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- GEORGE C. McLEAN, founder of the original McLEAN
- Manufacturing Company, of Janesville, Wis., and the present
superintendent and manager of the New McLEAN Manufacturing Company,
was born in Inverness, Scotland, on the 20th day of December,
1820, and is the son of James Grant and Eliza (CAMPBELL) McLEAN.
His father was a Government officer in Scotland, and his duties
required several changed of residence, but he made his home in
Galashiels much of the time.
- George C. attended various schools in his boyhood, his education
- being completed at Fisher's School, at Galashiels, after
which he learned the trade of manufacturing woolen goods, at
which he worked until 1845, when he went to Sydney, Australia.
After spending two years in that country he
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- returned, in 1847, to Scotland, and was employed at his trade
in Selkirk. While residing in that city he was united in marriage,
in 1847, with Miss Isabel WALKER, who was born in Stowe, Scotland,
and is a daughter of George and Johanna (BRODIE) WALKER. Two
children were born to them in Selkirk: George C., Jr., who married
Miss Jennie OLIVER, of Aberdeen, Miss., a native of Scotland,
and is now foreman dyer and finisher of New McLEAN Manufacturing
Company; and Eliza, the younger child, who died at the age of
two years.
- In 1849, Mr. McLEAN, by the advice of Abbot LAWRENCE, the
American Minister,
- emigrated to America, settling in Lawrence, Mass., wither
his wife and children soon followed. He subsequently removed
to Sutton's Mill, at North Andover, and in 1861 went to Norwich,
where he was employed by King & Elting, manufacturers of
army goods. In 1862 he established a woolen mill at Lisbon, Conn.,
and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods for the army and
navy, the mill being the property of Gov. BUCKINGHAM & Co.
In February, 1870, the establishment was swept away in a great
flood, but as soon as possible a new mill was erected in its
place, which was operated by Mr. McLEAN for two years. He then
came West and operated a mill in Mankato, Minn., for a few months,
when he came to Janesville and purchased an interest in the Payne
& Hastings Woolen Mill Company. In 1872 he organized the
McLEAN Manufacturing Company, of which he was manager for ten
years, and in 1882 he aided in the organization of the present
New McLEAN Manufacturing Company, of which he has since been
superintendent and manager. Mr. McLEAN has had a life-long experience
in this line of business, and is an expert in the line of his
duty.
- Our subject and his wife have had six sons born to them in
America, namely: James B., dealer in
- cigars and tobacco, and one of the present aldermen of Janesville;
Colin Campbell, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work;
Fred C., an engineer of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway
Company, married Miss Clara WILCOX, and resides in Janesville;
Robert W. married Miss Luella KING, and is engaged in the drug
business in this city; Charles P. is an employe of the American
Express Company, at Milwaukee. Mr. McLEAN and his wife are members
of the Presbyterian Church at Janesville, and he belongs to the
A.F. & A.M., having been made a member in Somerset Lodge
No.34, of Somerset, Conn. He is now a member of Janesville Lodge.
- On coming to America Mr. McLEAN associated himself with the
Whig party, continuing his
- connection with that organization until its dissolution,
when he joined the new Republican party, supporting it with his
ballot until he became dissatisfied with the management and policy
of that body and joined the Democratic party. He has filled various
public offices of honor and trust. For several years he has been
a member of the Janesville Common Council, and for six years
has served as a member of the Board of Education. In each of
these offices he has served the best interests of the city with
fidelity and ability. Mr. McLEAN has a thorough knowledge of
all the branches of woolen manufacture, and is indefatigable
in his exertions to improve and perfect the factory under his
care and to insure its successful operation. He is a man of broad
views on subjects of general importance, well-informed and ripe
in the experience of the world. In person, he is of goodly size,
strongly built and robust, possesses a vigorous intellect, is
quick in perceptive faculties, and of a genial, kindly disposition.
In all his relations with men he is admired and respected for
his high sense of honor and strict integrity. The sterling traits
of character that distinguished his Highland ancestors are happily
preserved in his personality. A portrait of Mr. McLEAN will be
found upon another page.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 625-626; lithograph from
same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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