John A. McCleery

JOHN A. McCLEERY. - Prominent among the intelligent, capable and hopeful young men who came to Kansas City, Kansas, a quarter of a century ago and for many years were associated with one of the leading industries of this part of Wyandotte county was John A. McCleery, who was in the employ of the Swift Packing Company until his death, while yet in manhood's prime, on March 8, 1899. Coming from sturdy Scotch stock, he was born July 4, 1860, in Louisville, Kentucky.

His father, John H. McCleery, was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were en route from Scotland to America. He began life for himself in Kentucky, and for many years was a noted hotel keeper in the city of Louisville, where his death occurred in March, 1886. He was twice married. He married first a Miss Hartley, of Pennsylvania, and to them three children were born, all now residents of Louisville, namely: Melissa, wife of John Smith; Robert; and Albert. He married in Kentucky Mary Hartley, a sister of his first wife, and John A. McCleery, the subject of this brief biographical sketch, was their only child. She, too, preceded him to the life beyond, passing away in 1885.

Brought up in Louisville, Kentucky, John A. McCleery was educated in the public schools and at Spaulding's Business College. In June, 1886, after the death of his parents, he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and at once entered the Swift Packing House, in Kansas City, where he continued as a clerk until his death, as previously mentioned, being a faithful and trusted employe. He was a Democrat in politics.

Mr. McCleery married, December 24, 1882, Catherine E. Wilson, who was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, a daughter of C. E. and Carrie E. (Wellington) Wilson, and a granddaughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Wellington, natives of England, her grandfather having been a lineal descendant of the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Four children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McCleery, namely; John R., assistant land commissioner for R. A. Long, at Kansas City, Missouri; William, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, an engineer on the Great Northern Railway; Ethel, living with her widowed mother; and Gladys, a law stenographer, also living at home with her mother. Mrs. McCleery was educated in a Catholic school, and is a woman of much culture and refinement. She resides with her daughters on Barnett street, where she has a fine residence, which she has purchased since the death of her husband. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and is highly esteemed in social circles.