McCLAIN-Morgan - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

(Taken from: The 1880 History of Parke County, Indiana. JH Beadle. Chicago: HH Hill).

Morgan McCLAIN, farmer and stock raiser, Waveland, is the son of Jesse & Mary (RUSH) McClain and was born in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1825. His father and mother were natives of Virginia. They immigrated to Kentucky and then to Parke County, when their son Morgan was but 12 years of age. Jesse McClain was a farmer and pioneer minister in the Predestrinarian Baptist church. The subject of this sketch was married in 1845 to Mary J. Johnson daughter of David and Sarah (COLLINGS) JOHNSON. She and her parents were natives of Kentucky. She immigrated with her parents to Parke County when small. Mr. & Mrs. Morgan McClain have 9 children living: James D, married to Frances SUTTON; George W. the husband of Amanda CRUTCHFIELD; Mary A wife of Sanford SPENSER; David who was married to Sarah BLAKE; and Jacob, husband of Nancy ALEXANDER; William, Francis M, John G and Alexander are still at home with their parents. Mr. McClain and wife have been members of the Predestinarian Baptist church for the past 30 years. They began life with a very limited amount of this world's goods. By years of toil and good management they have made themselves the happy possessors of a beautiful farm of 325 acres. They have 13 grandchildren. He has been a democrat from his youth up.

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Morgan McCLAIN resides on Sec 15, Greene Twp, Parke County and is a native of Shelby Co Ky where he was born July 23, 1825. he is a son of Jesse McClain, who was born in Bedford County, Va about 1798. jesse was the son of John McClain who went to Ky and settled in Shelby Co when a lad. The McClains were early settlers of Shelby Co Ky where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. The father of our subject married Miss Mary RUSh who was born in PA March 24, 1806 and died Feb 25, 1886. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McClain located inS helby County and lived there until they emigrated to Indiana in the fall of 1830. At this period they settled in Greene Twp, Parke COunty. Jesse McClain bought 80 acres and entered another 80 from the Government. There was not a tree touched on thep lace where he located and he at once commenced clearing a spot where he could erect a cabin. Here in the vast wilderness, by the little stream known as Trout Branch, which glided merrily throught the woods, Mr. and Mrs. McClain settled down to quiet pioneer life and there lived the remainder of their days. To this happy couple were born 10 children, 9 of whom reached majority and 5 are still living: Lucinda, widow of L.D. McGilverey; Matilda, wife of Isaac Collings of this township; Morgan, our subject; Elizabeth wife of H.O. Putham (note from typist, Karen Zach -- this should be Harmon O. Pulliam married 12-17-1846 Parke County) of this township and Joseph a resident of Fountain County. Jesse McClain owned 240 acres of good land before his death, the most of which he cleared with the aid of his children. He died July 31, 1874 on the old homestead and his wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Isaac Collings, several years after. They are buried in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in this township. The former was a member of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of which he was pastor for over 40 years. out of 282 meetings in which he acted as moderator, he missed but 9 times. His crred was the Predestinarian Baptist in which he was a faithful worker and did much good. He was a very devout man and took great pleasure in religous matters and his home was always open to the old pioneer ministers of those days. Politically, Mr. McClain was a Democrat. The gentleman of whom we write was about 5 years old when he came to Indiana frmo Ky with his parents. He received his education in the old sbuscription schools of those days, the shcoolhouse being an old log cabin with puncheon floor, large fireplace and greased paper for windows. They had hard times and many discouragements to meet but our subject learned to read and wirte, which was about all that any of the children of those times learned. The major part of his education was gathere from his own experience. He lived with his father till a year after his marriage and helped clear the place. In February 1845, Mr. McClain was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane, a daughter of David Johnson. She was born in Ky and came with her parents to Indiana when a small girl. When he ceased living with his father, our subject bought 80 acres of land adjoining that of his father's estate, where he lived until 1859 when he sold out. He then moved to the place where he now resides and bought 160 acres of partly improved land, which he by hard labor brought under a good state of cultivation. He kept on adding to this possession until he owned 350 acres of fertile land, all in one vast tracdt. Our subject has been the father of 14 children: those living are James D, who is a farmer in Putnam County; George W, a farmer of Montgomery County; David who is extensively engaged in agriculture in Howard Township, this county; Mary Ann, who is the wife of Sanford Spencer, a farmer in Montgomery County; Jacob an agriculturist of Greene Township; Francis Marion, who is married and resides on the farm with our subject; John G, who is a farmer in this township and Alexander, also a resident of Greene Twp. Our subject has divided a great deal of his land among his children, giving them all a good start in life. He now has in his possession 180 acres of arable land, well improved which is under the superintendency of his son, who carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. McClain has been a hard worker all his life, for his parents were needy and could afford him but a meagre beginning. Politically, he is a Democrat and has voted that ticket ever since age 21. He is a member of the Predestinarian Baptist Church and has been for half a century, also acting as Deacon and Moderator of the church for many years. Mr. McClaine's company in life died Oct 7, 1889. She was a consistent member of the same church as her husband, using her influence in that direction for 47 years, leading a devoted Christian life, and many warm friends mourn her demise. Our subject was a strong Union man during the late war and did all he could to aid the cause of the North. He often relates how they pulled through the long winter months and endured the hardships which beset them in their pioneer life in Indiana. He well remembers the happy moment she spent rambling in the woods and seeing large numbers of deer at any time.