William McLaren

William McLaren passed away Saturday afternoon at the family home in 
West Bishop, after an illness of many months.  His age was 73 years, 
9 months, 9 days.  He was a native of Troy NY.

He was orphaned when 11 years old.  When 22, he started for the 
Golden West, by ship, landing at Stockton in 1868.  The Virginia 
City mines were then in full vigor, and he soon went to Nevada.  He 
was married in Carson Valley December 25, 1870 to Miss Adelaide 
McLaren.  In 1872 they bought the West Bishop ranch property which 
has been the family home continuously since.  Mrs. McLaren, a son, 
Leroy C. McLaren, and three daughters, Mrs. Lulu Cox, Mrs. Stella 
Shepard, and Miss Zelma McLaren, survive the loss of the husband and 
father.  Another son, Elmer, died a few years ago.

Mr. McLaren has been one of our community's solid citizens.  A man 
of open, upright character whose word was worth its full face value, 
with convictions sincere and unmixed with malice, unobtrusive, 
companionable, he was held as a friend by every one who knew him.  
Many of the friends of years as well us of more recent standing made 
up the unusually large funeral procession Sunday afternoon.  W. L. 
Rowan gave a sympathetic and appreciative address at the family home.

An incident of Mr. McLaren's younger days was his hauling, as a 
freighter, from Aurora to Independence the historic old press with 
which Chalfant and Parker started the Inyo Independent in 1870, and 
which is still used in that office.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, July 1, 1920 - Front Page

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, July 11, 2004