Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: McCLEERY, James S. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 283-284



JAMES S. McCLEERY.

	James S. McCleery occupies a central place on the stage of 
insurance activity in Denver as the secretary of the Union Health & 
Accident Company, which was organized in 1906 and which company 
reinsured the business of the Union Mutual Benefit & Life Association 
that had been incorporated in 1895. His associate officers in the 
undertaking are: Frank S. Moore, president; and B. F. Moore, treasurer, 
while Mr. McCleery occupies the position of secretary and in that 
connection has contributed much to the success of the undertaking.

	Mr. McCleery is a native son of Illinois, his birth having 
occurred in Barry, Pike county, on the 10th of February, 1874. His 
father, Thomas McCleery, was also a native of that state and for many 
years followed farming in Jersey county. He wedded Rebecca A. Dickerson 
and for many years conducted a farm in Jersey county and there passed 
away in 1914. His widow survives and is yet living in Jersey county, 
while their son Alonzo now occupies the old homestead there.

	James S. McCleery pursued his education in the district and high 
schools of his native county and also in the Gem City Business College 
of Quincy, Illinois, which he attended in 1894. He was reared to the 
occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the best methods of 
tilling the soil and caring for the crops, and for some time after his 
textbooks were put aside he devoted his attention to the work of the 
fields. Later he became interested in the grocery business and 
afterward was employed in the dry goods business, in which line he was 
successful until his health failed and he sought rest and recuperation 
in Colorado. He arrived in this state in 1896, making his way to 
Denver, where he accepted the position of city collector for the Union 
Mutual Benefit & Life Association. He has been continuously with the 
company and its successor since 1896, or for a period of twenty-two 
years, and was active in its reorganization and further development. 
There is no feature of the business with which he is not thoroughly 
familiar and his energy and determination have constituted salient 
factors in the upbuilding of the company and the extension of its 
clientage.

	In 1904 Mr. McCleery was united in marriage to Miss Orpha B. 
Grant, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of 
two children: Merle G., twelve years of age, and Ruth, ten years of 
age, both now in school. While a resident of Illinois, Mr. McCleery 
became identified with the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of fine 
personal appearance whose life is governed by high principles and whose 
activity finds its basis in a laudable ambition. He has always been an 
earnest worker, energetic and persistent in what he has undertaken, and 
the success which has crowned his labors is indeed well merited.