From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 714
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
GEORGE F.
McCLELLAND
One of the honored pioneers and distinguished citizens of Rice county is the popular and efficient postmaster of Frederic, George F McClelland. For many years he has been an important factor in the development and upbuilding of this portion of the Sunflower state, and his efforts have been of material benefit in advancing the general welfare and prosperity of the city in which he now makes his home. He is a native son of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Rochester, New York, on the 15th of May, 1853. His father, William McClelland, was of Scotch-Irish descent, his parents having been born near Belfast, Ireland. He was a clothier by occupation. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Lindsley, was also born near Belfast. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: Thomas and William, who are residents of Baltimore, Maryland; Findley, who occupies the position of postmaster in Michigan; George F, our subject; and Mrs Jennie Walker, who resides in Greenock, Scotland. The father of this family departed this life in Rochester, New York, at the age of fifty years, and the mother afterward returned to Belfast, Ireland, where she died at the age of sixty-eight years.
George F McClelland, the only one of the family residing in Kansas, was nine years of age when he removed from Rochester to Caledonia, Livingston county, New York, where he completed his education. The year 1877 witnessed his arrival in Rice county, Kansas, where he secured a homestead claim and erected a sod house thereon, keeping bachelor’s hall for a number of years. Everything was then new and wild, and Mr McClelland has not only seen this portion of the state grow from an unclaimed waste, with only a few inhabitants, to a rich agricultural country, containing thousands of good homes and acres of growing towns, inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but has participated in and assisted in the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce such a complete change. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Anna Dickson, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Mrs Margaret Dickson, a widow lady. Four children have been born of this union, - Edna, George Lindsley, Ruby and Edith. Mr McClelland has ever been an active and efficient worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and in his present position of postmaster of Frederic he is serving with credit and ability. He is well fitted for the office, having for several years served as deputy postmaster. In his social relations he is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is a man of marked intelligence, broad and progressive in his views, firm in his convictions and honorable in all business transactions.