Sacramento County
Biographies
DONALD McCLAIN
DONALD
McCLAIN—A popular young businessman and
enterprising, progressive citizen, was the late Donald McClain, a native son
proud of his association with this great commonwealth. Born near Franklin, Sacramento County, November 4, 1884, he was a son of Frank
McClain, a rancher of that vicinity. Donald McClain attended the public school
at Franklin as well as at Elk Grove, and after being
graduated from the latter he entered Atkinson’s Business College in Sacramento, where he pursued the regular course,
and was duly graduated. He then entered the office of the secretary of state,
Charles F. Curry, where he spent several years in pleasant and profitable
employment. Resigning his position, he spent four years as assistant in the
city auditor’s office under Fred Carey; and on the consolidation of the city
assessor’s and city auditor’s offices under one head, he served in the same
capacity under Ed Haynes. His fidelity, and the increasing value of his
experience were much appreciated, and he continued in his position for a
further period of eight years, making twelve years of service in the city hall.
He then resigned to take up farming at Walnut Grove, being interested with his
aunt, Mrs. Sol Runyon, and his brother Harry, as owners and operators of the
Point ranch on Andrus Island, devoted to the raising of fruit and
asparagus.
Mr. McClain was married in Sacramento on August 10, 1911, to Miss Bertha L.
Russell. She was born at Lakeview, Lake County,
Ore., a daughter of Robert and Josie (Chatfield)
Russell, native son and daughter of California and both
representatives of pioneer families. Robert Russell was a lumber manufacturer, a member of the
Russell Lumber Company, and was also a farmer and stockman in southern Oregon. Mrs. McClain was the oldest of their
three children, and received her education in the Sacramento schools. Mr. McClain was greatly
interested in the civic and social affairs of the county. He was secretary of
the Farmers’ Protective Association, and was also one of the organizers and the
secretary of the California Asparagus Growers’ Association, working zealously
and filling the office until the association was well established, when he
resigned a short time before he was called away. He was also secretary of
Andrus Island Reclamation District until the time of his passing. He was not
permitted long to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he was called from the
scene of his constructive efforts on February 4,1923, at thirty-eight years of
age, deeply mourned by his family and friends.
Mr. McClain was a prominent Mason, being a
past master of Tehama Lodge, F. & A. M., of Sacramento, and was also a Knight Templar and a
thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, as well as a charter member of Ben
Ali Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the same city; and with his wife he
was a member of Onisbo Chapter, O. E. S., of
Courtland, of which he was a past patron and Mrs. McCain a past matron. Mr.
McClain was also a popular member of Sunset Parlor, N. S. G. W., and of the
Rotary Club in the capital city. In national politics, he was a Republican.
Transcribed
by Gloria Wiegner Lane.
Source: Reed, G. Walter,
History of Sacramento County, California
With Biographical Sketches, Page 604. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Gloria Wiegner
Lane.