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William McClintock

William McClintock, a retired journalist who since 1851 has been a resident of West Union, was born in Arcadia, Wayne County, N. Y., August 13, 1821, and is a son of James and Hepsibah (Jones) McClintock. His father was born in Hillsboro, N. H., and was descended from an old New Hampshire family of Scotch origin. His mother was also a native of Hillsboro. They removed to New York soon after their marriage and subsequently became residents of Geauga County, Ohio, where for twenty years our subject made his home. Upon his father's farm he was reared to manhood and in his youth acquired an academic education. Not wishing to engage in agricultural pursuits, he turned his attention to the study of law and was admitted to the bar in Geauga County, in 1849, practicing there until his emigration to Iowa two years later.

In the meantime, Mr. McClintock was united in marriage in 1850 with Miss Athalia M. Lacy, a native of Aurora, Ohio, and a daughter of Jasper Lacy. By their union was born five children, three sons and two daughters - Frank, the eldest, married Miss Fannie Kent and is living in Grand Junction, Col.; Addie died in March, 1887; Nell B. is the wife of H. B. Blackmum of West Union; Will H. married Mattie Fawcett and is living in Chicago; Fred is single and also makes his home in Chicago.

On coming to West Union in 1851, Mr. McClintock opened a law office and continued practice until about 1871, doing a fair legal business. In addition to his labors in that line he took upon himself the management of a paper on the 1st of January, 1866, at which time there was no other paper in the county. He established the Fayette County Union and continued its publication until 1878, when he retired to private life. About nine years later however, he entered upon the duties of postmaster of West Union, to which he was appointed in March, 1887. He faithfully discharged the duties of the office until April 10, 1890, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent. Mr. McClintock is the oldest surviving journalist of Fayette County and has been identified with the press and bar of the county for thirty-nine years. He has always been a consistent supporter of the Democracy and in the interest of his party published the Fayette County Union. On considering the many years in which his party was in the minority in Iowa and the hostile feeling against it, especially during the dark days of the late war, we see that he must have had special reasons for his unswerving support. Principle was the foundation for his consistency and even his political enemies gave him their respect, knowing his motives. He is held in high regard throughout the entire community and is well worthy a representation in this volume.