My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE S. McCLINTON, Superintendent and General Manager of the Sedalia Planing-mill Company, owns over one-fifth of the stock. The plant was organized in 1889, but Mr. McClinton’s connection with it dates from April, 1894. The company has a capital stock of $10,000, paid in, and transacts a very extensive business.

Nathaniel McClinton, the great-grandfather of our subject, was an Orangeman, and served in the English army under Wellington. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States, settling in Moon Township, Allegheny County, Pa., in 1816. There he improved and cultivated a farm until just before his death, which occurred when he was in his eighty-ninth year. He was a Protestant and a member of the Presbyterian Church. One of his sons, John, the father of George S., was born in 1823, and learned the trade of wagon-making in his native county. In 1868 he moved to Allegheny City, remaining there until 1889, when he came West, and now, at the age of seventy-two years, is a resident of Sedalia. Mary J., wife of John McClinton, was a daughter of Robert Miller, a carpenter, who came of an old Pennsylvania family. Mrs. McClinton died in 1893, at Windsor, Mo., and of her five children all but one grew to maturity. George S. is the eldest of the three living children. William J. was in the Fourth Pennsylvania Artillery for nine months during the late war; then for three years was in the Fifth United States Infantry, and for five years served in the Third United States Cavalry, under General Terry, in the Sioux campaign, and at the battle of Little Big Horn was a Sergeant. He died in Sheridan, Wyo., January 5, 1895. Charles A. is a farmer of this county; and N. F. is a conductor, and a resident of Allegheny City.

George S. McClinton was born in Allegheny County, Pa., January 15, 1850, and was a student in the common schools until the spring of 1867, when he was apprenticed as a carpenter and stair-builder with A. & S. Wilson, of Pittsburg. Leaving them at the end of three years, he worked for different firms until 1871, when he came West, but only remained a month, at the end of that time returning to his old home. In the spring of 1872 he went to Washington, Pa., and the following year engaged in contracting and building in Pittsburg, afterwards being employed in a planing-mill for a year. In 1875 he went to Chicago, and later to St. Louis, where he gave his principal attention to stair-building. In the spring of 1878 he began taking contracts for stairs, and was thus employed until 1890. The next twenty-six months he was Superintendent of M. H. Boals & Sons’ mills. In May, 1893, he proceeded to St. Louis and from there came to this city, where after working as a journeyman in the Sedalia Planing-mill a year, he was promoted to the superintendency.

The planing-mill is located on Second Street and extends half a block on Mill Street. The warehouse is 50x120 feet, the mill 80x60 in dimensions and two stories in height. Modern machinery and improved plans for the manufacture of mouldings, sash, doors, blinds and stairs are in use, and an engine of seventy-five-horse power is required. In busy times forty men are required to carry on the business and more than half of that number are constantly retained. The mill is the largest of the kind in central Missouri and its stock is now above par.

In 1871 Mr. McClinton was married, in Pittsburg, to Helen G. Showman, who was born in New Castle, Pa. Of the children born to them, eight are now living, and the two eldest, Joseph L. and Clifford L., are employed in their father’s planing-mill. The younger ones are Estolee R., Frank G., George S., Jr., Edith C, Margaret M. and Roy. Our subject is a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, and is independent in politics. He is a man of strict temperance, and is a valued member of the United Presbyterian Church.