BIO: J. Newton McCLAIN, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 294-295.
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  J. NEWTON McCLAIN, Todd, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Smith 
valley, Cass township, September 4, 1852, son of Samuel and Esther 
(Barnett) McClain. His grandfather, Joseph McClain, was of the worthy 
Scotch-Irish immigration that formed so large a part of the material 
for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He resided at Broad Top, and was 
a teamster on the pike. His children are: Samuel; John; Caroline; 
Nancy; and Mary A. The father dying when Samuel was four years old, 
Samuel was bound out to Wesley Edwards, at Cooks Mill, Tod township. He 
remained there seventeen years. He had been promised a horse, with a 
saddle and bridle, and a suit of clothes, at the expiration of his term 
of indenture; but failing to receive the horse, he went to law for it, 
and at the end of ten years' litigation gained his suit. Mr. McClain 
now removed to Smiths valley, Cass township, bought a farm of over 200 
acres, cleared 150 acres, built a dwelling and a barn, and otherwise 
greatly improved the place. At an advanced age he gave up farming, 
removed to Saltillo, built the Saltillo Hotel, and conducted it for 
many years. Some time before his death, he gave up active business, but 
still resided in the hotel, where he died September 28, 1888. he was a 
Republican; was elected school director, constable, tax collector, and 
to other offices. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McClain are: 
Oliver, of Fulton county, Ohio; Catherine (Mrs. Samuel Keith), of 
Bedford county, Pa.; Mary E. (Mrs. John D. Crotsley), of Cass township; 
John W. and James, twins, both farmers of Tod township; J. Newton; 
Amanda B. (Mrs. Clayton Houck), of Tod township; David E., merchant, of 
Saltillo; Ida J. (Mrs. Thomas Shaver), of Pittsburg, Pa.; Sarah A., 
died young; and a child that died in infancy. Mr. McClain was a good 
father and a kind husband; ambitious for his children and solicitous 
for their true welfare, he gave them a good education and brought them 
up carefully. Although a hard working man throughout nearly all his 
life, he found abundant leisure for church work; being warmly attached 
to his denomination, the Methodist Episcopal, he served the 
congregation as trustee and steward and as teacher in the Sunday-
school. Mrs. McClain died at Saltillo September 13, 1894.
  J. Newton McClain attended the common schools of Cass township, and 
afterwards the select school at Cassville. He began business life on 
the home farm, where he remained until 1880, having at that time had 
entire charge of the farm for four years. In that year he removed to a 
farm of 121 acres which he had purchased in Tod township. Only a part 
of this land was cleared. Mr. McClain cultivated over ninety acres. In 
this farm he invested his own hard labor, and more than $2,500 in 
buildings and other improvements. The result is a home whish is not 
only comfortable, but so tasteful as to be an ornament to the 
neighborhood. Another farm of Mr. McClain's in Cass township contains 
56 acres, and is to some extent improved. He is an intelligent farmer, 
progressive in his methods; is a member of the Grange of Tod township. 
Mr. McClain also raises and deals extensively in a variety of live 
stock, not only horses and cattle, but mules, swine, etc. Mr. McClain 
is a Republican.
  On March 16, 1876, J. Newton McClain was married to Melissa C., 
daughter of John and Mary (Griffith) Horton; the father a farmer of Tod 
township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McClain are: Mary E.; and Myrtle 
A. The family share in the activities of the father. Mrs. McClain is a 
member of the Grange with her husband. They attend the Methodist 
Episcopal church; and while Mr. McClain has served the Sunday-school 
both as teacher and superintendent, and has been steward for ten years, 
his elder daughter, Mary, is organist of the church. From their pretty 
home many good influences flow out.