Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.335

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 335

Pennsylvania, having attained the advanced age of eighty-seen years, and they had children as follows: Austin M., died January 7, 1906; Thomas, deceased; Frank, a lumberman in Blair county, Pennsylvania; James A., of whom later; Bernard, residing at home; Matilda, deceased; Ellen J., at home; and Nora, who was a sister of charity at Mount St. Vincent, died in 1889.
    James A. McClain, third son of Bernard, and Nora (Brew) McClain, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1849. His education was acquired in the public schools of his town in very early boyhood, for, although but nine years of age, at the time of his father's death he was obliged to take up the battle of life for himself, and his success is due to an indomitable will and a high conception of right and justice, which has marked his character up to the present. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as operator and agent at Julian Furnace, in 1871, remained there three years, and was then transferred to Milesburg, which position he retained until 1882, when he was advanced to the position of agent and dispatcher at Snowshoe, but remained there but a short time. In the autumn of that year he was elected by a handsome majority to the office of register of wills and clerk of the orphans' court of Centre county, and at the expiration of his term, in 1884, was re-elected. At the conclusion of his second term he established himself in the mercantile business in Bellefonte, in which he was personally active until 1891. In May, 1892, he removed to Cambria county and located at Spangler, which was then in its infancy. With his keen business acumen he saw a bright future for the place, and at once erected a building and stocked it with merchandise; he also opened stores at Hastings and Barnesboro, in all of which he did an extensive and profitable business. He opened and operated two coal mines, one at Spangler, the other at Bakerton, and in the development of the vast coal fields of North Cambria he was a leading factor.
    As one of the organizers of the Spangler Water Company, he was largely instrumental in erecting a large reservoir and installing a water system, which supplies the towns of Barnesboro and Spangler, and he has continuously served as secretary of that corporation. He was the promoter of the Spangler Building and Loan Association, which was organized in 1893, and for many years occupied the position of secretary, and upon its reorganization was chosen president. He is also a member of the Spangler Improvement Company, a corporation which included such prominent men as Ex-Governor Beaver, of Hastings; Bigler Bros., of Clearfield; Colonel J. L. Spangler, etc., which has for its object the building up of the town, and all affairs of this company have been entirely under his control. The First National Bank of Spangler, which was incorporated March 1, 1901, and is one of the most flourishing banks in Cambria county, owes its existence to him, for it was through his personal and indefatigable efforts that his fellow townsmen were prevailed upon to invest their capital in such an institution, and as a mark of confidence in his integrity and ability, he was elected cashier and has practically charge of its affairs.
    Aside from the above enterprises, Mr. McClain has been largely interested in many independent building operations, and he succeeded in stimulating others to erect substantial and handsome homes, adding to the beauty and stability of the town. In everything pertaining to the betterment of his home town he takes a leading part, and lends cordial support to advancing its interests. In politics Mr. McClain is a pronounced Democrat, and although not an aspirant for office, is an influential

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	335
Pennsylvania, having attained the advanced age of eighty-seen years, and they had children as follows: Austin M., died January 7, 1906; Thomas, deceased; Frank, a lumberman in Blair county, Pennsylvania; James A., of whom later; Bernard, residing at home; Matilda, deceased; Ellen J., at home; and Nora, who was a sister of charity at Mount St. Vincent, died in 1889. James A. McClain, third son of Bernard, and Nora (Brew) McClain, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1849. His education was acquired in the public schools of his town in very early boyhood, for, although but nine years of age, at the time of his father's death he was obliged to take up the battle of life for himself, and his success is due to an indomitable will and a high conception of right and justice, which has marked his character up to the present. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as operator and agent at Julian Furnace, in 1871, remained there three years, and was then transferred to Milesburg, which position he retained until 1882, when he was advanced to the position of agent and dispatcher at Snowshoe, but remained there but a short time. In the autumn of that year he was elected by a handsome majority to the office of register of wills and clerk of the orphans' court of Centre county, and at the expiration of his term, in 1884, was re-elected. At the conclusion of his second term he established himself in the mercantile business in Bellefonte, in which he was personally active until 1891. In May, 1892, he removed to Cambria county and located at Spangler, which was then in its infancy. With his keen business acumen he saw a bright future for the place, and at once erected a building and stocked it with merchandise; he also opened stores at Hastings and Barnesboro, in all of which he did an extensive and profitable business. He opened and operated two coal mines, one at Spangler, the other at Bakerton, and in the development of the vast coal fields of North Cambria he was a leading factor. As one of the organizers of the Spangler Water Company, he was largely instrumental in erecting a large reservoir and installing a water system, which supplies the towns of Barnesboro and Spangler, and he has continuously served as secretary of that corporation. He was the promoter of the Spangler Building and Loan Association, which was organized in 1893, and for many years occupied the position of secretary, and upon its reorganization was chosen president. He is also a member of the Spangler Improvement Company, a corporation which included such prominent men as Ex-Governor Beaver, of Hastings; Bigler Bros., of Clearfield; Colonel J. L. Spangler, etc., which has for its object the building up of the town, and all affairs of this company have been entirely under his control. The First National Bank of Spangler, which was incorporated March 1, 1901, and is one of the most flourishing banks in Cambria county, owes its existence to him, for it was through his personal and indefatigable efforts that his fellow townsmen were prevailed upon to invest their capital in such an institution, and as a mark of confidence in his integrity and ability, he was elected cashier and has practically charge of its affairs. Aside from the above enterprises, Mr. McClain has been largely interested in many independent building operations, and he succeeded in stimulating others to erect substantial and handsome homes, adding to the beauty and stability of the town. In everything pertaining to the betterment of his home town he takes a leading part, and lends cordial support to advancing its interests. In politics Mr. McClain is a pronounced Democrat, and although not an aspirant for office, is an influential