The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-12-31
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J.T.M'CIeary Dead

/ James Thompson McCleary, former
| congressman from the Second Mime.
sofa congressional district, died at 9
hospital at La Crosse, Wis, Wednes-
day of last week. The McCleary fam
lily resides at Maiden Rock, Wis, anc
Mr.. McCleary went to the La Crosse
hospital for the treatment the week
previous to his demise. He is sur
vived by his widow and son, Leslie.
Mr.. McCleary was born Feb. 5, 1858
in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. His
father, Thompson McCleary, was an
architect and builder. His mothers
maiden name was Sarah McCutcheon.
He was educated in the common
schools of his native town and McGill
university, Montreal. He came to the
United States shortly before coming
of age, and settled in Wisconsin,
where he followed his chosen vocation
of teacher, and in a few years was
made Superintendent of the public
schools of Pierce county. His active
interest in teachers Institutes soon
won him considerable reputation, as
champion of the newer and better
methods of education and the quality
of his work stamped him as man of
mark.
In 1881 he accepted the position of
ia and professor of history and civics
in the State Normal school, now
Teachers college at Mankato, which
city. he then made his home. He at
once became prominent in education
al circles and, in vacation seasons con-
Quoted teachers Institutes in Wiscon-
sin, Dakota, Virginia, Tennessee and
Colorado. He published in 1888, g
work entitled Studies in Civics," and
this was followed in 1894 by "A Man
ual of Civics." Both of these books
possess much merit and are now used
/ as textbooks in the best schools of the
country.
/ In 1883 he served as secretary OF
the Minnesota Educational associa-
ton, and as it's president in 1891. His
studies of economical questions es
pecially fitted him for a statesman
and this was recognized by the Sec
/ ond district, where in 1892, he was
nominated by the republican party
and elected to congress, in which po-
sition he was continued by his con-
stituents, with increased majorities
each successive election, until finally
defeated by the late w. S. Hammond
His famous speech on the currency
question in the fifty-fourth congress
was the ablest discussion of the great
money issue of that day ever given
and contributed more to the defeat OF
the silver heresy than any other thing
and brought him at once to national
prominence. Many of his other
| speeches, such as the one against the
repeal of the federal election laws
and on the tariff, made a profound
! impression upon the country, and
raised him to a position of national
prominence. He was recognized as
one of the leading members of the
lower house of congress and his col
leagues regarded him as an authority
on the great questions of the day.
Mr. McCleary was reared in the
Presbyterian church. He was mar
ried in 1874 to Mary Edith Taylor
Their union has been blessed with
one son. Leslie McCleary, who acted
as his fathers private secretary.
Mr.. McCleary once served as assis-
tant postmaster general.
For years after his retirement from
congress, Mr.. McCleary was secretary
of the Steel Institute, from which po-
sition he retired on account of ill
health.