Ed McLearn

Edwin Almon McLearn born 18 Jul 1866 in Five Mile River, Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Died 25 Feb 1926 (aged 59) Garfield County, Colorado, USA.  Married Julia Ethel Schauder.  They are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle Colorado.

 Ed McLearn built McLearn Mercantile in Rifle CO and has many ties throughout Garfield County.

Ed McLearn had just begun construction at the time of the 1902 fire. What looks like rubble in the street, is actually new stones delivered.
The original wood store was on the same location. McLearn had built a stone warehouse just north across the alley. Was operating out of it, and its basement, while building his new store.
He opened his warehouse store and townspeople grabbed anything useful to fight the fire. I.E. buckets, blankets, tools, anything and everything.
Ed McLearn, the Rifle merchant, rancher, and builder. He was also County Commissioner for Garfield County from 1913 to 1916. During that time he made roads a priority and rebuilt 54 miles.

     

Ed and his daughter Winona McLearn

McLearn Family Portrait  Top L-R Sam, Nick, Ed, Matt, Scott, Hawes, Jim

Bottom L-R Lillius, James, Kitty, Lucy & Hubert

Original Wood Building for McLearn Mercantile

Image from the Rifle Revielle Newspaper 1902

This building still stands today and house many businesses downstairs and has apartments upstairs.

 

Ed McLearn served as County Commissioner for years.  Here he is at the opening of a bridge about 1910. 

L-R  ? Fravert, Unknown, (men in car are unknown), Ed McLearn, Hiway Engineer, Charles Zaylor ICounty Attorney, Otto Hahnevald, unknown.

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