GEORGE
OLIVER McCLEERY.—The old Pymatuning Grist Mill, of which George
O. McCleerv is the proprietor, is father of the industries of
Mercer county, and one of the most picturesque and interesting land marks
for the pioneer and local historian. Mr. McCleery comes of an old and
cultured Irish family, his grandfather, George
McCleery, being a native of County Tyrone. After completing a
thorough literary training, he entered the University of Edinburgh to
prepare for the Presbyterian ministry, and in 1818, after the completion
of his theological course, he emigrated to the United States and located
at Coitsville, Ohio. For fifteen years he spent his strength and abilities
in educational and missionary work, afterward attending the Beach Medical
School of Columbus, Ohio, and, after his graduation therefrom, practicing
his new profession with faithfulness and success. While thus engaged he
passed to the rewards of a useful and Christian life in the year 1848.
After his arrival in America George McCleery sent
to Ireland for his parents and seven brothers, and by their location in
Mercer county the family became firmly planted in this section of the
state. This founder of the family in the United States married Mary
Beggs, a native of Coitsville, Ohio, who died in 1876.
James
McCleery, father of George Oliver, was
born at Hubbard, Ohio, on the 1st of April, 1820, followed farming all his
life, and married Anna Allen, who was born in
1824, daughter of Oliver Allen and Jane (Henderson)
Allen. They both died in 1904, he dying in Ireland.
George
O. McCleery, of this review, was born at Sharon, this county, on
the 26th of August, 1854, and was an only child. He received the usual
practical and thorough education on the farm and in the district school
until he was sixteen years of age, after which he pursued a course of one
year at Hiram (Ohio) College. Then, after teaching for two years in
Hickory township, he followed agriculture and also mastered the trade of
carpentry. His thorough knowledge of agriculture, in connection with his
talents and training in mechanics, finally induced him to invest his
capital in the purchase of the old Pymatuning Grist Mill in 1907. That
historic landmark, which has been in operation for more than a century, is
one or the oldest mills in Mercer county; but this fact, interesting
historically though it is, did not prevent the new proprietor from
completely remodeling the old structure. Mr. Samuel
Koonce rebuilt the structure, but Mr. McCleery introduced the
improved devices, making it modern throughout and arranging everything so
ingeniously that the mill is now operated solely by water power. Mr.
McCleery is a Democrat, and as a good citizen has always been deeply
concerned in the progress of the public schools. He has served for six
years as a member of the school hoard of Hickory township, and is now
identified with the Clarksville hoard as one of its most active members.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Odd Fellows’ Lodge No. 347 of Sharon and
the Shenango Encampment No. 186.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 756-757.
