OBIT: William A. McCLELLAN, Rev., 1931, Rockwood, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2012.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


WILLIAM A. McCLELLAN

  Rev. W. A. McClellan, retired minister of the Reformed Church, passed away at 
his home in Rockwood, Thursday afternoon, April 30th, in his 71st year.  He had 
been in ill health for several weeks, suffering from grippe, but the immediate 
cause of his death was attributed to acute dilation of the heart.
  William A. McClellan, son of Joseph and Eliza McClellan, was born in Mifflin 
County, Pa., May 15, 1860.  He received his education in the public schools and 
at Spring Mills Academy in Center County, and engaged in teaching school for a 
number of years.  Later he entered the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, from 
which institution he was graduated in 1899.  He was ordained to the gospel 
ministry and installed pastor of the Pleasant Unity Charge in Westmoreland 
County in May, 1899.  After serving in this field for ten years he accepted a 
call to West Milton, Pa., where his pastorate continued for three and one half 
years.  He served at Coningham, Pa., for one year.  In 1913 he became pastor of 
the New Centerville Charge at Rockwood, where he served for eight years.  In 
1922 he became pastor at Rebersburg, Pa., where after a pastorate of eight years 
he retired from the active ministry, and moved back to Rockwood, where he made 
his home until his death.
  Rev. Mr. McClellan was a good preacher and a faithful pastor.  He was of a 
retiring disposition, and patient in his dealings with his fellowmen.  He was 
president of Somerset Classis, and was president of Pittsburgh Synod, when it 
met at Jeannette, in 1919.
  Funeral services were held at his late residence on Saturday night, following 
his death, Rev. D. S. Stephan, of Berlin, had charge of the services.  He was 
assisted in them by Rev. Geo. L. Roth, D.D., of Somerset, Rev. A. E. Truxal, 
D.D., of Somerset, and Rev. F. D. Witmer, of Berlin.  A quartet, composed by 
ministers of Rockwood, the Revs. Minerd, Gross, Berkebile and White, sang two 
appropriate selections, Somerset Classis was represented by the presence of the 
following ministers:  Revs. Stephan, Truxal, Roth, Witmer, Gress and Wilson.
  On Sunday morning, the funeral cortege left for Tusseyville, Center County, 
Pa., where services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Delos R. Keener, and 
interment was made in the church cemetery.
  He is survived by his wife, one son, Dr. W. R. McClellan, of Garrett, and one 
daughter, Mrs. C. H. Ridenour, of Rockwood.
  Dr. McClellan was in a veterans' hospital in California at the time of his 
father's death and was unable to attend the funeral.  The report published in 
some of the county papers that he came east in an airplane to attend the 
obsequies is not true.  He arrived at Rockwood yesterday, however, by train, 
much improved in health.

Meyersdale Republican, May 14, 1931