Wallowa County Oregon

This page part of the Wallowa County AGHP Site

McClain Family Genealogy

Contributed by Jeanne Brewer
Copyright 2000

Descendants of Robert McClain

Generation No. 1

ROBERT MCCLAIN was born 1746 in Scotland, and died 1824 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married PATIENCE PILES Abt. 1774 in Cameron Parish, Loudon County, Virginia, daughter of JOHN PILES and JEMIMA MOXLEY. Robert McClain served in the Loudon County, Virginia, militia during the Revolutionary War. His wife, Patience, collected rents on the Goose Creek Plantation in Leesburg, VA (Loudoun County).

Children of ROBERT MCCLAIN and PATIENCE PILES are:

i. JOHN MCCLAIN, b. October 17, 1775, Cameron Parish, Loudon County, Virginia; d. January 01, 1852, Jefferson County, Ohio.

ii. JOSEPH MCCLAIN.

iii. POLLY MCCLAIN.

iv. JAMES MCCLAIN, b. 1776; d. 1854.

v. ROBERT MCCLAIN.

vi. WILLIAM MCCLAIN.

vii. THOMAS MCCLAIN, b. 1784; d. 1856; m. PATIENCE WINDSOR.

viii. JANE ELIZABETH MCCLAIN.

ix. PATIENCE MCCLAIN.

x. ELEANOR B MCCLAIN.

Generation No. 2

JOHN MCCLAIN was born October 17, 1775 in Cameron Parish, Loudon County, Virginia, and died January 01, 1852 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married SARAH "SALLY" MAPLE Abt. 1795 in Pennsylvania, daughter of WILLIAM MAPLE and KEZIAH LARRISON.

Children of JOHN MCCLAIN and SARAH MAPLE are:

i. JOHN JACOB MCCLAIN, b. 1806, Pennsylvania; d. Abt. 1862, Van Buren County, Iowa.

ii. ELIZABETH MCCLAIN, b. 1797, Pennsylvania; d. July 06, 1872, Ross Township, Jefferson County, Ohio.

iii. SAMUEL MCCLAIN.

iv. JAMES MCCLAIN.

v. JANE ELIZABETH MCCLAIN.

vi. ROBERT MCCLAIN.

vii. WILLIAM MCCLAIN.

viii. THOMAS MCCLAIN, b. 1814, Tunnel Mill, Jefferson County, Ohio.

ix. PATIENCE MCCLAIN.

x. ANN MCCLAIN.

xi. SARAH MCCLAIN.
xii. KEZIAH MCCLAIN.

Generation No. 3

JOHN JACOB MCCLAIN was born 1806 in Pennsylvania, and died Abt. 1862 in Van Buren County, Iowa. He married (1) MARTHA ROBBINS March 27, 1827 in Jefferson County, Ohio, daughter of WILLIAM ROBBINS and ELIZABETH LAUGHHEAD. He married (2) EMELINE LOW October 01, 1843 in Carroll County, Ohio.

Children of JOHN MCCLAIN and MARTHA ROBBINS are:

i. JAMES ROSS MCCLAIN, b. October 26, 1837, Carroll County, Ohio; d. June 05, 1923, Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon.

ii. WILLIAM MCCLAIN, b. 1828.

iii. JOHN R. MCCLANE, b. August 30, 1829, Lee Township; d. March 30, 1910, Harlem Springs, Carroll County, Ohio; m. ADELINE TALBOTT.

iv. BETSY A. MCCLAIN.

v. SARAH MCCLAIN.
vi. KEZIAH MCCLAIN.

vii. DANIEL R. MCCLAIN.

viii.REBECCA JANE MCCLAIN.

ix. MARTHA MCCLAIN.

Children of JOHN MCCLAIN and EMELINE LOW are:

x. THOMAS MCCLAIN.
xi. HARRIET MARGARET MCCLAIN.

xii. ROBERT SHANNON MCCLAIN.

xiii. LOUIS B. MCCLAIN, b. December 1849, Carroll County, Ohio; d. Bef. 1860, Carroll County, Ohio.

xiv. ABRAHAM L. MCCLAIN, b. October 14, 1853, carroll County, Ohio; d. March 13, 1933, Bonaparte, Van Buren County, Iowa.
xv. IDA MAY MCCLAIN.
xvi. THOMAS JEFFERSON MCCLAIN.
xvii. RACHEL ELLA MCCLAIN.
xviii. WILLIAM DOUGLAS MCCLAIN.

Generation No. 4

JAMES ROSS MCCLAIN was born October 26, 1837 in Carroll County, Ohio, and died June 05, 1923 in Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon. He married ALICE JANE MOTHORN August 24, 1873 in Soda Springs, Idaho, daughter of JOHN MOTHORN and CATHERINE STONE.

Children of JAMES MCCLAIN and ALICE MOTHORN are:

i.   CHARLES ALGER5 MCCLAIN, b. June 03, 1874, Soda Springs, Caribou County, Idaho; d. November 19, 1942.
ii.   GERTRUDE MAY MCCLAIN, b. November 09, 1876, Baker County, Oregon.
iii.   JAMES FRED MCCLAIN, b. February 26, 1879, Union, Wallowa County, Oregon; d. May 10, 1958.

iv. WILLIAM E. MCCLAIN, b. March 1883, Wallowa County, Oregon; d. June 11, 1946.

v. JOHN JACOB MCCLAIN, b. September 30, 1886, Wallowa County, Oregon.

vi. MATTIE MCCLAIN, b. December 14, 1890, Wallowa County, Oregon; d. April 1952.

vii. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MCCLAIN, b. June 09, 1893, Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon; d. February 26, 1948, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon.

viii. HATTIE MCCLAIN, m. NAPOLEAN E. BEAUDOIN.

Notes for JAMES ROSS MCCLAIN:

JAMES McCLAIN. - One of the earliest pioneers to break the sod in Wallowa county, or the territory now embraced in the boundaries of this county, a man that has maintained a high sense of honor, observing the dignities of life in all of its ways, while he has wrought with brain and brawn for the development of the resources of nature here, the subject of this sketch is eminently worthy to be represented in any volume that purports to give the leaders of the county's population, and it is but right to mention in this connection that in addition to the capabilities manifested by our subject, he has ever shown those priceless virtues of moral stability and uprightness that are characteristic of his entire career.

James was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on October 26, 1837, being the son of John and Martha (Robbins) McClain, natives, respectively, of

Pennsylvania and Ohio. Our subject was educated in the various places where he resided. When he was six years of age he was bereft of his mother by death, and her remains sleep in Ohio. In 1860 he accompanied his father to Van Buren county, Iowa, where two years later he consigned his clay the rest of the cemetery. Immediately following this sad event James repaired to Nevada,

and joined himself to the mining force there for two years and then went to Montana and there followed the work of the miner for six years. Again he removed, this time to Idaho, and there for six years more he delved into the treasures of the earth. It was in the Centennial year that he left working at these labors and took a trip through the Willamette valley, later returning to Baker county, this state, and there he remained for one year.

In the fall of 1877 he came thence direct to Wallowa county and selected from the unsettled regions that stretched before him on every hand the

homestead he now resides, seven and one-half miles east from Joseph. His original quarter was later increased by the addition of one forty and then later again by another quarter, which gives him a generous estate. General farming and stockraising have occupied him constantly since that time and he has been attended with the success that is sure to follow industry and thrift like he has bestowed.

On August 24, 1873, occurred the happy event of the marriage of Mr. McClain and Miss Alice, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Stone) Mothorn, natives of Indiana. The nuptials took place near Soda Springs, Idaho, and to this worthy couple there have been born the following children: Charles, Gertie, J. Fred, William, John, Mattie, Frank, Hattie. Mrs. McClain was born in Marion county, Iowa, on August 18, 1855. Her parents came to California in 1862 and five years later returned to Iowa, whence, in 1872, they went to Kansas, where the mother died. The father is now living in southern Idaho, and operating a farm. Mr. McClain is one of the best known and highly esteemed men of the county, and it is with pleasure that we have been enabled to thus assign space to him, assured that he is one of the men who have built this county, and as such should be held in honor both for his work and for his excellent personal qualities. During the Indian troubles of 1878 Mr. McClain took his family to the fortifications with the others.

Illustrated History of Union and Wallowa Counties

Page 638, 639

From the "Wallowa County Chieftain", Thursday, April 9, 1964
65 Years on Main Street, column by Ben Weathers

In the years 1903 and 1904 the Chieftain published a Wallowa County brand book, containing the brands used by all the stockmen and farmers in the county, and where the brand was placed on the animal. It was my job to travel over the county and get the brand of each rancher and assemble them for publication.

I think that it was at this time that I first met uncle Jimmie McClain, one of the first settlers of the upper Prairie Creek section. I also met, at about the same time, two of his sons, Charles and Fred.

Later I learned that Mr. and Mrs. James McClain were parents of eight children, and I subsequently came to know six of them quite well. It is my recollection that the old fort which was erected on upper Prairie Creek at the time of the Indian uprising of 1878 was built on Mr. McClain's place. The location was just across the road from the old Buchanan place, unless I have been misinformed.

James McClain was born in Carroll County, Ohio, on October 26, 1837, being the son of John and Martha (Robbins) McClain, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He received his education at various places. When he was six years of age he was bereft of his mother by death, and he remained in the East with his father until 1860. Then they moved to Van Buren County, Iowa. Two years later his father passed away and was buried there. Shortly after the death of his father, young James struck out for the Nevada mines. He worked at mining for two years before moving to Montana where he dug for gold for a few more years before moving into Idaho, where he again delved into the earth for treasure for another six years. About 1876 he decided to take a look at Oregon. He left the Idaho mines and made a trip through the Willamette Valley, but apparently that section of the state did not appeal to him, for he returned to Baker County, and stayed for a year before coming to Wallowa County to make his home. Here he stayed until his passing after becoming one of the most prominent of our citizens.

James McClain was united in marriage with Miss Alice, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Stone) Mothorn, natives of Indiana, on August 24, 1873, at Soda Springs, Idaho, and to this union the following children were born: Charles, Gertie, J. Fred, William, John, Mattie, Frank and Hattie.

Charles married Iva Simms, daughter of pioneers, and they were the parents of Thelma, now Mrs. Rex Payne; Norman, who married Hester Tucker, daughter of the late David Tucker; and James, who married a Miss Murphy of Wallowa.

Their children are now grown. One is a practicing lawyer. Gertrude married John Fruitts, and they had a daughter, Alice, who is now living in

Cambridge, Idaho. J. Fred, who later became a forest ranger, married May Meek, daughter of Charles Meek, and early day pioneer, who built one of the first sawmills in the county, and they have a daughter, Marjorie (now Mrs. Wayne Mitchell) who lives in California. may lives in California part of the year and in Joseph during the summer months in their lovely home there. William married Susie Sprague, also a pioneer's daughter, and they are the parents of Keith, now living in Chicago, and Maxine, who is now Mrs. Jack Harmon of La Grande. They also have a wonderful family. John, with whom I was never acquainted, now lives in Salem, Oregon, near their three children, Eugene, Marilyn, and Kermit. Mattie married Frank Emrick and they had a daughter, Althea, now living in California. Frank, who carried the mail on the Enterprise-Alder Slope mail route for many years, married Mary Collinsworth, and they were the parents of a son and three daughters, Ray, Colleen, Ardis, and LaRose. All are married now with families of their own.

The youngest of the family, Hattie, married N. E. Beaudoin, son of the one-time sheep king, Peter Beaudoin, and one of the progressive farmers of the county. Poley, as he was known, passed away only a few months ago, and Hattie resides at their beautiful home at the foot of Wallowa Lake. She has many friends and is prominent in social and civic affairs of the city of Joseph.

James McClain was the type of pioneer that should be held in honor as one of high integrity, observing the dignities of life in all ways. He worked hard for the development of the resources of the land where he chose to make his lifetime home and raise his remarkable family.

From the "Wallowa County Chieftain", October 15, 1925

Continuing his search into early Wallowa county history, J. H. Horner has obtained another muster roll of a militia company formed in the valley at the time of the Indian excitement of 1878. ... This was Captain James McClain's military company "of Prairie Creek, Wallowa Valley, Union county, Oregon..."

Generation No. 5

CHARLES ALGER MCCLAIN was born June 03, 1874 in Soda Springs, Caribou County, Idaho, and died November 19, 1942. He married IVA SIMMS.

Children of CHARLES MCCLAIN and IVA SIMMS are:

i. THELMA MCCLAIN, m. REX PAYNE.

ii. NORMAN MCCLAIN, m. HESTER TUCKER.

iii. JAMES MCCLAIN, m. ? MURPHY.

GERTRUDE MAY MCCLAIN was born November 09, 1876 in Baker County, Oregon. She married JOHN FRUITTS December 14, 1902 in Oregon.

Child of GERTRUDE MCCLAIN and JOHN FRUITTS is:

i. ALICE FRUITTS.

JAMES FRED MCCLAIN was born February 26, 1879 in Union, Wallowa County, Oregon, and died May 10, 1958. He married MAY MEEK, daughter of CHARLES MEEK.

Child of JAMES MCCLAIN and MAY MEEK is:

i. MARJORIE MCCLAIN, m. WAYNE MITCHELL.

WILLIAM E. MCCLAIN was born March 1883 in Wallowa County, Oregon, and died June 11, 1946. He married

SUSIE SPRAGUE.

Children of WILLIAM MCCLAIN and SUSIE SPRAGUE are:

i. KEITH MCCLAIN.

ii. MAXINE MCCLAIN, m. JACK HARMON.

JOHN JACOB MCCLAIN was born September 30, 1886 in Wallowa County, Oregon. He married MRS. JOHN MCCLAIN.

Children of JOHN MCCLAIN and MRS. MCCLAIN are:

i. EUGENE MCCLAIN.

ii. MARILYN MCCLAIN.

iii. KERMIT MCCLAIN.

MATTIE MCCLAIN was born December 14, 1890 in Wallowa County, Oregon, and died April 1952. She married FRANK EMRICK.

Child of MATTIE MCCLAIN and FRANK EMRICK is:

i. ALTHEA EMRICK.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MCCLAIN was born June 09, 1893 in Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon, and died February

26, 1948 in Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon. He married MARY GLADYS COLLINSWORTH September 07, 1924 in Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon, daughter of DANIEL COLLINSWORTH and CHARLOTTE SMITH.

Children of BENJAMIN MCCLAIN and MARY COLLINSWORTH are:

i. BENJAMIN RAY MCCLAIN, b. August 22, 1926, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon.

ii. FRANCES COLLEEN MCCLAIN, b. November 10, 1927, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon.

iii. ARDIS JEAN MCCLAIN, b. January 28, 1931, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon.
iv. ALICE LAROSE MCCLAIN, b. January 05, 1933, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon.

Generation No. 6

Names Privatized. Please Contact Jeanne for more information

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