James D. McClelland

Notes:

Plattsburgh Sentinel
October 3, 1890
p. 8

The death of James D. McClelland was a shock not only to his relatives, but to his friends, and all who knew him were his friends. He was so strong, so full of life and health, none could think of his dying as he did, after five days of illness. Accustomed to exposure to all weathers, he did not think it necessary to change his wet clothing before he went to bed on the Friday night before his death; yet this was apparently the cause of his fatal illness. The next day he was attacked with cholera morbus. He was work for his brother William at Racquette Falls, and far from medical aid. They did all they could for him, but neither he nor they knew how terrible was the disease that fastened upon him. On Wednesday, as he got no better, he decided to go to his father's at Saranac Lake. They made a bed in the boat and carried him to it. He would not allow his brother to go with him, as he knew he could be ill spared from home just then; and insisted that young Farmer would do just as well, and started for home. When they got Wardner's, at Stony Creek Pond, he could bear no more, and two men assisted him to the house. There everything possible was done for him and a physician from Wawbeek Lodge attended him, but too late; even then his case was hopeless. Late that night word reached his father that his son was very ill at Wardner's and a dispatch soon after told the same thing. But no thought of the desperate nature of his illness was entertained, and the night was suffered to pass without action. James had heard that his sister from New York was at home, and he sent word for her to come and take care of him. The next morning, getting what things seemed needful, the father and sister started for their dear sufferer, and reached him three hours before he died. He was so glad and grateful to see them and seemed to be content, though he had called for his mother through the night. His sister gave him medicine to relieve the dreadful pain, which had for many hours been all in his heart, and he thanked her with a smile, saying he knew she could do him some good, and he conversed clearly and lovingly with father and sister until the end came. Once he seemed to wander a little, and begged his father to set him back, he did not want to cross the river, he wanted to go up stream. The father replied brokenly that he was afraid his dear boy must cross the river that time, and he seemed to understand, and smiled. His last words were, kiss me father, and he returned the kiss so sweetly and fell asleep. Meantime dispatches had been sent the mother who had hastened to him, but met them returning just before she reached McCoy's. From the Bartlett place a dispatch was sent to the family to be ready, and the sad procession started down the lake. Two men kindly volunteered to come with them, and at ten o'clock PM they reached the landing, where were men with teams and lanterns to meet them. Arriving at home they were met by many of their neighbors, who had heard of their loss, and had made all needful preparations. Until the last sad rites were over the kindness and thoughtfulness of the neighbors could not be expressed. Each one seemed anxious to do all in their power to show their respect for the dead, and sympathy for the living. How grateful the parents and family are, words cannot express. May the dear Lord reward them, for we cannot. But whenever the thought of our bitter trial arises, the thought of their loving kindness will also arise. Distant friends were telegraphed for and Thos. Johnson and wife, of Ellenburgh Depot, and G.W. Walton and daughter from Keene, came in time for the funeral. The parents have only pleasant memories of him who has gone. He was a good and loving son, but we can only say, "God's will be done." -- M.E.

Notes:

Apparently the McClelland family moved from Ireland to Canada while James was an infant. James' sister Agnes McClelland immigrated to the United States in 1840 at the age of 16; presumably James came at the same time at the age of 9. According to census records, their father was born in Scotland; their mother was born in Ireland.


Birth:
Armagh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

James married Mary Elizabeth Wise in 1851. Mary (daughter of Roswell Wise and Mary De Mon) was born on 13 Sep 1836 in Elizabethtown, New York, USA; died on 30 Aug 1918 in Saranac Lake, New York, USA; was buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Saranac Lake, Essex County, New York, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Malone Farmer, Adirondacks, New York
Wednesday September 11, 1918

Mrs. Mary E. McClelland, who died at her home in Saranac Lake last week was a noble woman who, for more than 60 years was an influential factor in all phases of community uplift and benefit in that village. When she settled there it was little more than a logging camp and contained but seven families. She was the second teacher in the schools of the place and laid the groundwork for splendid citizenship in her pupils. In the Methodist church and W.C.T.U. she was among the foremost acting as president of the latter for many years. Before Saranac Lake had newspapers of it’s own she acted as a special correspondent from time to time for other papers entering the community and was for some time on the Farmer’s staff of correspondents. The farm left by her husband who died 21 years ago extended over what is now a large part of the thrifty Adirondack village. Her five surviving children are widely scattered, only one, Miss Lena McClelland, being left at Saranac Lake.


August 30, 1918

Community Loses Pioneer Resident
Mrs. Mary E. McClelland passes away at age of 81
Here over 60 Years
Only seven houses in Village When She Took Up Her Residence 66 Years Ago
Was Able to Teach School Where Others Had Failed
Wrote Interesting Articles Before Newspapers Were Established Here and
During Her Long Life Was A Factor in All Phases of Community Uplift.

In the death of Mrs. Mary E. McClelland, aged 81, which occurred at her home No. 172 Broadway, Friday night, at 7:30 o’clock, Saranac Lake lost another of its pioneer citizens and a resident who for more than sixty years was a powerful factor in all phases of community uplift and betterment.
Mrs. McClelland was born at Elizabethtown, Sept. 13, 1836, the daughter of the late Roswell and Mary Demon Wise. At the age of 15 she was married to James McClelland, who died here 21 years ago. Shortly after her marriage, Mrs. McClelland came to Saranac Lake, and with the exception of four or five years during which she resided in Canada, she had lived here until her death.
When Mrs. McClelland came to Saranac Lake the village was then a very small hamlet. It was little more than a logging camp. Seven families comprised its entire population. The inhabitants led the rough woods life. Mrs. McClelland, who was the second teacher in the community, brought with her a kindliness and a keen insight into human nature that won the respect and the friendship of the youths and she was able to teach the rudiments of education and to lay the groundwork for the fine community spirit that quickly developed. Many of her pupils became prominent citizens and accumulated considerable wealth. She taught two years in the red schoolhouse on Lake Street. She was successful because of her remarkable patience and her unfailing good nature which characterized her through life and won for her the endearment of hundreds of friends. This kindliness of spirit which made her a loving wife and mother, was omnipresent and through it was wielded a powerful influence for good in religious and community movements.
Mrs. McClelland was naturally of a literary turn of mind and during her life she contributed many interesting articles to the press. When she came here there were no newspapers, but papers from other parts of the Northern New York circulated here and Mrs. McClelland was the local correspondent. She wasn’t a correspondent in the sense of writing day to day news but devoted most of her time to articles of splendid literary merit and carrying always an inspiring note. During the Civil War she wrote many poems and clippings of what she had written were voluminous. These were destroyed in a fire a few years ago. Mrs. McClelland retained a remarkable grasp of her mental faculties until her death and was able to recite from memory 90 poems.
Mrs. McClelland was active in church circles, being deeply religious but without fanaticism. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was always at the forefront in Sunday School activities and the organization of other church societies. She was for many years the president of W.T.C.U. attended in a drinking fountain erected near the St. Regis Hotel on Bloomingdale avenue, but it is said the fountain was destroyed by saloonkeepers whom she opposed.
Mrs. McClelland’s property extended over a large part of the village.
There were 13 children in the family, of whom the following survive; Mrs. Frank S. Barton and Mrs. George W. Walton of Salem, Oregon, Fred S. McClelland of Whitinsville, Mass., Mrs. Herbert Hazelwood of Mattawa, Ontario and Miss Lena C. McClelland of Saranac Lake, besides one brother, George W. Wise of Saranac Lake.
The funeral was held from the Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Rev. Alexander McKinley, pastor of the church officiating. There was a profusion of beautiful flowers. Members of the Women’s Relief Corp attended in a body. A special program of music was given, two hymns, “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “Abide With Me” being beautifully sung by a mixed quartet. The pall bearers were her grandsons, Thomas, Charles, and Gaylord McClelland, Paul Walton, Frank Washburn and George Quick. Burial was in Pine Ridge Cemetery.

—Transcribed by Michele Tucker of the William Chapman White Room, Saranac Lake Free Library, 4/11/2006, from Alfred L. Donaldson's Scrapbook 8.

Notes:

Sent to relatives in County Armagh, Northern Ireland as a young boy after his parents died in Scotland around 1800. It seems he was called "Dark" because he was of Scots birth and was a unionist.

Dark married Islaye ?. Islaye was born in in Éire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Roswell married Mary De Mon in 1835. Mary (daughter of Brouwer De Mon and Delnaya ?) was born in 1814; died on 6 Jan 1849; was buried in Simonds Hill Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Essex County, New York, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Down, Kingdom of Ireland

Andrew married Sarah Gordon. Sarah (daughter of Robert Gordon and Mary Chalmers) was born on 21 Oct 1798 in Scotland, United Kingdom; was christened on 4 Nov 1798 in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; died on 9 Jun 1869 in Ontario, Canada; was buried in Centreville Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married Mahalla Fuller on 19 Aug 1802 in Grafton, Vermont, USA. Mahalla (daughter of Thomas Fuller and Hopestill Lethbridge) was born on 15 Apr 1774 in Wrentham, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1834. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Brouwer married Delnaya ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]