Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., he died at 75 on Sept. 7, 1914, in his home at 123 N. 19th St. McCloud came to Fort Smith in 1853 in charge of a government pack train from St. Louis and stayed as master of transportation at the fort. In the antebellum period, McCloud was interested in the "Fort Smith hotel" and for a short time was its manager. After the Civil War, he became associated with W.J. Johnston in the transfer business and conducted a ferry line between Fort Smith and Moffett until the construction of the Iron Mountain railway bridge.

In 1882, McCloud organized the Fort Smith Street Railway Co. and was president and general manager of the company which installed the first car line in the city. The company secured a 30-year franchise and laid the first tracks on Garrison Avenue. He bought the first electric street car used in Fort Smith. Later, he sold the business to a Chicago company along with the electric light plant McCloud also built.

With the merger of First National Bank and National Bank of Western Arkansas, McCloud was named vice president of the former. With the death of George Sparks, he was elected president and served in that capacity until a few years before his death.

He also was founder of the McCloud-Sparks furniture factory and had a construction contracting business. McCloud is credited with building many commercial structures in the city as well as the wall around the National Cemetery. Additionally, McCloud helped to establish the city's telephone system to persuade the Frisco railway to build a connection to Fort Smith south of the city to Paris, Texas. He won the contract to lay the track for this extension.

He retired from business a year before his death. McCloud left two daughters, Mrs. Allan Baker of St. Louis and Mrs. A.N. Sicard of Fort Smith. His funeral was held at Immaculate Conception Church and he was buried in Catholic Cemetery.

Source: "Sam McCloud, Pioneer Business Man, Is Called Beyond at Advanced Age," Fort Smith Times Record, Sept. 7, 1914, p. 8.