History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 956, Woodland Township
William McLaren, farmer and stock-raiser; many years have come
and gone since the advent of William McLaren in this county; over half
a century ago four of the McLaren brothers crossed the ocean from
Scotland and settled in Fulton county, Illinois. Wm. was born in
Scotland in the year 1820. In July, 1841, he was united in marriage to
Miss Rachel Fike, a daughter of John and Sally Fike, to whom 9 children
were born, - Nancy, John N., Christopher C., Wm. R., Mary, Israel,
Francis M., Caroline and Belle. Mr. McL. first entered an 80-acre tract
on which he erected the usual rough, hewed-log cabin and settled down
for hard work, many acres of heavy timber yielding before his well
directed effort. Mrs. McLaren was born in Ohio; of her parents, save
the name, but little is known as they died during the early years of
Mrs. M. John Fike was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was married to
Miss Sally Wilkie, by whom he had 11 children: but three are living at
the present writing.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 499-500; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William McLaren was a pioneer of this county and for many
years was very active in developing its agricultural resources and was
one of the leading farmers and stock growers of Woodland Township. His
death July 12, 1890, was a loss to the community of which he had been
so long a valued member.
William McLaren was a native of Scotland, born March 15, 1820.
His father and mother were also natives of that country, but concluding
that they could better their condition by emigration, they came to
America in 1822. They settled in Indiana amongst its early pioneers.
They had been too poor to pay their passage on the ship, and had
contracted to work for a man by the name of Robbs after landing here,
he paying their steamer fare. The country in which they settled was new
and very thinly inhabited. The father labored there at farm work, and
died about 1837. After that the mother of our subject moved with her
children to this county and made her home near Astoria the rest of her
life.
The subject of this notice was only two years old when his
parents brought him from the land of his nativity to this country. His
early boyhood days were passed amid the primitive scenes of pioneer
life in Indiana and he attended school in a rude log schoolhouse. He
worked at odd jobs and carefully saved up the money that he thus
earned. He was about seventeen years old when his father died, and soon
after that came to this county with his mother, making the journey
overland with an ox-team and lumber wagon. He was very industrious and
a hard worker and supported his mother comfortably in her old days.
In early manhood, Mr. McLaren entered one hundred and sixty
acres of land on section 5 and 8, Woodland Township, and erected
thereon a hewed log house for the shelter of the family. His farm was
heavily timbered and he cleared and improved it in a good shape placing
upon it substantial farm buildings, making neat fences and doing all
that he could to make it a model farm. In 1870, he left the farm and
retired to Summum in the same township, where he purchased a house and
lot. He superintended his farm for sometime after moving into the
village and raised a goodly amount of stock. For four years he carried
the mail from Summum to Astoria. Always a true and consistent Christian
whose upright, unblemished life was an example for others to follow,
our subject was a valued member of the Methodist Church. In politics he
agreed with the Republican party. He held several minor offices in the
township and was accounted a good civic official by all who knew him.
Mr. McLaren was greatly indebted for the position he attained in
life and for what he accomplished to the invaluable assistance of a
wife, who is a woman of great capability and is an exceedingly good
manager. Her marriage with our subject was solemnized July 18, 1841.
Mrs. McLaren was formerly Miss Rachael Fike, and she was born in Ohio,
June 12, 1823. Her parents John and Sallie (Wilkey) Fike, were natives
of Pennsylvania, and were there reared and married and had two children
born to them before they became pioneers of Ohio. They resided on a
farm in the Buckeye State for a time and then removed to Indiana and
from there to Morgan County, Ill. They subsequently took up their
residence in Pike County, whence they started for Texas. When about
sixty miles beyond the Red River in the Lone Star State, the son died
and the family was so discouraged that they started back. When they
arrived in Arkansas, the father died near the Arkansas River and the
remaining members of the sorrowing family returned to this State and
settled once more in Morgan County. The father was forty years old at
the time of his premature death. He was a prominent Methodist and was
Class Leader in his Church. In politics he sided with the Democrats.
The mother of our subject also died comparatively young as she was but
forty years old at the time of her death. She reared eight children:
Jeremiah, Josiah, Abraham, James B., Rachael, Mahala, Sallie, and
William The mother of our subject was also a devout Methodist.
The happy wedded life of our subject and his amiable wife
resulted in the birth of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity
as follows: Nancy J., Mrs. Palmer, John N., Christopher C., William R.,
Mary C., Mrs. Shanks, Israel, Francis M., and Belle, Mrs. Markely. Mrs.
McLaren is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is a
woman whose kind heart, motherly ways, and many sterling qualities have
gained her general esteem throughout the community.
