McClellan, Dr. John M. 1865-1931
Oneonta Obituary
Dr.
J. M. McClellan
Stricken
Suddenly
Conscientious
Practitioner
Here
for 33 Years Victim
of
Angina Pectoris
Dr. John M. McClellan, for the past 43 years a
medical practitioner in Hartwick and Oneonta, the last 33 years in
this city, died suddenly yesterday afternoon shortly after 2 o'clock
at his farm located near the county tuberculosis sanatorium at Mt.
Vision from angina pectoris.
Dr. McClellan left Oneonta about 1 o'clock for the
farm and after his arrival there had started to mow the lawn.
However, he cut but one strip through the grass before he had warning
of his condition, for he stopped then and went to his car. It was
not until about 4 o'clock that it was found that he was dead. Fred
Walters noticing that he was apparently sleeping behind the wheel of
his car on a trip past the farm, and upon his return he noticed that
Dr. McClellan had not moved.
He called a friendly greeting, sensing that something
might be wrong, and when the man failed to respond he went to the
car. Mr. Walters immediately notified Dr. Frank C. Winsor at the
sanatorium, who rushed to the scene, accompanied by nurses from the
institution. Upon their arrival it was found that Dr. McClellan had
apparently been dead for some time and Dr. Winsor pronounced angina
pectoris the cause. From the position of his hands it is thought
that in his last seconds he reached for a hypodermic needle in his
pocket.
While Dr. McClellan's family had noticed that he
seemed to be somewhat unsteady on a motor trip Sunday, it was thought
that this was due to heavy traffic and in the absence of any comment
from him little more consideration was given to his condition. A
family gathering was held at the home Sunday and he seemed to be in
usual health, as he did yesterday morning.
Funeral services will be held from the family home,
17 Elm street, Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Dr.
James C. Russell and Rev. C. Frederic Fraser, pastors of the first
Presbyterian church. Burial will be made in the family plot of the
cemetery at Laurens.
John M. McClellan was born January 29, 1865, at
Albany, the son of William and Sarah (Riddell) McClellan. He
attended the Albany public schools and later graduated from Albany
Business college, the Albany College of Pharmacy and Albany Medical
college, in the class of 1888 from the latter institution.
He had practiced his profession for the past 43
years, first at Hartwick for 11 years, during which he spent a period
of about a year at Fort Wayne, Ind. He came to Oneonta in 1898 and
this city had since been his home. Dr. McClellan was keenly devoted
to his profession and rarely did he fail to respond to a call,
regardless of his own physical condition or the obstacles of the
journey, sometimes taking him many miles through winter snow. For a
period of 11 years he was able to answer every call, whether in the
city or the surrounding community.
As this record indicates, Dr. McClellan took more
than usual interest in his patients and oftentimes he was at the
bedside of one critically ill, practically 24 hours a day for eight
or ten consecutive days. With such close application to his cases,
he had been a successful practitioner and he had won innumerable
friends among his patients and those who observed his application to
his chosen work.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Maude (Field)
McClellan, whom he married at Hartwick in 1894; three children,
Harry J. McClellan, of 103 East street, manager of the Liggett store
here, John McClellan, residing at home, and Miss Dorothy McClellan,
a student at Albany Business college; one granddaughter, Betty Jane
McClellan; and a brother, William McClellan, of Binghamton. To them
he was particularly devoted and they will have the sincere sympathy
of wide circles of friends in their loss. A son, Mathew, did as an
infant a number of years ago and a daughter, Miss Marguerite
McClellan, died at Nutley, N. J., in 1920.
Dr. McClellan was of a family which has shown itself
particularly interested in ministering to human illness, conspicuous
success having been attained by brothers and cousins in medicine and
nursing service. However, none gave more liberally of their effort
than did Dr. John M. McClellan, whose sacrifice of physical strength
to his work brought his sudden passing.
Dr. McClellan and Frank H. Bresee, president of the
Oneonta Department store, organized the Hartwick water company during
the time they were both residents of that village and both remained
directors of that venture, being close personal friends and having
been engaged in other enterprises, among them the Central hotel
company.
Largely
Attended Funeral
Services for
Dr. McClellan
Funeral services for Dr. J. M. McClellan, held
yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home, 17 Elm
street, were largely attended by relatives, patients and friends,
Dr. James C. Russell and Rev. C. Frederic Fraser, pastors of the
First Presbyterian church, officiated and interment was made in the
family plot of the cemetery at Laurens.
In the eulogy, Dr. Russell spoke highly of the life
of the deceased, of which a summary will be found below:
Practically the entire life of Dr. McClellan was
spent in theis community and he was interested in everything that
pertained to the municipality. He was a modest man, never thrusting
himself before others, and a successful practitioner who gained the
confidence as well as the sympathy of his large clientele.
Dr. McClellan was a workman, who needeth not be
ashamed, verily he was his reward in the hearts of a large number of
people. He will not soon be forgotten.
Bearers were Frank G. Sherman, Frank H. Bresee, Dr.
Julian C. Smith, David A. Diefendorf, James M. Dickson and Frank R.
Pashley. Flower bearers included; Eber Hix, Dr. Marshall Latcher,
Dr. Frank L. Winsor of Laurens, Dr. George Schoolcraft of Hartwick,
Burton Hulbert, Alva Seybolt, Arthur M. Butts, John Taylor and
George Wohlleben.
Organizations sending flowers, in addition to many
individual pieces sent by relatives, patients and friends, included
Women's association of the first Presbyterian church, Otsego county
Medical society, Managers of Liggett Drug stores in New York state,
Employes of the Oneonta Lissgett store, Employes of the Wilber
National bank, Employes of the Oneonta Prudential office, Employes
of the Victory store at 230 Main street, a group of friends and
neighbors.
Among those from out of the city attending the
service were: William McClellan, Hamilton; Mrs. Harold Hillis, New
York city; Dr. Harold Teed and Eugene Carr, Sidney; Frank Teed,
Masonville; Floyd Steward and family, Unadilla; John Field and Mrs.
Clara Holbrook, Cooperstown; Mrs. Laney Donaldson and Anthony Lance,
Utica; Mrs. Helen Bradley,
