received a good education in the
common schools, after which he attended the academy at Waterford, Pennsylvania,
and the Western Reserve Seminary at West Farmington, Ohio. .. . . In 1863, he
emigrated to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and began teaching in the graded
schools of Montfort, Beetown and Peach Grove, also clerked about two years in a
store at the last named town. In the meantime he commenced the study of
medicine with Dr. J. B. CORY, surgeon of the Convalescent
Hospital at Prairie du Chien. In 1865 and 1866 he took a course of medical
lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in 1869 graduated from Rush Medical College
of Chicago. Thus well equipped for his chosen life work, he soon afterwards
located at Volga City, where he successfully practiced for a period of ten
years. In 1881, he removed to Fayette, this county, and formed a partnership
with Dr. C. C. PARKER, which continued until in October, 1903,
when Dr. McLean withdrew from the partnership. In 1876 he
took a special course at Long Island Hospital and in 1890 took a course at the
Polyclinical School in Chicago. In 1876, he represented the Fayette County
Medical Society at the centennial meeting of the American Medical Association,
and also at a meeting of the State Medical Society. In the county organization
he has held the postiitons of president, secretary, and treasurer. He is a
member of the Knights of Phythias fraternity, having held the highest office in
the local lodge, and he is a Knight Templar Mason. He has been master of the
blue lodge, and high priest in the chapter -- in fact, he has passed all the
chairs in the Masonic order. He has been representative to the grand lodge and
the grand chapter. Politically, he is a Republican, and for four years was
coroner. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist church, of which he is
chairman of the board of stewards. He was for years a member of the board of
trustees of the Upper Iowa University and of the town school board, having
voluntarily withdrawn from both. He is a member of the county medical board of
pension examiners and is local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railroad Company. It will thus be seen that Doctor McLean takes an abiding
interest in all the institutions that have for their object the improvement of
society.
The domestic life of Doctor McLean began on October 22, 1871,
when he was united in marriage with Anna E. MILLER,
a native of New York and a woman of education and culture. To this union five
children have been born, namely: Hattie L. is teaching vocal
music in the graded schools of Miles City, Montana, having previously graduated
from the Upper Iowa University and afterwards taken special musical training in
both Minneapolis and Chicago; she is regarded as an instuctor of high merit;
Lester W. is married, lives in Miles City, Montana, and is
traveling salesman for the Cudahy Packing Company; Dr. Ray A.,
who holds a degree of Bachelor of Science from the Upper Iowa University, and a
degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Iowa State University, is associated with
his father in the practice of medicine at Fayette and is making an excellent
start; Harry A. is married and is devoting his time to music,
piano tuning, band and orchestra instructor, and is a cornetist of much more
than average ability; John P., who lives at home, is making a
specialty of drawing, sketching, painting and other art work in that line, and
his work is of a high order.
Dr. McLean has dignified his every station
in life with a charm that has constantly added to his personal worth and has
discharged the duties of citizenship with the earnestness and loyalty
characteristic of the true American. His popularity extends wherever he is
known, and his probity of character is recognized by his fellow men, who are
free in according to him proper confidence and esteem. . . "
(Source book includes a photograph of James W. McLEAN)