Frank was a middle son. Art was younger and John was older.
He was born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa.
His father disappeared when he was just 11 or 12 years old.
According to Joyce (Freestone) McClellan, "Frank used to tell about learning how to swim after jumping from the railroad bridge into the Des Moines River. Sink or swim must have been the system!"
At about 14, he lied about his age to enlist in army towards the end of Spanish-American War (Philippine Insurrection); probably 1899-1900. He was assigned to a cavalry unit and learned blacksmithing there.
Frank continued his work as a blacksmith after the war. For many years, he worked for the Dain Manufacturing Company in Ottumwa. This later became John Deere Ottumwa Works.
While at Dain/Deere during World War 2 he designed and built a trenching plow for the US Army.
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Frank is 25 degrees from Charlotte Brontë, 19 degrees from Louisa May Alcott, 33 degrees from Victoria Benedictsson, 26 degrees from Rosalind Nield, 22 degrees from Elizabeth Gaskell, 32 degrees from Amy de Leeuw, 20 degrees from Harriet Arbuthnot, 25 degrees from Aurore Dupin de Francueil, 27 degrees from Isabella Crawford and 21 degrees from Barry Smith on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
M > McClellan > Frank Earl McClellan
Categories: John Deere Employees