McClelland - James S. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

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McClelland - James S.

 
Source: 1881 Montgomery County In History of H. W. Beckwith,  (Chicago: HH Hill)

 
James S. McClelland, M.D. (deceased), Crawfordsville, was born in Oxford, Butler County, 0hio, September 3, 1821.
 
He received his literary education in Miami University, Oxford, and his medical education with his uncle, Dr. James McClelland, at the Ohio Mcdical College, from which be graduated in 1850. His first place of residence after graduation was at Yountsville, Montgomery County, where he began the practice of medicine with his uncle.
 
He soon began to develop that skill in surgery for which he was always distinguished.

 
He subsequently lived at Pleasant Hill, in this County. From thence he moved to Jefferson, Clinton County, and afterward to Frankfort.  While in Frankfort he was elected to represent Clinton County in the state legislature, and was an elector for Buchanan in the presidential election of 1856. He removed from Frankfort to Dallas, Vermilion County, Illinois, to improve some land he had in that County. In the spring of 1861 he went to Frankfort to transact some business, and while there the news came of the rebel attack upon the flag at Fort Sumter. The same week he enlisted a company of soldiers, but did not go with them to war.

 
He returned to Dallas and enlisted in the 25th Ill. Vols. of which he was made lieutenant-colonel. He was soon ap­pointed medical director on the staff of Gen. Sigel, in Missouri. He served there a period and was then transferred to the department of the Tennessee, where he served as inspector-general of field hospitals.  He remained in this capacity till the early part of August 1868, when he received an injury, on account of which he was mustered out of service.
 
From the injury then received dates the disease from which he suffered so much and which terminated his life August 29, 1875.

 
When he left the service in the army he settled in Crawfordsville. In a short time, his health having improved, he again entered the army as surgeon of the 154th Ind.reg., but was soon called to other and varied duties. Finally he was appointed to a position on the staff of Gen. Sherman, who was at Atlanta preparing for his march to the sea.

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Source: 19th & 20th Century Indiana Physicians
Schools attended: Medical College of Ohio
 
Year Medical Grad or Attendance: 1849-50
 
Wife: Mary Ann Florer b. OH
 
Date of Marriage: 1843 Franklin County
 
Children: 2
 
Final Date: Due to
 
County: Clinton(Jefferson twp)Yountsville, Pleasant Hill, Jefferson and Frankfort
 
Sources: 1850C $700.00
 
McClelland, James S. - Crawfordsville (1821-1875). He was born at Oxford, 0. Sept. 3, 1S21. and died at Crawfordsville. Aug. 29, 1875. He practiced medicine at the following named places in Indiana: Yountsville, Pleasant Hill, Jefferson, and Frankfort. Later he removed to Dallas, Illinois. In 1861. he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and was made Lieutenant-Colonel. Soon after-ward was appointed medical director on the staff of Gen. Sigel, in Missouri. Later he was transferred to the Department of Tennessee, and made inspector of field hospitals. He received an injury in August. 1863. on account of which he was mustered out of service. He then located in Crawfordsville. In a short time, his health having improved, he again entered the service as surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. After the close of the war he resumed the practice of medicine and continued until his death. He represented Clinton County in the Legislature; and in 1856 was a Buchanan elector. - Dr. J. L. Beatty. Crawfordsville Legislature; and in 1856 was a Buchanan elector. - Dr. J. L. Beatty. Crawfordsville.
 
'Milk Sickness'- thesis
 
Capt. James McClelland
Montgomery County, Indiana


Source: Kemper, General William Harrison 1839-1927 – A Medical History of the State of Indiana p 304

McClelland, James S. – Crawfordsville (1821-1875). He was born at Oxford, Ohio Sept 3, 1821 and died at Crawfordsville Aug 29, 1875. He practiced medicine at the following named places in Indiana: Yountsville, Pleasant Hill, Jefferson, Frankfort. Later he removed to Dallas, Illinois.
 In 1861, he enlisted in the 25th Regiment, Ill. Volunteers and was made Lt. Col. Soon afterward was appointed medical director on the staff of Gen. Sigel in Missouri. Later he was transferred to the Dept of Tenn and made inspector of field hospital. He received an injury in August 1863 on account of which he was mustered out of service. He then located in Crawfordsville, In a short time, his health having improved, he again entered the service as surgeon of 135th Ind Vol.  After the close of the war he resumed the practice of medicine and continued until his death. He represented Clinton Co in the Legislature and in 1855 was a Buchanan elector. Dr. McClelland made an interesting report on Trembles or Milk Sickness.  Was VP of the Indiana Med Soc 1853.  Dr JL Beatty, Crawfordsville.
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Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani.  Montgomery Medicine Men .... Crawfordsville: MCHS, 2002.

James S. McClelland received his literary education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  This city was where his birth occurred on September 3, 1821.  His medical education was with his Uncle James and at Ohio Medical College.  He graduated from there in 1850 and thus arrived in Yountsville, Montgomery County soon aftr, joining another uncle, Alfred McClelland.  James soon began to develop that skill in surgery for which his life was always distinguished.  In both 1853 and 1859, he served as Vice President of the State Medical Society.  During his first reign as VP of this organizationm he delivered a paper on milk sickness, a prominent killing disease of this time and our area.  

At one time, he served in the Legislature, representing Clinton County,. While in Frankfort, he was an elector for Buchanan in the Presidential Electio of 1856  Places of his practice included the aforementioned towns, as well as Pleasant Hill and Jefferson.  It was from Dallas, Illinois, when President Lincoln called for troops, that McClelland quickly joined the Union forces.  Although he joined as a Lt. .Colonel 25th Illinois Volunteers, he eventually served as Inspector General of Field Hospital in Tennessee.  Upon received an injury in AUgust of 1863, he was discharged from active duty and returned to Crawfordsville.  He was not, however, satisfied being behind the scenes, so after mending, he rejoined, entering as Surgeon for the 135th Indiana,  In this capacity, he finished out the war.  It is said that in his military duties, he was energetic, vigilant and efficient  He had unending sympathy for the wounded,.  "His whole heart was in his service."  Many times did his heart sink at the rough treatment of the soldiers, whose lives ebbed away in defense of the Union.

Upon his return, he enjoyed a prominent practice in this area until his death, due to complications from the injuries metioned above whiich occurred August 29, 1875,  He was buried with full Masonic rites.

One son, Albert became a physician who practiced some in Montgomery County, but mainly in Veedersburg.  He attended his father in the oldster's final illness.

Other children were: William; Angelon; Mary Kate; Mable and Jessie.  The large, brick medieval-looking home at 602 Cherry Street was built by Dr. McClelland and Martha Cantree (September 1981 Montgomery County Magazine) wrote a wonderful article regarding this interesting home.  As was mentioned previously, the good doctor was a man of letters and often published poems and articles in various magaines.  From Beckwith's History of Montgomery Countym p 255 we find this piece written by the good doctor.

Lines on My 35th Birthday

My years today are 35,
Life's journey half way o'er
And as I muse the school boys' laugh
Brings back the days of yore.

Telling of careless, merry hours
In the early morn of life,
Before the heart had callous grown
In its unequal strife

And memory turns her leaves to see
What there may be between
The brown and somber hues of now,
And youth's bright fields of green.

Still, as she turns her leaflets back
She comes to fading flowers,
Laid there, withi n the folds away
Telling of sunny hours

But the sunbeams have a fainter trace,
The clouds of darker hue
And many a once familiar face
Wears glances strange and new.

Dimly she sees a crumbling pile,
Once reared in friendship's name
Its cherished stones, now many, gone
To pave a path to fame.

Embalmed in flowers on altar stands
Where loe's first vow was given,
The cypress at its foot grows green,
Its once fair cap-stone riven.

Thr epure white roses make their bed,
Where bitter tears have flown
Aeolian music round its base
Gies low and plaintive moan.

The rain drops fall more gently there,
The moon sheds softer light,
And angel voices oft are heard
To mingle there at night.

But through the gloom a vision comes,
As bright and green as ever,
'Tis where I prayed at mother's knee -
Long years will dim that never

When 35, through toil and strife,
Has grown to full fourscore,
Oh! May I have the faith to kneel,
And say that prayer once more!

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