The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 719 

FRANCIS M. McLEAN.

Francis M. McLean is the owner of a valuable ranch of one hundred and twenty
acres in the Cowiche district of Yakima county and from his place there is to be
had one of the finest views in the valley. As evidence of his years of industry
there stands today a handsome residence upon his place and everything about his
ranch bespeaks the progressive, thorough methods which he has ever followed in
the achievement of his success.

A native of Minnesota, he was born in Houston county, October 5, 1859, his
parents being Thomas A. and Sarah (Armstrong) McLean, the former a native of
Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were early pioneers of Minnesota and
in the '50s they went to Denver, Colorado. In 1862 they removed to Texas, and
there they made their home among the Cherokee Indians for eighteen months. Later
the parents spent a few years in Iowa and then came to the Wenas valley of
Washington, on their way to the Sound, in November, 1865. Not being able to make
the crossing they went around by way of The Dalles and it so happened that they
settled in Clarke county, this state, where they remained for six years. At the
end of that period they retraced their steps to Kansas and later to Texas, going
from there to Arkansas, then to Missouri and Kansas and at length to Colorado,
these various removals covering a period of ten years. In 1884, they again made
their way to Clarke county, this state, and in later life the father came to
Yakima county, where he passed away. The above trips were all made by ox team
and the family therefore experienced all of the hardships and privations
incident to such travel, meeting with many adventures and also enjoying the
romance of the early days.

Francis M. McLean accompanied the family on their various removals and
therefore has a thorough knowledge of conditions in all of these states during
the pioneer period. About 1888 he came to Yakima county and at first worked for
others, carefully saving his wages. Thus he was enabled to rent land on the
Cowiche and later he acquired two hundred and forty acres here but of this he
sold all but one hundred and twenty acres. He devotes his land to grain and hay,
following general farming, and as the years have passed he has become one of the
prosperous agriculturists of his district, having always followed progressive
methods.

In 1890 Mr. McLean married Miss Lillie Frances Masters, a native of the Cowiche
valley and a daughter of Lafayette Masters, a pioneer of this district, who
after many years of farming opened the first store here. He also served as the
first postmaster of Cowiche. To Mr. and Mrs. McLean were born the following
named: Alice May and Rosella, both deceased; Jesse; Annie, at home; and
Ellsworth. Mrs. McLean passed away in 1913 and in her the family lost a devoted
wife and mother. Her death also caused deep sorrow to many friends, all of whom
had learned to love her for her many good qualities.

Mr. McLean votes independently, giving his support to the candidate whom he
considers best qualified for the office to which he aspires, and fraternally he
is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an honored pioneer who
not only has witnessed wonderful changes in this state but by his labors has
contributed toward making this one of the rich agricultural districts of the
country.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.