Lewis McLain
Lewis McLain, who not only owns seven farms aggregating 1,400 acres of land, lying in Ross and Knox Townships, Jefferson County, Ohio, but is also energetic enough to manage them all himself, is a native of Jefferson County and was born in Ross Township, December 5, 1846. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Clark) McLain.
William McLain was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of John McLain, who brought his family to this section and owned a farm in Ross Township. When William McLain settled in the township a large part of the land was covered with timber and it took many long months of "grubbing" before any crops could be secured. After making a clearing, he built a log cabin in which he lived until 1846. He then built a frame house in Ross Township and lived in it until 1859 and then moved to the home now occupied by his son. He died on this place in his seventy-first year. He owned 447 acres of valuable land, 130 of which he cleared himself. He married Elizabeth Clark, a daughter of Abner Clark, and they had eleven children, all of whom lived to marry. His death occurred at the age of seventy-one years and that of his wife when she was somewhat older. They were for years members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pine Grove and their burial was there, but in their latter years they were members of the church at Mooretown. In politics William McLain was a Democrat up to the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln, after which he voted the Republican ticket. He was an honorable, upright and industrious man and was universally respected.
Lewis McLain attended school in his boyhood when he could be spared from home but hard work on the farm was his portion for many years. The farm came into his ownership before he married and at that time he assumed possession of it. He made many improvements and practically rebuilt the residence. Mr. McLain is one of the largest farmers in Jefferson County and all his seven farms are well stocked. He is the largest wool grower in the county.
Mr. McLain married Miss Fannie Clark, a daughter of Daniel Clark, of Carroll County, Ohio, and they have four children: William, who married Rose Pitenger. and has one son, Frederick; and Daniel Clark, Homer Watson and Charles Roy, these three sons being yet unmarried. Mr. McLain is a Republican.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910