San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JUDGE SAMUEL S. McLAIN
A native of West Virginia, Judge
Samuel S. McLain was born at Parkersburg, on October 21, 1866, the youngest son
of Milton and Mary (Stukey) McLain. His father, Milton McLain, was born in Ohio
of Scotch parents, and removed to West Virginia where he became a very
prominent citizen and engaged in farming and stockraising extensively; in
partnership with his eldest son, Frank H. McLain, he was well known throughout
the eastern states as a stockman, doing an extensive business in cattle
shipping during the ‘80s and ‘90s.
On March 4, 1885, Mr. McLain left
his home and settled in Springfield, Missouri, where he spent two and a half
years, then came to California, going first to Pomona, but soon removed to
Chico, Butte County. Securing a position
as chief clerk in the Burns Hotel, he remained there for ten years, filling the
position with efficiency and during his residence in that city won many friends
by his congenial and pleasant manner. He
was also an active member of the California National Guards in 1889 and
’90. He then went into the mines of
northern California and spent three years in practical mining; then for several
years he was connected with various hotels throughout northern and central
California.
On January 15, 1900, he settled in
Tracy, then a village of scarcely 300 inhabitants, and he has been an
eyewitness to the wonderful growth and prosperity of this thriving city. In 1902 he was married to Miss Ella Hart, a
daughter of the late George Hart, prominently known for his fourteen
consecutive years of service as sheriff of Sonora, Tuolumne County,
California. During the World War, Mrs.
McLain took a prominent part in the Red Cross and war relief work in Tracy and
the west side of San Joaquin County. Mr.
McLain had control of the issuance of all licenses respecting firearms, powder,
etc., and also was active on the liberty loan committee. Politically he is identified with the
Democratic Party, and fraternally he is a member of the Elks, No. 218, Odd
Fellows and Encampment of Tracy, and has served three times as delegate to the
grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias.
During the past eight years, Judge McLain has administered justice for
his community, having been elected to the office of justice of the peace in
November, 1914, and was re-elected without opposition in November, 1918. On account of his thoroughness he has never
had a decision reversed after an appeal to a higher court. Judge and Mrs. McLain own their residence in
Tracy as well as other valuable real estate.
As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, he takes an active interest in
all matters that come to the attention of the organization.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
967. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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