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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Belding R.
McLellan One may live a life of busy and successful years,
may fashion construct physical things and yet, if lacking true manhood and human
sympathy, his works are as nothing. Time, the grim destroyer, is ever at work of
devastation; but there are some things which endure.
Long after we forget the material things a man may have possessed, we
remember the sacrifices he made, his cheerful Godspeeds and his inspiring
example. Principle is eternal, and courage and steadfastness of purpose have
ever moved the world, such as that possessed by the stout-hearted pioneer and
soldier, Bell McLellan, one of the best known and highly esteemed business men
of Jasper County, who died July 21, 1911. Belding R. McLellan was born in Laporte
County, Indiana, May 12, 1842, and was the son of Joseph and Fidelia (Read)
McLellan, the father a native of Grafton County, New Hampshire, and the mother
of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The
father devoted his life to farming, owning land in Laporte County, Indiana,
where he spent most of his life and where his death occurred.
He is remembered as a strong character, a man of pronounced convictions,
sterling honesty and persistent industry, a type of that class of citizens from
the bone and sinew of which all new countries spring. His family consisted of
seven children, two of whom are now living; the eldest, Andrew, died in Laporte
County, Indiana, about the spring of 1910; Sarah Jane died in childhood; Belding
R. of this review was next in order of birth; George W. lives on a farm near
Laporte, Indiana; Martha married George Reed and died in Michigan City in 1910;
her twin sister, Mary, married
Charles McClure and they live in Gallatin, Missouri. Mr. McLellan of this review spent his boyhood on the
home farm which he worked during the summer months and in the wintertime
attended the district schools. He
received a good schooling at St. Mary's Academy in South Bend, Indiana, and
Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana. He proved his patriotism when a
mere boy by enlisting, in September 1861, in the Fourth Indiana Battery,
and he was sent into Kentucky, first to Louisville, then to Green River.
He was assigned to Buell's command and saw his first hard service at the
battle of Shiloh; then he was at the siege of Corinth, and later he was at
Nashville, after which his division went to the vicinity of Louisville, thence
to Perryville and was in the battle there, in which Mr. McLellan was severely
wounded October 8, 1862, just below the knee, the bullet fragment of shell
passing entirely through his leg. For a time he remained in the temporary field
hospital No. 8, at Louisville, in fact remained there three months, then was
sent home. The injury incapacitated him from work for some time, but as
soon as he was able he began assisting with the farming duties.
He had been a very faithful soldier and, although thus sorely wounded,
never regretted his services to his country.
In the spring of 1865 he started over the plains of the great west with
an ox team, this incident in his career proving, perhaps more than anything
else, that he was a man of courage and energy; the many dangers, such as
unfriendly Indians, wild beasts, etc., did not deter him.
It was interesting to hear him recall reminiscences of this trip. He recalled the fact that Indians killed white men
ahead and behind his wagon train. Upon
reaching Central City, Colorado, he engaged in various lines of business.
After an absence of about two years he returned to Laporte, Indiana. On February 27, 1867, he was united in marriage with
Rebecca A. Reed, daughter of Bazelleel and Catherine (Flood) Reed, the father a
native of Ohio and the mother of Franklin County, Indiana.
They were married in the County just named and owned a farm there, later
removing to Laporte County, Indiana, and buying land there, where Mrs. McLellan
was born. Mr. Reed came to Jasper
County, Iowa, in 1855 and entered a half section of land in Mound Prairie
Township, which is still in the possession of the family.
He entered this land from the government and it remained undeveloped
until 1872 when Mr. and Mrs. McLellan came out and located on it, and,
resolutely taking up their labors, they had a good home in due course of time.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed are both deceased, Mr. Reed dying October 29, 1878, and
Mrs. Reed on September 4, 1861. All
their children are also dead except two; four of them died in infancy; Joseph M.
who died in Kansas just as he was starting for the army, May 15, 1864; Caroline
died in Laporte County, Indiana, December 13, 1878; Rebecca A., wife of Mr.
McLellan, was next in order of birth; Franklin died August 28, 1907, in Laporte
County, Indiana; W. S. lives on a farm in Jackson County, Kansas; George W., who
died October 26, 1901, in Michigan City, Indiana, as at one time sheriff of
Laporte County, Indiana, being the youngest man ever elected to that office. To Mr. and Mrs. McLellan, two daughters,
both living, have been born, namely: Minnie
B. married George W. Dickinson, lives in Newton part of the time, but has
property interests in Buchanan County, Iowa; Effie married C. A. Chapman and
they live in Hood River, Oregon. Both
these children enjoyed the advantages of good educations, having passed through
the common schools, later attending the State University, and they are both
cultured and intelligent. Both were
graduated from the business course. Mr. McLellan was very successful in a
business way and he established a pleasant home.
He was a member of Garrett Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic, of
Newton. He was formerly a member of
the post at Prairie City and was quartermaster of the same.
He belonged to Preston Lodge No. 218, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
of Prairie City. Politically, he
was a Republican. Mrs. McLellan, a
woman of refined tastes and pleasing address, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
Church and is prominent in the Woman’s Relief Corpse at Newton. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 679. |
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