Patrick McLene
There was not in Madison County during his lifetime, a man more widely known or respected than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He came of Irish ancestry, who had settled in Pennsylvania, subsequently removing to the Territory of Tennessee, but whether Patrick was born in Pennsylvania or the latter State is yet a mooted question. His birth occurred about 1787, and his parents died when he was quite small, leaving him to the care of an aunt who resided in Alabama. There were four brothers in the family, viz., Jeremiah, who was born in Pennsylvania, removed to Tennessee with his parents, where he became an intimate friend of Gen. Andrew Jackson, and subsequently was a pioneer of the Northwest Territory. In the beginning of the present century he located at Chillicothe, and while there was Sheriff of Ross County, and in 1807-08 represented Franklin County in the Legislature. From 1808 to 1831 he served as Secretary of State, and represented Franklin County in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Sessions of Congress. By education a surveyor, he loved his compass; was one of the Commissioners who located the county seat of Franklin County in 1803, and served in the capacity of County Surveyor of Franklin County, also City Surveyor of Columbus for many years, dying at Washington, D. C. during the second session of his Congressional career March 19, 1837, aged seventy years; Isaac, went to Arkansas, where he spent his life; John, settled in Chillicothe, was engaged in the cattle trade for some years with his brother Patrick, removed thence to Little Rock, Ark., where he followed merchandising until his death.
In early life, Patrick learned surveying, but soon after coming to Ohio, he entered into a partnership with his brother John, in the cattle trade, grazing cattle near the present site of London, which he followed in connection with his profession. In 1811, he was appointed Director by the Court of Common Pleas to lay off the town of London, on the site selected by the Commissioners previously authorized by the Legislature to locate the county seat of Madison County. The wide, regular and handsome streets which are the pride of this city to-day are the result of the wisdom and foresight of Patrick McLene. He did more surveying in Madison County than any man of his time; from 1810 to 1831, he occupied the office of County Surveyor, and in 1811 established the boundaries of Madison County, and located the center of the same according to law. He owned a large farm in Oak Run Township, upon which he lived many years. In 1818, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, and was very popular as an official to perform the marriage ceremony during those pioneer days, and through 1819 he served as County Commissioner. On the creation of the Auditor's office, be was appointed by the General Assembly Auditor of Madison County, until the next election, but he was elected continuously again and again, serving in that capacity from 1820 to 1844 inclusive. In 1845, he entered upon his duties as Associate Judge, and held that position something over five years. Mr. McLene was twice married, first to Mary Warner, sister of "Uncle Billy" Warner, of London, who was a weakly woman, and did not live long. He then married Rebecca Warner, a half-sister of his first wife, who became the mother of two children, who died in infancy, thus leaving no issue from either marriage. Mr. McLene died December 7. 1863, and his remains now lie in Kirkwood Cemetery. His widow still survives him. Although a Whig in polities, he was no politician, but rather a quiet unobtrusive man who attended strictly to his own business. In all his active business and official career, he sustained an unblemished character: as a husband, neighbor and citizen, his life was beyond reproach, and in his death Madison County lost one of its truest friends, and the world an honest man.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]