History of Decatur County, Iowa
A representative of one of the early families of New Buda Township. He lived on section 10, where he had a fine farm of 160 acres. He was born in the State of Pennsylvania, June 18, 1839. A son of John and Mary Maria (Ketring) McLain. His father also a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Germany, but reared from childhood in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1854, the parents came with their family of twelve children to Iowa and located on section 15, New Buda Twp., Decatur County, Iowa. There they made a home and spent the rest of their lives. The mother died in 1869, aged 63 years and the father died in 1871, age 71 years.
Of their family, William, Henry and Adam lived in New Buda township. Samuel, Mary Jane and Elizabeth lived in Mercer County, Missouri. Barbara lived in Kansas. Jacob died while serving his country in the War of the Rebellion. George W died in Kansas. Julia died in Davis County, Missouri. John and David died on the homestead in New Buda Township. Adam lived at the home until twenty-two years of age. He helped build up the home and contributed to the support and care of his parents.
On November 24, 1864, he was married to Cynthia J. Wood, who was born in Jefferson County, Iowa on April 24, 1846. She was a daughter of John Wood, who settled in New Buda Township in 1854. For five years after his marriage to Cynthia J. Wood, Mr. McLain lived on section 10, renting his brother Jacob's farm. In 1869, he moved to the farm which was also on section 10. He devoted his entire attention to stock raising, being one of the most extensive dealers in the county. Mr. McLain was one of New Buda's best citizens. Being public spirited, he was honorable in his dealings and enterprises, and was always relied upon to advance any cause tending to the general good. Mr. and Mrs. McLain had six children: Arilla, wife of John Franklin; Joseph L., Esther A., Bertie E. and Estella E. Their third child, Mary Ellen died at age twenty months and eighteen days. They had one grandchild, Carrol E. Franklin, son of John and Arilla J. Franklin.
Obituary
Adam McLain, for years proprietor of the O'Leary store and a widely known and highly respected former citizen of Plymouth county passed away Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. D. Ruppert at 206 Park Street. Adam McLain was born at Hopewell, Bedford County, Pennsylvania on the 18th of June 1839, and died on the 14th of January, 1913, at the age of 73 years, 6 months and 26 days. He came to Jefferson county, Iowa with his parents in 1854 and lived there one year, then moved to Decatur county, where he lived for 36 years. He moved to Plymouth County, Iowa in November, 1891 and conducted a store at O'Leary for 15 years. In February, 1910 he moved back to Decatur, where he has made his home, he removed to LeMars to make residence at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ruppert. He was married on November 24th, 1864 to Miss Cynthia Wood at Davis City, Iowa, by Rev. Wm. Craig, and to this union were born seven children. One daughter, Mary E., died in infancy and the others are: Joseph and Lyman McLain of Davis City, Iowa; Mrs. John Franklin, of Duncan, Oklahoma; Mrs. L. T. Bullington, Mrs. P. D. Ruppert and Mrs. W. B. Hasbrook of LeMars; all of whom with their mother were at his bedside in his last illness. He is also survived by his two sisters: Mrs. James Yoder and Mrs. John Bower; one brother, Samuel McLain of Cainsville, Missouri; and by twenty-nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was a man of unusual good health until about the first of December, when he was taken with sarcoma of the stomach, which finally proved fatal. He was taken to Rochester, Minnesota for an examination, but was given no hope of a cure. Then, upon his request he was brought to LeMars to the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. D. Ruppert, where everything that medical and loving hands could do were done for his comfort to the last. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. C. G. Butler at the First Presbyterian church at 2 p.m., Friday, January 17th. The remains will be laid to rest in the City Cemetery.