Biographical Sketch of John McLain - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

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Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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John McLain, president of the Savannah (Missouri) Savings Bank, and one
of the prominent citizens of Andrew County, was born in Morgan County,
OH., on August 2, 1817.  He attended the schools of that neighborhood,
acquiring the rudiments of an education, which he afterward improved by
his own exertions and experience.  His first venture in life was cutting
cord wood at the salt works in Ohio for 25 cents per cord, when but six-
teen years of age, camping out while at work.  In 1836 he engaged in the
grocery business in his native county, with a capital of $75.  After 
continuing business for eighteen months he sold his stock, realizing the
sum of $1,800.  He next located at Pennsville, OH., and engaged in the
grocery and hotel business for about three months, and then removed to
McConnellsville, OH., and continued the same business in partnership with
Jacob Goodlive.  In 1838 he and partner established a bank in connection
with their grocery and hotel business, the bank being under the charge and
management of Mr. McLain.  His attention having been attracted to the
Platte Purchase by the passage of a bill by Congress attaching those
lands to the State of Missouri, and by the speech of Thomas H. Benton
delivered in the United States Senate, thanking Congress for its action,
in 1853 he made a trip to the West to inspect those lands.  He continued
to visit the lands once each year, making land enteries each trip until
1858, when he and partner closed out their business in Ohio and removed
to Missouri.  Up to that time he had entered for himself and others over
60,000 acres of land, at an average cost of 70 cents per acre.  On June
16, 1858, he settled in Savannah, and has resided at that place and on
his farm, three miles south of town, till the present.  The first 
business venture after settling in Missouri was in the wholesale and
retail grocery business, in partnership with Goodlive & Bell, for which
they erected a large business house in 1859.  Near the breaking out of
the late war he sold out his business in St. Joseph, and retired to his
farm.  In May, 1862, he was appointed Judge of Andrew County, and the
following year was elected to that office, which position he held for
ten years and six months.  In 1865 he secured a charter from the Legis-
lature incorporating the Savannah Savings Bank for twenty-five years,
with an authorized capital of $100,000.  During that year he purchased
the Banking House of Savannah, of the Southern Bank of St. Louis, and 
in the following May opened the present banking house of which he is
president.  He was married June 16, 1840, to Sarah A. Shannon, of 
Belmont County, OH., born in 1820, and daughter of John Shannon.  Five
children have blessed this union, four of whom are living.