Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Charles L. McLaughlin, who is recognized as one of the most thorough, painstaking and systematic farmers and stock-raisers of Poland township, Buena Vista county, Iowa, was born in Mercer county, Illinois, November 6, 1860, his parents being J. R. and Jane (Lossie) McLaughlin, natives of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and Trumbull county, Ohio, respectively.  The year 1840 witnessed their removal to Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother passing away in 1862 when forty-six years of age.

Charles L. McLaughlin remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age, when he removed to Sac county, Iowa, and for seven years was successfully engaged in the cultivation of a farm near Schaller, this state.  In 1893 he came to Buena Vista county, Iowa, and after a year's residence in Storm Lake took up his abode on his present farm, which is situated on section 20, within a mile and a half of Marathon.  The place comprises two hundred acres of rich and productive land and is equipped with many substantial improvements, including a commodious dwelling, good barns and all necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.  The farm is conceded to be one of the best in the county and its owner is well known and highly esteemed as a progressive and prosperous agriculturist.  His landed holdings likewise include a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Missouri.

On the 25th of March, 1886, Mr. McLaughlin was united in marriage to Miss Nancy S. Bristol, a daughter of J. S. and Juliet Bristol, natives of Mercer county, Illinois, who came to Iowa in 1885.  Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children, namely:  Lulu Jane, who is attending school at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Clifford J.; Anna Jane; Mabel Inez; and James Frederick.

In his political views Mr. McLaughlin is a stanch [sic] republican and fraternally is connected with the Modern Brotherhood. A genial and kindly disposition has won him many friends and he has the regard and esteem of all with whom his business or social relations have brought him in contact.