My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS A. McCLELLAND was born in Callaway county, this state, April 10, 1842. His father, Elisha McClelland, was a native of Kentucky, born March 19, 1809, and died Dec. 5, 1859. His mother, Elizabeth (West) McClelland, was born in Callaway county, Mo., Feb. 23, 1817, and died on Sept. 27, 1854. When our subject was about six years of age his parents moved to Howard county, this state, locating on a farm. His father engaged in farming and milling. Our subject aided in the mill and attended the common schools. In the fall of 1860 he entered the Walnut Grove Academy and completed a course under the tutorship of J. F. Martin, now representative from Jasper county in the Missouri State Assembly. After quitting school he engaged in farming and teaching for about seven years. He then discontinued the latter, and for nearly a decade engaged in farming and shipping stock. He went to the Indian Territory in 1871 and continued in the stock business one year. He came to Joplin in the spring of 1872 and engaged for a time in mining, but soon after embarked in the mercantile business in East Joplin, in connection with other operations. He was thus employed nearly three years, and then disposed of his mercantile interests to Mr. T. J. Maupin, a former partner, and devoted his entire attention to mining and real estate. One year thereafter he engaged also in the packing business with Col W. H. Fairbanks, of this city. He subsequently engaged in the smelting business, and as one of the organizers of the Joplin Zinc Company was elected secretary and treasurer. He is also interested in the Short Creek Lead and Zinc Company, the Miners’ Bank, Joplin, and other enterprises. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Angell, of Boone county, Mo., April 30, 1867, who died Feb. 7, 1868. Mr. McClelland was again married in Cooper county, Mo., Jan. 1, 1876, to Miss Maria L. Reavis, of that county. They had one child, born June 27, 1875, and died Nov. 14, 1875. Mrs. McC. died in Joplin, June 29, 1875. Mr. McC. was again married in Joplin, Oct. 5, 1882, to Miss Mary S., daughter of Warren and Sarah Norton, of Bushnell, Ill. She was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1852. Our subject and his amiable wife are members of the Baptist Church. Our subject survives three sisters and a brother: Elizabeth, wife of Dr. H. B. Rodman, born Oct. 9, 1839, died Oct. 23, 1859; Louisa, died Oct. 26, 1859, aged 15 years, 7 months and 16 days; Martha A., died Nov. 6, 1859, aged 13 years, 6 months and 8 days; James H., died Nov. 2, 1859, aged 6 years; and his father died Dec. 5, 1859, all with typhoid pneumonia. He has one brother living, Dr. R. W. McClelland, practicing medicine in Saline county, Mo.; and two sisters living, Mrs. Cassie A. D’Mass, of Chariton county, this state, and Mrs. S. E. Wiseman, of Boone county, Mo.