William E. McLeland
William E. McLeland was born September 21, 1814, in Clark County, Kentucky, and on the 5th of November of the same year landed with his parents at Buchanan's Station in the northeast corner of this county. This state was then a Territory. This would make Mr. McLeland one of the oldest living inhabitants of this county. He was brought up on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he engaged as a clerk in a country store at Canaan, for Mr. John Cain, with whom he remained for a bout one year. He then engaged as a clerk for Mr. E. S. Ayres, who was a merchant in Canaan.
In 1837 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Wesley Mc Coy, and bought Mr. Ayres out, and continued business with Mr. McCoy for several years, when Mr. McCoy withdrew from the firm. Capt. McLeland then formed a partnership with Mr. R. M. Salyers, and they continued in business until August, 19855, when they closed out their business and came to Madison, Mr. R. M. Salyers as Sheriff of the county and McLeland as his deputy. In 1847 Capt. McLeland was elected Justice of the Peace at Canaan, and held the office for eight years.
December 24, 1835, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. R. L. Wilkinson, a Virginian, living at Canaan, and has seven living children, four boys and three girls: Matilda J., who married John D. Schmidlapp, and lives in Denver, Colorado; Thomas E., living in Shoshone County, Idaho, County Auditor and Recorder; Louisa E. died in 1843, two years old; Lizzie E. married Dr. W. A. McCoy, of Madison, Indiana. Charles R., druggist; Hosier Durbin, insurance and real estate business in Denver, Colorado, married Cara, daughter of A. S. Partridge, St. Louis, Missouri; William O., secretary F. and M. Insurance Co., Madison, Indiana, married Eva S., daughter of D. G. Phillips, Madison, Indiana; Harriet N., living at home.
In 1858 the subject of this sketch was elected Sheriff of Jefferson County, on the Republican ticket, and served until 1861. He then went into the army as Quartermaster of the Sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. One year later was promoted to rank of Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, and served on the staff of Gen. R. W. Johnson, of the regular army. At the close of the war was appointed postmaster at Madison. After serving nearly two years was removed by President Johnson, because the Captain did not approve of his politics. Afterward was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, and served five years, when the office was abolished.
In 1871 he engaged in the manufacture of harness and saddles, in this city, and continued at it until his health gave way and he was not able to work any longer, when he sold out the business in 1880.
Capt. McLeland has held the office and commission of notary public for twenty-one years, and still holds the commission.
In 1884 he was taken with something like paralysis, from which he has not been able since to walk without crutches; two years of the time was confined to his bed.
Capt. McLeland has been a member of the M. E. Church since 1836, and was one of the trustees and a member of the building committee of Trinity Church of this city. Has been a member of Monroe Lodge, I. O. O. F., since 1839, and a member of the Encampment for thirty years; also a member of the G. A. R. His parents were Robert and Esther C. (Benefiel) McLeland, both natives of Montgomery County, Kentucky.
His father died in 1853, aged 62 years. His mother died in 1873, at the age of 78 or 79 years.
Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.
