McClain - Morgan - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Morgan McCLAIN resides on Sec 15, Greene Twp, Parke County and is a native of Shelby County, Kentucky where he was born July 23, 1825. He is a son of Jesse McClain, who was born in Bedford County, Virginia about 1798.  jesse was the son of John McClain who went to Ky and settled in Shelby County when a lad.  The McClains were early settlers of Shelby County Ky where they engaged in agricultural pursuits.  The father of our subject married Miss Mary RUSH who was born in Pennsylvania March 24, 1806 and died Feb 25, 1886.  After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McClain located in S 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 the place 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 creed 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 from Kentucky with his parents. He received his education in the old subscription schools of those days, the schoolhouse 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 gathered 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 Kentucky 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 tract.  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.