JOHN G. M'LAREN, Huntington, Indiana. Master Mechanic.
There is room at the top in every trade and profession, and it is reached only after years of painstaking effort and thorough competency in every branch of the work that leads up to such a position. If a boy expects to reach the highest rank in his chosen calling he must make the start by being thorough at the outset of his career, and that is just what was done by John G. McLaren, who was born in Toronto, Canada, on September 10, 1862. His father was Daniel McLaren, a prominent dry-goods merchant of St. Marys, Ontario. He attended school until he was 15 years of age, and by diligent study and close application secured a first-class common-school education. After leaving school he worked for a short time as clerk in a grocery store, but his inclinations were not of a commercial nature, and he was just filling in the time until an opening would come in the line of work that appealed to him most strongly. It was not long before the desired opportunity came, and he entered the employ of the Great Western Railroad at Hamilton, Ontario, as an apprentice in the machine shops. His natural ability in the mechanical line rapidly pushed him to the front, and in four years' time he was declared to be one of the best machinists on the line. It was then he received a nattering offer from the Otis Machine Works of Cleveland, Ohio, which he accepted. He was given the important duty of testing machinery for the United States Government, and also for the Otis works. The fame of a thoroughly competent man travels rapidly, and Mr. McLaren soon had an offer from the Chicago & Grand Trunk for acceptance or rejection. He decided to accept, and for the next two years worked in the Grand Trunk's machine shops at Chicago. In 1885 Master Mechanic Joehan secured his services for the Erie, and assigned him to the Fifty-first street roundhouse at Chicago. For thirteen years Mr. McLaren was foreman of the machine shops and was also engine dispatcher at Chicago, and then he was promoted to general foreman. He did not hold this place long, for the company was in need of his services in a higher position, and in January, 1899, he was promoted to one of the highest places -- Master Mechanic of the Erie Railroad with headquarters at Huntington. One of the most pleasing features connected with Mr. McLaren's high position is the fact that he is universally liked. Engineers, firemen, trainmen, shopmen, all unite in his praise; while it is of course needless to remark that the officials of the road have the highest faith in his ability.

He was married October 15, 1894, to Miss Mary Gravell, daughter cf Benjamin Gravell, a blacksmith in the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific at Chicago. Mrs. McLaren is a member of the Eastern Star and holds a subordinate office in that order. She is very socially inclined, and is a very popular lady in Huntington's social circles. Mr. McLaren takes a deep interest in secret societies and devotes much of his spare time to the various orders to which he belongs. Among these are Star of the East Lodge, A.0.U.W., Chicago; Mystic Star Lodge No. 758, F. &. A.M.; Delta Chapter No. 191; Temple Council No. 58; Englewood Commandery No. 59; Medinah Temple No. 59; Ancient Arabian Order of Mystic Shriners. Mr. McLaren is highly respected by all who know him, and is an influential citizen of Huntington.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.