Biography of William McClellan, pages 658 / 659.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

William McClellan was born Oct. 23, 1826, in Wayne County, Ohio, his father 
being a pioneer of that county.  He remained at home till twenty years of 
age, and in October, 1846, came to De Kalb County and worked for his brother 
John, who had preceded him, clearing land.  In October, 1847, he returned to 
Ohio and remained till August, 1848, when his mother, Elizabeth (Knapp) 
McClellan, died and he then came again to De Kalb County and found 
employment clearing and chopping for the settlers.   He was married Sept. 2, 
1849, to Permelia Osborne, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born May 29, 1829, 
a daughter of Aaron and Susanna (Hueh) Osborne, who settled in Jackson 
Township in 1841.  Her mother died in 1862 and her father in 1882.  In 
April, 1852, Mr. McClellan settled on section 3 where he has since resided.  
He has a pleasant home and is surrounded with all material comforts.  Mr. 
and Mrs. McClellan have never been blessed with children, but have reared to 
man and womanhood several who were left to the mercies of a cold world.  
Aaron Osborne, a nephew of Mrs. McClellan, and now a resident of this 
township, found in them a father and mother in place of those who were 
called to leave this world.  Susannah Watson, a child of Mrs. McClellan’s 
sister, was given a home from her ninth year till her marriage to Silas 
McGovern.  Harrison S. Wiser found a home with them from his third till 
his fourteenth year.  William Arnold McGovern, a son of Silas and Susannah 
McGovern, was born Sept. 12, 1869, and is now an adopted child of Mr. and 
Mrs. McClellan.  Their home is the embodiment of hospitality, and their 
knidness and liberality have won them many friends.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin 
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com