Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Frank A. McMullen
The History of Daviess County
A.O.Fulkerson, editor. Indianapolis: B.F.Bowen, 1915. pp. 593-594
FRANK A. McMULLEN Among the worthy citizens of Elnora, Indiana, whose residence here has contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the vicinity, is Frank A. McMullen, for, while laboring for his individual advancement, he has never forgotten his obligations to the public, and his support of such measures and movements as have been made for the general good has always been depended upon. Although his life has been a busy one, he has never allowed his private interests to interfere with his obligations as a citizen and as a neighbor. Through the long years of his residence in this locality, he has ever been true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, and his reputation in a business way has been unassailable. Possessing in a marked degree those traits which have commanded uniform confidence and regard, he is today honored by all who know him and is numbered among the representative citizens of his community. Frank A. McMullen, the present genial postmaster of Elnora, Indiana, was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, on June 13, 1878, and is a son of Archie and Laura (Shirkliff) McMullen, natives respectively, of Ohio and Indiana. The paternal grandparents of F.A. McMullen were John and Mary (McCleary) McMullen, the former of whom was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Ireland. The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. McMullen, was John McMullen, who came from Ireland in an early day and located in eastern Ohio, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. In the late fifties, he settled near Dover Hill, where he again engaged in farming, and here lived the rest of his life, as well as his son, John, the grandfather of F.A. McMullen. Archie and John McMullen drove a team in the army. The maternal great-grandparents of Mr. McMullen were John and Mary (Gough) Shirkliff, the former of whom was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Andrew Jackson, and at New Orleans received a bullet wound, which bullet he carried until his death. He was a native of Tennessee, the family having originally come from France to the United States, settling first in Carolina, from whence they moved to Tennessee, and later, John Shirkliff moved to Kentucky. After remaining in that state for a time, he moved to Indiana, but later returned to Kentucky, where his death occurred. The maternal grandparents of Mr. McMullen were Alex and Rose (Gouch) Shirkliff, both natives of Kentucky. The Gough family came to Indiana more than one hundred years ago, settling in what is now Barr township, Daviess county, Indiana. Alex Shirkliff came from Kentucky also in an early day, settling near Mr. Pleasant, where he was engaged in watch making, and also conducted a blacksmith shop. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, while his wife, Rose Gough, had cousins who served in both the Union and Confederate armies during that great struggle, and who participated in the same battles. Archie McMullen, the father of Mr. McMullen, has been a farmer all his life and is now living on a farm in Washington township in this county, where he and his wife are the parents of the following children, Charles, Rose, Laura, Mrs. Mary Ketchem and F.A. Frank A. McMullen was educated in the common schools of his home township, and was a student in the University of Valparaiso, for two years. After leaving school, he engaged in teaching, which vocation he followed in Elnora township for ten years, and was very successful in his educational work. In 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Elnora, and is now efficiently serving his fellow citizens in that capacity. Mr. McMullen was married in 1908 to Lola Sears, a daughter of Luther Sears, of Elmore township, and to this union have been born four children, Lois, Lewis, Gerald and Donald. Mrs. McMullen is a native of this county, and is a lady of much culture and refinement. She is an active member of the Church of Christ. Mr. McMullen is an adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, and has always taken an active interest in its affairs. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the welfare of which organization he takes an active interest.
Contributed by: John D. McMullen