Husband Maj. George Croghan McClelland 1 2
Born: 29 Nov 1818-1819 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 1 2 3
Christened:
Died: Nov 1888 - Frenchcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 3 4
Buried: 28 Oct 1888 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5
Father: George McClelland (1780-1834) 1 6 7 8
Mother: Agnes Seaton (Abt 1780-1842) 1 6 8 9
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Abigail Childs (1839-1888) 2 10
• Residence: : Waterloo, Frenchcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA.
Wife Ruth Rhoades 11
AKA: Ruth Rhodes 1
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Samuel Rhoades (Abt 1777-1841) 11
Mother: Unknown ( - )
Other Spouse: [Unk] Humphrey ( - ) 11
Children
General Notes: Husband - Maj. George Croghan McClelland
He was born in the old "United States Hotel" at Franklin, Pennsylvania. Brought up in the pioneer days of that region, he was an enthusiastic hunter in his youth, and it is said that he killed wild turkeys and even deer in the woods about Big Sandy before he was ten years old. After his father's death he began clerking in his uncle's store, being so engaged until 1839, when he received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was graduated July 1, 1843, in a class which had among its members a number of men who achieved military fame, one of his classmates being U. S. Grant. He was assigned to the 3d United States Infantry, as second lieutenant by brevet, and was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, until 1845, on frontier duty, in the latter year being transferred to Fort Jessup, in Louisiana. He took part in the military occupation of Texas in 1845 and 1846, until his resignation in April, 1846. He had handed in his resignation the 9th of that month, and left the army the 30th, but on his return trip home he learned of the outbreak of the Mexican war and felt it his duty to return to the service. He spent a short time visiting in Pennsylvania, and then went to New Orleans and volunteered, serving almost a year as private and corporal in the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers, with whom he was at the siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29, 1847. In a skirmish with the enemy March 25th, while on a scouting expedition with six other men, he and his companions were surrounded by about one hundred and fifty Mexican soldiers who ordered them to lay down their arms. Not a shot was fired until the Mexicans came within about fifteen yards, and then for three quarters of an hour the seven held off the larger number, until the noise attracted the attention of the main force and a regiment was dispatched to their assistance. One of the seven was killed, and two were wounded. On April 9, 1847, young McClelland was reappointed to the United States army as second lieutenant in the 11th Infantry, and did recruiting duty that year as well as field service, being engaged in the defense of Puebla Sept. 13-30. He took an active part in all of Scott's battles. from the siege of Vera Cruz to the capture of Mexico City, and his services were specially mentioned by General Cadwallader in his report on the battle of Molino del Ray as follows: "The enemy gave way, which result was greatly facilitated by the efficient use of a piece of artillery brought up by Lieutenant McClelland under a very heavy fire from the enemy."
During the Civil war Major McClelland returned to his country's service, raising and organizing a company. He took forty-six men down the Allegheny on a flatboat to Pittsburgh, and later took nineteen by wagon to New Castle and thence by rail to Pittsburgh, where all were mustered in, all at his own expense. He served as a captain for two years, with the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and took part in a number of engagements. In September, 1863, at the Halfway House, between Yorktown and Williamsburg, his distinguished services won the commendation of Generals Keys and Peck. He was stationed with his company, numbering about fifty, on guard about seven miles from Williamsburg, when the rest of the regiment, about eight hundred, came riding past at top speed. The colonel and lieutenant colonel had been taken prisoner, and the commanding officer, as they galloped past, called to Captain McClelland's company to run for their lives. The Captain quickly formed his men behind a storehouse in an old cleared field about fifty yards from the woods toward Williamsburg, and ordered them to make a stand. When the enemy showed themselves at the edge of the woods the men fired upon them with their revolvers, and then charged, checking the advance of about six hundred South Carolina men in pursuit of the rest of the regiment. He followed up his advantage, turning them and driving them through, and retook Williamsburg. The burning of William and Mary College, which took part in the course of this fight, was not due to any fault of his. As his men were charging through the street of Williamsburg they were fired upon by some of the inhabitants, from the doors and windows of houses. The soldiers were furious at this, and when they reached the upper end of the street where the College is located, driving the Confederates before them, McClelland ordered a halt. The lower part of the building had been used as barracks for Rebel soldiers, and was filled with straw. Shortly after the halt, Captain McClelland noticed smoke coming from the doors and windows, and ordered his men to put out the fire. He rode around the building several times, trying to find a way to save it, and did all he could to prevent its total destruction. There was no way of ascertaining who or what started the fire. Any Union soldier known to have done it would have been punished.
Resigning after two years' service in the Civil war, Major McClelland returned to his home county, conducting business at Polk for several years and then settling down to agriculture in French Creek Township, where he owned a valuable property of 260 acres. There he died, his widow surviving him only a few months. [HVC 1919, 806]
He died October 26, 1888. [GPHAV, 511]