McClellan, Frank

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Frank McClellan. After many years employed as an educator in Kansas, Frank McClellan turned his attention to business affairs at Coffeyville, and now has one of the leading offices there for insurance and loans.

His birthplace was Bedford, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 21, 1860. His grandfather, Abraham McClellan, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1798, came to the United States when a young man, becoming a farmer and stock raiser in Pennsylvania. He died at Rainsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1883. On account of his service in the state militia he was familiarly known as Captain McClellan. Captain McClellan married Elizabeth Morgan, who was born near Everett, Pennsylvania, in 1801, and died near Rainsburg in 1884.

William D. McClellan, father of Frank, was born at Bedford, Pennsylvania, in 1834, was reared and married there, and spent all his active career as a farmer and stock raiser. For a long time he specialized in Shorthorn cattle. In 1875 he moved to Alaska, West Virginia, and died there in 1877. He was a democrat in politics. William D. McClellan married Sarah A. Kerr, who was born at Everett, Pennsylvania, in 1842, and died at Kansas City, Kansas, February 3, 1915. She too was of Revolutionary stock. William D. McClellan and wife had the following children: Frank; William E., who was a music dealer and died in 1887 at Butler, Missouri; James B., whose whereabouts have been unknown to his family for the past fifteen years; Olarence P., a foreman of bridge construction living at Nevada, Missouri; and Robert K., a farmer near Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Frank McClellan was educated in the schools at Rainsburg, Pennsylvania, graduated in 1875 from Allegheny Seminary, and then took up his career as a teacher for two years in the country schools. In 1884 he graduated from Shenandoah College of Middletown, Virginia, and in the following year reached Kansas.

In this state he has had his home for over thirty years, and fully half of that time was devoted to school work. His first location was Winfield, and for two years he was superintendent of schools at Geuda Springs, then at Pleasanton four years, at Garnett five years, and at Coffeyville two years. Mr. McClellan has lived at Conffeyville since June, 1897, and after leaving school work was in the hardware business three years, was connected with a foundry and machine concern for two years, and for another two years was auditor of the Coffeyville Vitrified Brick and Tile Company. Since then he has given all his time to the insurance and loan business with offices at 820 Walnut Street.

Since coming to Coffeyville Mr. McClellan has ideptified himself with all those movements and organizations that best represent the civic and social life of the community. He is a member of the Commercial Club, is a republican, Presbyterian, and is affiliated with Coffeyville Lodge No. 102, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Coffeyville Chapter No. 89, Royal Arch Masons, Lochinvar Commandery No. 52, Knights Templar, and also belongs to Camp No. 665, Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 279, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. 775, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Anti-Horse Thief Association.

In 1887 at Warrensburg, Missouri, Mr. McClellan married Miss Margaret Sparks, a daughter of A. B. and Clarissa Sparks. Her father was a farmer, now deceased, and her mother resides at Holden, Missouri Mr. and Mrs. McClellan have one daughter, Bee, who is a young woman of musical talent and training, being a graduate of Oswego College in 1906, and a graduate in music in 1910 from Bethany College at Lindsborg. She now has charge of the musical department of New Jersey Academy located at Logan, Utah.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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