George W. McClellan
1848-1896
George W. McClellan
Earliest records found on George W. McClellan, is the Pope County, Illinois 1870 Census and his marriage certificate from Pope County, Illinois for that same year. He was listed as Geo W Mccleland born in Indiana. This census was taken on July 11, 1870, just a month before his marriage to Nancy Wilson Dill who lived two houses down from the Trovillion farm where he worked as a mill hand during that time. In the same 1870 Census, the Dill family record reveals Nancy’s household. She is just 16 and living with her father Jno Dill, head of household born in Tennessee abt 1810. Jno Dill has an unknown white female born in Tennessee living with him, her occupation is listed as “Keeps House”. This is more than likely Jno’s second wife second wife Eliza Waters as Nancy’s mother Mary Belle Jarrell Dill passed on June 12, 1863 and would not have been in the 1870 Census. Living in the same household are the following children: Samuel H. Dill born in Tennessee abt 1851 (age 19) and Mary Dill born in Illinois abt 1856 (age 14).
In the Pope, Columbus, Illinois 1880 Census, George is listed as G. W. McClellan born in Indiana, (age 32). George is an apprentice to blacksmith and living with his wife Nancy W. McClellan born in Illinois, (age 26) and their daughter Alta McClellan born in Illinois in 1877 (age 2). Alice Mae McClellan was born to this couple on May 5, 1880 and not in this Census. The Census was taken on June 19, 1880, indicating Alice Mae did not survive. Alta was born eight years into this marriage, which is quite unique, as research tends to prove that children were born in the first or second year of marriage during this era. It is believed that George and Nancy had other children before Alta McClellan’s birth that did not survive. (Later in the 1900 and 1910 Census, Nancy is listed as a widow of 10 children with only 3 living). Unfortunately, the building holding the entire United States 1890 Federal Census was destroyed by a fire and lost forever so there is no account of this family during that time.
The next available Census is the 1900 Census. The Johnson, Vienna, Illinois 1900 Census lists Nancy as a widowed carpet maker and head of house hold of two male teenage boys. George McClellan born in Illinois, January, 1882 (age 18) and James McClellan born in Illinois, August, 1884 (age 15). (James’ obituary states that he was born in Johnson County, Illinois). Alta McClellan was 23 years old and already married during this Census and no longer living in the home.
George W. McClellan passed away from pneumonia on October 31, 1896. Nancy lived 38 years after the death of George. No records or family recollections have been found to support that she re-married. Census records show her living with her adult sons George Elzie and James Henry McClellan during those years until she moved to Bloomington, Illinois a few years before her death on July 9, 1934. George's place of burial on the death index lists Bloomfield it has not been discovered as of yet, however Nancy is buried at the Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois.
George and Nancy's Children:
Mary Alta McClellan (Hamlyn) 1877-1951
George Elzie McClellan 1882-1948
James Henry McClellan 1885-1961
George Elzie McClellan 1882-1948
James Henry McClellan 1885-1961
Source:
Biography written by Debbie West
Nancy's photo provided by Helen Iris (McClellan) Lambeth and Carolyn Ranft
1870 and 1880 Pope County, Illinois U. S. Census
1870 Pope County, Illinois Issued Marriage License
Alice Mae, Pope County, Illinois Family Group Sheets, by Paul H. Worely
Nancy is burial, Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois. Section K-575-4
George Death Records, Johnson County, Illinois 1878-1900
Biography written by Debbie West
Nancy's photo provided by Helen Iris (McClellan) Lambeth and Carolyn Ranft
1870 and 1880 Pope County, Illinois U. S. Census
1870 Pope County, Illinois Issued Marriage License
Alice Mae, Pope County, Illinois Family Group Sheets, by Paul H. Worely
Nancy is burial, Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois. Section K-575-4
George Death Records, Johnson County, Illinois 1878-1900