William McClellan

William McClellan

William McClellan, Captain in Virginia Militia, Revolutionary War, was born in Virginia 1743. The family moved to Tennessee about 1787 - near Knoxville. He married Barbara Walker (in Virginia). They had nine children, all born in Knox County, Tennessee. William died there in 1827, age 84. Only two sons, John and William became involved in history of Washington County. John married Mary (Polly) Wallace, 1794. They had nine children, born in Knox County. In 1820 John took his family down the Tennessee River in flat boats to Somerville, Alabama.

William T. McClellan married Elizabeth Sevier, daughter of Governor of Tennessee in 1810. He and John both fought in the War of 1812. William was an Indian Agent. In 1825 he was appointed by President John Quincy Adams to lo<:ate an Indian Agency for the Choctaws in the Fort Smith area. He sent for his nephew, John's son Charles McClure McClellan who was a surveyor, to come and survey the area around Fort Smith. Charles heard of the beautiful country north of the mountains and after looking it over he acquired some land. He was first of his immediate family to come to the area. In Goodspeed fliswry he is listed as an early pioneer. He is in the 1830 Census of Cane Hill Township. Though the first of his family, Charles was not the first pioneer to come to the area.

After the Revolutionary War pioneers began looking for places to locate. They came from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama and other states down the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River. Then on to Crystal Hill and Batesville, above Little Rock. They heard that the Indians were being moved west Negroes Mark and Mariah McClellan, slaves who stayed on the McClellan farm after freed (standing in back). ca 1875-1880. Taken on steps of White McClellan home in Cane Hill with McClellan family seated. 1921, Samuel Getty McClellan taking family on picnic treat. Group includes Bill Kennedy and Marion "City Kids". from the land north of the river. They sent James Buchanan and Guilford Pylant to look over this area. They returned with a glowing report of the rich land, beautiful springs, good timber for building homes, flocks of wild game, fruit, berries, nuts, many things useful to the settlers.

In 1827, the settlers headed for the mountains. They came in two groups: the first arrived in March, bringing livestock and tools to clear land and build homes; the second arrived in October by boat to Van Buren, then overland to Boonesboro (later Cane Hill). It didn'.t take long for them to start looking for land, usually by a beautiful spring, and start building homes. One of the first buildings was a log house for the church and Sunday school that they organized within a year of their arrival. Two Cumberland Presbyterian preachers had come with the early settlers.

In the meantime, Charles had gone to Alabama to bring his father John and family to Arkansas. The older brothers and sisters were married with families and not interested in moving. McClellan Cousins descendants of While McClellan, ca. May 7, 1940. Gathered for yearly family reunion in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Barbara was married to Captain John Taylor Rather. William Blunt also had married and had a large family. Olivia had married William Harvey Campbell. They went with John but soon returned to Alabama.

In 1833 Colonel John took his wife Mary and children, Sarah, Elizabeth, Evan White and Mary Anne to their new home in Arkansas. Charles had acquired land and they built a log house by the spring, where many traces were found and legend

says, De Soto built a fort there 400 years before.

Col. John McClellan Patriarch.

Colonel John and family settled in their new home and John became very active in the growth of Boonesboro. He was the first surveyor from 1833 to 1840. In 1834, a group took steps to start a school. Colonel John McClellan was on the Board of Trustees of the college. It was Cane Hill Collegiate Institute until the legislature changed it to Cane Hill College in 1852. They met in the log church house at first. Soon a permanent brick building was built. J. B. Russell built a large frame building and opened a female seminary with library and music department. Miss Mary Bellar of New York brought her grand piano. It was shipped to Van Buren, hauled overland to Cane Hill where it is at present in the Church Annex.

Colonel John, patriarch of the McClellan clan, after a very active life died in 1842 at age 74. He was the first buried in the family cemetery located on his farm. Flashback described it as one of the country's most romantic cemeteries. It is enclosed by an ornamental fence and has several massive vaults. Charles McClure McClellan, John's son, the pioneer, died in 1844 unmarried and was also buried in the cemetery. Many pioneers related to the McClellans by blood or marriage are buried there.

Colonel John left the farm to Evan White McClellan. White married Sarah Jane Trusdell in Cane Hill. She was born in Princeton, Indiana, but she was educated (as a child) in Cane Hill. Her father was a man of wealth but he spent it helping people and the town. He put up a steam mill. The post office was called "Steam Mill" for a while then was "Boonesboro", named for a relative of Daniel Boone who lived there, then Major Earle named it Cane Hill. Mr. Trusdell also had a store and a tailor shop. White and Sarah Jane had nine children. They were all born in Cane Hill and grew up there.

White's sister Elizabeth, who came with her father from Alabama, married Ewing McClure. He was postmaster in Cane Hill in 1845. He and White (his brother-in-law) opened the second store in Cane Hill. He and Elizabeth had a home by the old college spring. They had no children and both died in 1885.

Sarah, another sister, who came with John from Alabama, married Judge Peters first and then married John Wilson. They had no children but Sarah raised a niece, Florence Wilson, and a nephew, Montgomery Wilson (of her husband's brother). Florence was engaged to Professor Buchanan who was killed in the Battle of Prairie Grove. She taught school in Cane Hill schools and then went to Tahlequah, where for 26 years she was the principal of the Cherokee Female Seminary. Later it was Northeastern College and the girls dormitory was named Florence Wilson Hall. The Wilson's farm was in northeast part of Cane Hill. They left the farm to Samuel Getty McClellan, White's son and Sarah's nephew. He farmed it until he died. In 1935 it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Nick Matthews. They were both Texans but Marion Lee was White's great-granddaughter, her grandmother was Ada, White's daughter. Because of her mother, Victoria (Victoria, daughter of Ada) had had a close relationship with the Cane Hill cousins. Victoria married James Kennedy and lived in Texas. First Port Arthur, where his folks had come in the early days of Texas, later they moved to Beaumont, where he was in business - a couple of summers. Victoria brought her city bred children to Cane Hill. They loved it - a wonderful new experience. The excuse for buying was to keep the farm in the family. They moved there in 1936, built a home, and lived there until 1969 when due to Mr. Matthews' health, they sold it and moved to Prairie Grove, where Marion Lee still lives.

Marion Lee and Nick had a .daughter, Carol Lee. She began her education in Cane Hill. Her grandmother had gone to school in Tahlequah and we attended a reunion there every year. We all had a great interest in Tahlequah and Indian history. When a junior in high school Carol Lee entered school there and graduated the next year. She then entered the University of Arkansas, where she met and married Ben Walters. They went to Orlando, Florida where Ben, starting from scratch, built a very successful swimming pool business. They had three daughters. In February 1983 they left with a couple to go sailing. After cruising in the Bahamas, they were to arrive at Puerto Plata Dominican Republic. They didn't arrive and after intensive searching by coast guard and private investigation, the search was given up. Five year have passed. In February 1988, they have been declared dead. A memorial service was held Tuesday, March 29, 1988.

Unique to this family is the birth August 1987 in Knoxville, Tennessee, of Maxie Elizabeth Byrd, daughter of Elizabeth and Barry Byrd and granddaughter of Carol Lee Matthews Walters, eighth generation (1768-1988) from John McClellan the

patriarch of the McClellan also born near Knoxville, Tennessee, born 1768.

Matthew, John's oldest son, had stayed in Alabama at first. He was married to Dolly Campbell and had a family. Dolly died in about 1835 so Matthew decided to go to Cane Hill. He was called Colonel Matt. He built a home there and was very active. He was Justice of the Peace and records show he performed many marriages. He died 1872. When his wife, Dolly died, she left a baby girl named Dolly. A sister Laura married Dr. Welch, they moved to Fayetteville taking baby Dolly with them. Later she moved to Cane Hill and lived with a niece, Clem McCollock. Dr. Welch was a prominent physician. He was active at the Battle of Prairie Grove, a member of the Washington County Medical Society and later founded the City Hospital in Fayetteville. He died in 1917.

By 1850 Cane Hill was a leading pioneer village of Washington County. It was also the earliest city of culture since they had the first library and music department in the Female Seminary. Great progress was made although there were warnings of trouble, the people continued with their work until 1861 when Civil War started.

Cane Hill was only six miles from Prairie Grove where one of the fiercest battles of the War was fought. Federal soldiers had an encampment nearby and soon they began burning, killing, stealing, plundering. John, White's oldest son was in college and with Professor Pleasant Buchanan who formed a company of the students and as captain took off to war. Professor Buchanan was killed and many of the boys. The older men were being killed and tortured so were forced to go to Texas. Before White left for Texas he, with the help of a trusted slave, buried money and silver. Sarah Jane went to Major Nelson, who was in charge of the Federal troops and told him that she would furnish him lodging for the duration if he'd move in and protect them from the soldiers. He accepted, moved in and the burning, plundering ceased in her home. When White returned from Texas, his money had not been found by the soldiers and he was able to completely restock. He was also able to build the home that he had been planning - the beautiful colonial home that is still standing. It is now owned by the Talmadge Vann's. They restored it beautifully in the style in which it was built but, of course, with modern conveniences added.

The scene after the War was that of a burned, pillaged community. The school buildings, with the exception of the dormitory were burned (it was used as a hospital for Federal soldiers). The population was decreased and finances exhausted. However, when the dark days of war and the gloom of devastation that hung over the south had ended, the people did not give up. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes (from an ancient quotation), they began rebuilding and starting again. The College was rebuilt, a large frame building. The Female Seminary was not rebuilt. School opened in 1868, the young ladies were not admitted until 1875. Florence Wilson taught the ladies until 1875. In ten years this building was burned by arsonist. The present brick building was immediately started and continued to offer college courses until 1891.

After the war ended and the slaves were freed, there was concern about them. Some land southeast of Cane Hill was given to them and a little community was established called "Happy Hollow". They even had a school for awhile - a couple, Mark and Maria, former slaves of the White McClellans, lived with them and were buried in the McClellan Cemetery. As the town declined, the Negroes began to leave especially the ones who had children of school age. The depression was the final blow and in short time Happy Hollow was deserted. At that time all black children from Fayetteville were transported by bus to Fort Smith to school every day until segregation ended this practice, in 1955.

John Trusdell McClellan, born 1842, White's oldest son, grew up on the farm and was in Cane Hill College when the Civil War started. He was with Professor Buchanan's company of college boys. John returned from War totally blind (from exposure and neuralgia). After he regained his health but not his eyesight, he went to the University of Virginia and in 1872 he received his law degree. He practiced law for a short time in McKinney, Texas. Then he came home and lived with his parents until their deaths. The farm was divided between him and his brother Getty. John got possession of the home and surrounding land. Getty got the land that was the original farm. John was an expert horseman, a genius in training his horses. There are many interesting stories told, unbelieveable, but tho11e who knew him vouched for them. The horses were trained to respond to signals of touch, movement and commands. He often visited his sister and two brothers in Claremore, Oklahoma. His special horse was Josh. Josh always took him the way he wanted to go. It was a 3-day trip and occasionally if he would decide to stay longer he would send Josh on home with a note tied to the saddle saying "Let Josh pass". Josh always made it to his stable in Cane Hill. There is not space to tell all of the things that John could do, unreasonable for a blind man. John married Mary Buchanan. They had no children. She was a devoted companion but died before he did. In 1919 he fell from a loft, broke several ribs and died of pneumonia. John had been training "Maggie" to replace "Josh". John's brother took Maggie home to Claremore with him. In a

short time the people in Cane Hill were surprised to see Maggie coming down the road headed for her stable.

Charles McClure McClellan, White's second son born 1846 also went off to the war though only 15 years-old. He served four years, part time with Stand Waitie's Cherokee Brigade. After the war, he met his father in Texas where he went to school (a year). When 21, he went to Tahlequah and started a mercantile business. He met and fell in love with Jennie Lind Foreman. She was the daughter of Reverend Stephan Foreman, a prominent Cherokee who had led a wagon train of Cherokees over the Trail of Tears from Georgia to Oklahoma. He built a fine house at Park Hill, near Tahlequah. Charles and Jennie Lind were married there in 1869. Rev. Foreman, who had gone to Princeton Seminary, believed strongly in education. He sent his son Taylor to the only college in the area - Cane Hill. Taylor fell in love with Ada, White McClellan's daughter and Charles' sister. In due time they married. Charles had bought land at Oswala, Cooweecoowee District, Cherokee Nation (later Rogers County). Taylor also acquired land in the same area. They both had large families. These double first cousins grew up very close, also close to their neighbor, Will Rogers and his family. They kept a close relationship with their McClellan grandparents and family in Cane Hill. A big event in their lives was attending the annual Confederate Reunion in Prairie Grove. After some years Taylor became ill with TB. After awhile he went to Colorado for his health. In 1890 two of the children became ill. Twelve year old daughter and a five year old son. Taylor came home; both children died within months and within a year Taylor died. Ada was left with four daughters: Lula, Jennie, Ada and Victoria. Two small boys, Taylor and Perry. Ada was a strong, determined woman. She managed well, her children had a good home, were all educated, graduated from Cherokee National Seminary of

Tahlequah. Taylor went to Castle Heights and Perry graduated from Oklahoma University. After her children were gone, Ada left the ranch and moved to Claremore. When she was older and not well, she longed to return to her old home and live in the room that she knew as a child. Blind John had left the home to Charles Getty McClellan, great-grandson of White, grand-nephew of John. Charles Getty was only five years old. He moved into the house with his parents Harrison and Henry Irwin McClellan. This was about 1920. In 1935 Ada and a cousin to care for her were welcomed back and Ada lived the last year of her life, though an invalid, happy and contented. She died July 20, 1936. The service was held on the porch of her old home and she was buried next to her parents in the McClellan Cemetery.

Mary Elizabeth McClellan was White's oldest daughter. There are many stories of her activities during the War. She heard that a Yankee uncle of hers was stationed in Van Buren. Conditions were very bad, the soldiers had stolen and destroyed their supplies and they were hungry. Mary hitched a little pony to a wagon and with a slave boy, walked to Van Buren. Her uncle filled the wagon with food and they walked home. Mary led a very active and strenuous life and died, as a result, about the time the war was over. A beautiful marble headstone dedicated to Mary by her brother Blind John, is on Mary's grave in the McClellan Cemetery.

Lou Parker McClellan was one of White's younger daughters. She was born 1858, graduated from Cane Hill College 1876. She was responsible for many records and charts of the family in the early days that were a great help in compiling this history. She married Rev. Isaac Gaither. Their children were: Ada, Mary and Earle who were twins. No issue from these children. Rev. Gaither was pastor of the Cane Hill Church twice. Lou Parker was very active in church work especially with the young people. Ada spent her life with her parents. She never married. After finishing school Earle went into the Merchant Marines where he became captain of his own ship. He served in the Navy during World War II. When he retired, he came to Cane Hill for a while, then returned to his home in New Orleans where he died 1950. Mary finished her education with a business course and was employed in Tulsa by Sunray Oil Company and lived with the Wrights (he was head of company).

After Mary retired, she eventually went to Eureka Springs where she lived with her sister Ada until she died. Mary ended up at Oral Roberts Retirement Center in Tulsa and died in the infirmary. Mary was very generous. Blind John left her the contents of the house. She left the furniture as long as the family was there. Through the years she gave to family and friends mementoes that are valuable antiques.

In 1871, Thomas Campbell, grandson of Colonel John McClellan, son of Olivia, White's sister, came to Cane Hill from Alabama. He had married Sarah Welch whose family had already moved to Cane Hill. They had a young son, Clint. About three

months after their arrival, a son William Booth was born in 1872 in the White McClellan home. White was his uncle. Booth grew up in Cane Hill, then lived with his maternal uncle Dr. William Welch in Fayetteville. He met and married Maude Sophia Oates, who was from Memphis, Tennessee. They moved to Cane Hill. Booth built a home on a panorama overlooking the village. They had three children, Wendell, Peggy and Murray. Booth was of fine pioneer stock, intelligent and good breeding. However, he loved the life of the rugged Ozarkian pioneer - picking his banjo, singing his ballads, entertaining his friends, even going to National festivals. His specialty was Ozarkian Folklore and he became widely known in these fields. Some of his records are in the Library of Congress. His children all graduated from the University and were successful in their jobs. Peggy married Bob Vaught, Murray married Dora Belle Taggort and have one daughter, Peggy Susan. After retiring they returned to Cane Hill to live. Wendell was an official in the Electric Company in Boston and only returned to Cane Hill on visits. He married and has one daughter. Booth died in 1956, Peggy, Murray and Dora Belle are great additions to the community. Samuel Getty McClellan, the youngest son of White and Sarah Jane was born at Cane Hill in 1850. He lived his entire life at Cane Hill. He married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Cowly from Somerville, Alabama. They raised five children in Cane Hill. White's only grandchildren raised in Cane Hill. Getty's father left him part of the farm, he built an attractive home adjacent to the college campus. Their first child, Madge, died an infant. The next daughter, Bess, born 1879 never married and lived in her parents home her entire life and often visited relatives in Texas and Oklahoma. She died in 1957.

Charles Getty, inherited the White McClellan house When he grew up Charles Getty built a cement block building nearby. He slaughtered hogs and cured the meat. The final step in smoking it was over a fire (coals) in a hole in the ground inside a small building. He did this for ten years. In 1947 he married Juanita Treat from Fayetteville. They had two children, Jeannie Sue and John Harrison. John wa.J killed in an auto accident in 1973. Jeannie Sue married Dean Kisner and has three· children, Sharon, Garren and Krystle. They live in a home Dean built close to the McClellan Cemetery. After Charles Getty died in 1971 Juanita built her home, a house in sight of the cemetery on McClellan farm and raised cattle. She's also secretary at the medical clinic in Prairie Grove.

A daughter of Samuel Getty, Sarah Margaret, married Ralph Carrol. They moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he became a successful contractor. They had one daughter, Myrtle Belle. She never married; she visited Cane Hill relatives often.

Myrtle McClellan, youngest daughter of Samuel Getty married David Leon Moore. They made their home in his family residence - the Joe Moore home - except for two brief periods when he taught school in Walnut Grove and when they

lived in Fayetteville when he was County Clerk. They had two children, Martha Elizabeth, who completed her education at the University of Arkansas and taught in Washington County schools. She is now retired and lives in the ancestral Moore home. A son, David Leon, Jr. resides on· an adjacent farm and raises cattle. He spent some time in the Army, part time overseas

during the Korean War. He married Rhoda Scott.

Samuel Getty's youngest son, born 1891, named Charles Getty but called "Charlie". He married Beulah Brewster, built a home on a portion of the White McClellan farm, and farmed a while then moved to Fayetteville where he served on the police force. They had two children, Susan Louise and Orin Brewster (Bus). Louise took a business course and for several years was employed in the office of J. C. Penney. She married Joseph McArdle in 1945, moved with him to Minnesota, his home state. They had four children, the last one born in Cane Hill where they had returned to live. Charlie and Beulah had moved back to the farm and lived there until he died in 1954. Beulah Louise and Joe have the house and they moved it onto the main street next to the church. The children all grew up there, went to school but Mary Jean is the only one living in Cane Hill now. She married Eddie Marshall, who lived in Prairie Grove. He had a military career and when he retired they came to Cane Hill He, personally, is building a very special house on part of the McClellan farm. It is solar and has an indoor swimming pool. The first in Cane Hill. Eddie is also an excellent artist. He and Mary Jean have two sons, Wesley and Scott. Eddie is finishing his education at the University preparing to teach.

Orin Brewster McClellan (Bus), Charlie's son, spent his early days in Cane Hill. Then the family moved to Fayetteville while Charlie worked there. Bus married Neita Trammell. They have one son, Gary. Charlie retired and they moved back to the farm. Bus and Neita moved in with them while Bus built a home on a piece of property that belonged to his father. After a while they moved to Fayetteville where Neita worked for Dr. Clack. Bus had odd jobs but never gave up his farm where he raised cattle, chickens and turkeys. During W. W. II Bus was in the service, serving some time in Italy. He died in 1983. Gary lives on the

farm with his three sons, Dallas, Shaun and Dusty.

By: Marion Lee Matthews

HISTORY of WASHINGTON COUNTY

ARKANSAS

Shiloh Museum

Springdale, Arkansas

1989