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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of William McLAREN 

Pages 499-500, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: FIKE, McLAREN, MARKLEY, PALMER, ROBBS, SHANKES, WILKEY] 

    
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 add 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 is 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.