OBIT: Frank McCLAIN, 1900, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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FRANK McCLAIN.

  At 5.20 o'clock yesterday morning Frank McClain, one of this city's 
best known citizens, died at his home, 1330 Eleventh avenue, of 
Bright's disease.  He had been in failing health for a year past, and 
last October went to Pittsburg, where he entered the Mercy hospital for 
treatment.  He came home December 9, feeling much improved in health.  
About a week ago he was compelled to take his bed and continued to sink 
until he passed into the next world.
  Frank McClain was a son of Stephen and Mary McClain, and was born in 
Sinking Valley, Tyrone township, Blair then Huntingdon county, June 15, 
1833.  He spent his boyhood days in Sinking Valley, where he received 
his education in one of the small log school houses that at that time 
were so common in many of the counties of Pennsylvania.
  At 18 years of age he commenced the battle of life for himself by 
becoming a farm hand.  A short time later he went to Bellefonte, Centre 
county, where he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed 
until 1854, when he came to Altoona, then in its infancy.  After a 
short stay here he went west and settled in Davenport, Iowa, where he 
witnessed, soon after his arrival, the departure of the first railroad 
engine that ran out of that place.  He remained in Davenport --?-- 
eighteen months when he returned to Centre county, where he became 
foreman on the erection of the Farmers' High school building, now 
Pennsylvania State college.  In 1862 he engaged in the mercantile 
business at State College and for three years served as postmaster at 
that place.  He removed to Bellefonte in 1866 and for a number of years 
engaged in contracting and building, erecting some of the finest 
buildings in that place.  In 1871 Mr. McClain came to this city and 
embarked in the mercantile business, in which he was engaged 
successfully for six years.  Two years after his arrival here he 
purchased the land at on [sic] the corner of Eleventh avenue and 
Fourteenth street, where he erected the present McClain building in 
which he resided.  Since 1880 he was largely engaged in contracting and 
building, extending the field of his operations throughout Central 
Pennsylvania.  He assisted in erecting the Altoona hospital and many 
residences and business blocks in the city.  In 1888 he enlisted the 
attention and interest of six others, and they formed a company and 
opened the Wopsononock summer resort.
  On June 15, 1870, Mr. McClain married Margaret Caldwell, daughter of 
Thomas Caldwell, of Bellefonte.  Two children were born to this union; 
one died in infancy, and May, who died in 1885 at the age of 10 years 
and 10 months.
  Frank McClain was a democrat in politics but took no active interest 
in the affairs of the party.  At one time he owned an interest in the 
Times.  He was a member of St. John's Catholic church and was highly 
esteemed by all who knew him.  Aside from his own particular line of 
business, he was interested in the financial affairs of the city, and 
served for a number of years as a director of the Fidelity bank.  He 
was a man of energy and enterprise, and was thoroughly conversant with 
every feature and detail of the different lines of business in which he 
so actively and successfully engaged.  He is survived by his wife and 
one brother, David McClain, of this city.  The funeral will take place 
Monday morning, mass to be said at St. John's church at 9 o'clock; 
interment in St. John's cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Friday, January 26, 1900