Samuel E. McClees
Deer Lodge County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

Samuel E. McClees, mayor of Philipsburg and a prominent 
jeweler of this city was born in Taylorstown Pennsylvania 
on August 1, 1867.  He is the son of Alexander E. and 
Belle (Hodgen) McClees, both natives of the Keystone 
state.  They were married there and spent their lives.  
The father was engaged in mercantile business and was one 
of the prominent men of his town.  He took a leading part 
in the political  activities of his community and held 
many public offices.  For sixteen years he was postmaster 
of his town.  He died in 1877 at the age of sixty and is 
buried near his old home.  His widow still resides there.  
They became the parents of three children, Samuel E. of 
this review being the second born and the eldest.

Until he was fourteen, Samuel McClees lived in the town of 
his birth, after which time he went to Washington 
Pennsylvania and worked in a jewelry store.  He served 
an apprenticeship of four years, drawing no salary 
during that time, but he learned his trade from 
beginning to end.  His apprenticeship concluded the young 
man started for the west.  When he reached Fargo North 
Dakota, he located there and remained for about two and 
a half years.  He was employed in a jewelry shop there 
and it represented his first salaried position.  He next 
returned to the east and took engraving lessons for a 
few months, after which he was employed in the escapement 
room of the Elgin Watch Company's factory for three months.  
His idea was to secure any additional knowledge that might 
be of benefit to him in the business.  After his service 
with the Elgin people, Mr. McClees went to Butte, Montana 
where he entered business on his own responsibility and 
there he met with his first reverses in a business way.  
Thirty days after he opened his establishment the place 
was burned out, but he soon reopened, remaining in 
business in Butte for about two years, when he sold 
out and went to Granite.  He remained there three 
years, working at the jeweler's trade and then moved 
to Philipsburg where he opened a store.  He has since 
continued in business in this location and has 
prospered in a most unquestionable manner.

The death of his father when he was ten years old placed 
Mr. McClees as a boy in a difficult position and since he 
was fourteen he has practically shifted for himself.  
When he was twelve he earned his first money harrowing 
grain, walking a distance of two miles, night and 
morning to reach his work.  He received for his 
services, twenty-five cents a day and considered 
himself well paid at the time.  After that experience 
he followed various occupations until he left 
Taylorstown to take up his apprenticeship to the jewelry.

On April 19, 1898 Mr. McClees married Miss Kate Fox at 
Phillipsburg, formerly of Winnipeg Manitoba.