Esther was born in Centre County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel Pletcher and Anna Schenck. Her family were Mennonites. She married John McLain, who was born in Livingston County, New York, and was not a Mennonite. The marriage took place in Walker Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania on September 27, 1831. Esther and John lived in Centre County for 17 years and had eleven children there. They joined the Baptist church in 1851.

Esther & John & moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1848. A land patent has been found, granting a John Hammond McClain 40 acres of land in Hardin County, Ohio on September 5, 1846. Perhaps that is this family. By 1853, John and Esther moved again, to Center Township, Cedar County, Iowa. They lived in Cedar County for the rest of their lives. Esther died on March 23, 1900 and John died in 1894. They are both buried in the South Bethel Cemetery in Cedar County.

Obituary of Ester Pletcher McLain [from the Tipton, Iowa Advertiser]

One more of Cedar County's old settlers has gone to her reward. Mrs. Ester Pletcher McLain, widow of the late John McLain, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. Hipple on March 23, 1900. Ester Pletcher was the youngest child of Samuel and Anna Pletcher and was born in Howard Township, Center County, Pennsylvania on June 26, 1810. In her 18th year she converted and joined the Mennonite Church. Her marriage to John McLain of Livingston County, New York, occured in Walker Township, Center County, Pennsylvania on . During their 17 years residence in Center County, Pennsylvania 11 children were born to them. All but one survived to mourn their Mother"s loss. Mr. and Mrs. McLain removed with the family to Ohio in 1848 where in 1851 they were united with the Free Will Bapist Church.

In 1853 the family again turned their steps westward in search of a new home. They arrived in Cedar County, Iowa on October 1, 1853 and took up their abode in Center Township, south of Tipton where they have lived since.

Surviving her are: Mrs. Mary Denton, Mrs. Leah Hipple, Mrs. Molly Duncan, Mrs. Amanda Pierce, Samuel McLain, Rudolph McLain, Michael McLain, Mrs. Nanct Sweet, John McLain, and Irwin McLain. Mrs. McLain was preceded in death by one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Stubblefield. Mrs. McLain leaves 72 grand children, 107 great grand children and 6 great great grand children. Mrs. McLain was buried at South Bethel Cemetery on March 25.