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Below is a family biography included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published by Weakley, Harraman & Co. in 1885. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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JAMES H. McLEAN, manufacturer, and inventor of the “McLean Rocker,” Vevay, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. His father, William S., was born in the same State in 1796, and died in 1858, having been by trade a cabinet-maker. His mother, Lucy Nelson, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1801, and died in 1874 Mr. McLean obtained an education in the common branches of study only. In 1851 he married Miss Martha J. Aaron, who was born in Kentucky in 1834, and ten children were born to them, four dying in infancy. The living are: Mary Belle, Carrie, Lucy E., James E., John H. and Bertie M. In his early life Mr. McLean was engaged on the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers as engineer and pilot in which occupation he continued up to 1863. From that date to 1870 he was employed by N. W. Casey & Bro., coal miners, as superintendent. In 1870 he began the furniture business, in which he is still engaged. Mr. McLean invented his celebrated rocker in 1874, and in 1885 he was instrumental in organizing a company and procuring the necessary machinery for the manufacture of that and other chairs at Vevay. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., G. T., S. of T., and Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of business capacity and enterprise.
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This family biography is one of 215 biographies included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published in 1885 by Weakley, Harraman & Co. For the complete description, click here: Switzerland County, Indiana History and Genealogy
View additional Switzerland County, Indiana family biographies here: Switzerland County, Indiana Biographies
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