Biography of Howard B. McCord, pages 568/569/570. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. It is progressive, wideawake men of affairs that make the real history of a community, and their influence in shaping an directing its varied interests is difficult to estimate. The well known gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection has long ranked among the leading business men of Auburn, and it is to such enterprising spirits as he that the locality is indebted for the high position it occupies as a center of commercial activity and progress. Howard B. McCord was born on April 1, 1862, about one mile southeast of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son of George S. and Eliza J. (McClenathan) McCord. George S. McCord was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1835, and on March 26, 1861, he married Elizabeth J. McClenathan, who continued his faithful and loving companion for over thirty-five years. Two years after consummation of this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McCord came to Auburn, Indiana, where they lived about six years and then moved to Fort Wayne, this state, where Mr. McCord was superintendent of a bucket factory. In 1875 they returned to Auburn where they made their future home and where George S. resumed contracting, which he had followed here prior to this removal to Fort Wayne. Later he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business for Schaab Brothers, and when they eliminated that department from their business, Mr. McCord went into that line of effort on his own account and continued in it until his death. He is exacting and methodical in everything he did and this characteristic was exercised in the last hours of his illness when he made a careful preparation and disposal of his business affairs just as he would were he starting upon a journey. Morally and spiritually, he was of unblemished character and had for many years been ready for the call whenever it might come. As was said of him by one who knew him, “Not only did he live this informal service and devotion, but in his daily life it was exemplified.” He was a skillful workman, a sound business man and made a success of whatever he turned his attention to. He was a great lover of nature and in God’s out-of-doors he received his greatest inspirations and keenest insight into spiritual life. He died on December 22, 1906, at the age of seventy-one years approaching death with the calm serenity of a true Christian, “Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.” Howard B. McCord was reared in Auburn and Fort Wayne and secured his education in the public schools of these cities. When eighteen years old he taught a term of school and then became a clerk in F. E. Davenport’s drug store. Which at that time stood at the corner of Eighth and Main streets, on the site where the City National Bank is now located. In July, 1887, Mr. McCord bought a half interest in the drug store owned by Robbins & Son, he and E. F. Robbins continuing the business where Mr. McCord is now. In 1897, Mr. Robbins retired and Mr. McCord has continued the business alone ever since. He carries a large and well selected stock of drugs and druggists’ sundries, and for many years has enjoyed his full share of local patronage. He has been successful in this enterprise and has become interested in other local business concerns, being a stockholder and director of the Auburn State Bank. In the civic life of the community, Mr. McCord has long been prominent and was a member of the city council for two terms, beginning March 26, 1900, when the city was incorporated, thus serving four years. During his term of office the paving of streets was begun, one of the most marked improvements in its history. Mr. McCord was a member of the committee on revision of the city ordinances, a change from town to city government, entailing many radical changes in the governing ordinances of the municipality, necessitating the collection of the ordinances from a great mass of other matter in the town records. This work was satisfactorily accomplished to he credit of the committee. In May, 1885, Mr. McCord was married to Tillie E. Williamson, the daughter of Eli and Susanna Williamson, of Waterloo, who are represented elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. McCord have been born two children, Victor W., who is in the drug store with his father, and Dorothy M., who is at home. Fraternally, Mr. McCord is a member of the Free and Accepted Mason, belonging to William Hacker Chapter, Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs to Lodge No. 1291, Knights of Pythias, of which he is a charter member, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. McCord is a pleasant gentleman, honest and upright at all times and he is not only held in high esteem for this superior business ability, but for this public spirited nature, wholesome private and personal life and he is one of DeKalb county’s noted and influential men. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com