Marquis L. McClelland, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Marquis L. McClelland
MARQUIS L. McCLELLAND, insurance agent, was born in La Fayette, Ind., February 26, 1830. He is a son of John T. and Sarah (McCarl) McClelland, who were natives of Washington County, Penn. John T. McClelland was born in the year 1800, and his wife in 1804. They were married in their native State, and from there moved to La Fayette, Ind., in 1828. In 1831, Mr. McC. Started west through South Bend, Niles and to Chicago. The spring of 1832, he removed to South Bend, where he embarked in mercantile pursuits. He was one of the pioneers and was identified with some of the leading manufactories of that place, and at the time of his death, in June 1840, was engaged in erecting extensive works for the manufacture of glass; he was also engaged in the manufacture of pig-iron at Mishawaka. He was a very active Democrat, and was the first County Treasurer of St. Joseph County. He was a man very popular with all classes, especially so with the poor, and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He and wife had born to them three children, two of whom are yet living - Mrs. Mills, of Rochester, N. Y., and the subject of this sketch. Mrs. McClelland continued to reside in South Bend, and there married William S. Vail. This couple moved to Valparaiso in 1863, where they are both yet living at advanced ages. To their union were born two children, of whom only one, William H., a jeweler of Valparaiso, yet lives. Marquis L. McClelland was but ten years old when his father died. He learned the tanner's and currier's trade, but has never made that his business. He came to Valparaiso in 1854, was employed as salesman in different mercantile establishments, and the fall of 1861 was appointed Clerk of the Congressional Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, of which Hon. Schuyler Colfax was Chairman, and at that gentleman's solicitation acted as his Private Secretary in the Forty-second Congress. He returned to Valparaiso in 1862 and engaged in the dry goods trade, in partnership with A. V. Bartholomew. He continued at this four years, and in the meantime was active in organizing the First National Bank. He was elected the first cashier, and continued as such about eighteen years. Since that time he has been engaged in a general life and fire insurance business. He was married, October 3, 1853, to Miss Sarah A. Wilmington, of South Bend, and to them have been born two children - Theodore and Flora. Mr. McClelland has been a member of the Masonic order for twenty-five years, and has passed through the Blue Doge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Scottish Rites, and is a Past Eminent Commander of the Commandery. The Blue Lodge at Hobart, Ind., is named in his honor. He is a Republican, and has filled the positions of Township Treasurer and Clerk of Centre Township. He is the county's present nominee for the State Legislature, and has served two terms in the City Council. He and two others were active in building the C. & G. T. R. R. from Valparaiso to South Bend, and he has always taken active part in all the public affairs of the county. He and Schuyler Colfax was raised as boys together, and have always been on the most intimate and confidential terms.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 261-262
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook