My Genealogy Hound

BEN. F. McLEAN, machinist, Bloomington. The power department of the Bloomington Chair Factory is kept in proper condition by Mr. Ben. F. McLean, who is a native of West Virginia; was born in 1830; in 1852 he came to this city, where he has since resided, with the exception of three years spent in the U. S. Army. His first work in Bloomington was to engage in a saw-mill as engineer, which he followed for four years; the company then changing, putting in machinery and doing iron work; Mr. McLean then taking charge of the machinery. This position he held until 1862, when he entered the U. S. army, enlisting in Co. A, 94th I. V. I., remaining in the army until the close of the rebellion; returning to Bloomington in 1865, he took charge of the machinery of the manufacturing company of Barber, Ives & Fell, which situation he held until 1873, when he entered the C. & A. R. R. car shops as assistant foreman, where he remained until 1875, when he accepted his present position with the Bloomington Chair Manufacturing Co.