McCLELLAND, William Allen, Acadia Parish, Louisiana
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Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Apr. 1998
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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 269-271.  Edited by Alcée
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

McClelland, William Allen, of Crowley, La., a planter and legislator, was born
in Acadia (late St. Landry) parish, Feb. 4, 1854, son of Joseph and Louisa
Abele McClelland.  Both parents were natives of St. Landry parish; the elder
McClelland, born in 1817 was a farmer, and died in 1905; his wife, born in
1827, passed away in 1892.  John McClelland, paternal grandfather of the
subject of this sketch removed to St. Landry parish from Kentucky, married
Miss Rachel Andrus, of St. Landry, and of their 9 children, not one is living. 
The maternal grandparents of William Allen McClelland were John, and Rachel
(Foreman) Abele.  In pioneer times, Mr. Abele came to St. Landry parish from
Ohio.  The McClellands and the Abeles have been identified with the
agricultural interests of St. Landry parish since the beginning of the
nineteenth century.  William Allen McClelland was the fifth child in a family
of eleven children in order of birth as follows:  Melissa Ann, died;  Tilford,
died;  Ianah, died;  Susan Louisa, died;  William Allen;  James, died;  Joseph
and  Eharali, twins, the second-named is the wife of Joseph Anding, residing
in Acadia parish;  Archie, died, and  Lawson and John, twins, both dead. 
Educational advantages being very limited in the country districts 50 or 60
years ago, except such as could be obtained in the few public and private
schools, William Allen McClelland went through the primary and grammar studies
then offered, meanwhile working on his father's farm.  At 20 years of age he
was employed in a saw-mill, and after a few years was clerk in a general
store.  During those years the young man persevered in acquiring knowledge,
attending school and studying at home.  About 31 years ago, Mr. McClelland
made a homestead entry of 160 acres, 6 miles north of where now is the town of
Crowley, and later on he added 140 acres, mostly cultivated in rice, but also,
on a limited scale in corn, oats, and other cereals.  A few acres are utilized
for stock-raising.  In politics, Mr. McClelland has always shown active
interest.  He has been a justice of the peace, notary, member of the Acadia
parish police jury; member of the state legislature in 1908, re-elected in
1912.  Mr. McClelland served on the game commission; also on the committees on
agriculture and on claims; and introduced in the house of representatives
several laws of general interest, one of which was a bill to prohibit persons
interested in oil wells, from pumping salt water into fresh water streams;
another was a bill to allow the city judge of Crowley to try minor criminal
cases; and a third measure amending section 5 of the "grandfather's clause" so
as to permit illiterate white men to vote.  He was instrumental in having
established an experimental station for rice and all other agricultural
products of his district.  Mr. McClelland is affiliated with the secret Order
of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He is a
thrifty, painstaking farmer, highly esteemed for his integrity and civic
qualities and the interest  he takes in the public welfare.  Oct. 9, 1879, he
married Miss Amelia Laughlin, of St. Landry parish, a daughter of Milton, and
Delied (Mache) Laughlin.  Her father was a farmer; her paternal grand-father,
John Laughlin, was a native of St. Landry parish.  The Mache family, of French
descent, have been residents of St. Landry parish for several generations. 
Mrs. William Allen McClelland was the fifth child in a family of 9 children,
as follows:  Jesse;  Sarah, wife of William  Davis, residing in Acadia parish; 
Joseph, a citizen of Rapides parish;  John;  Amelia (Mrs. W. A. McClelland); 
Mary, wife of Odibert Welch;  Vina, now Mrs. Jacob Stewart;  Andrew, and 
Georgie, wife of Oscar Thibedoux, of Acadia parish.  Mr. and Mrs. W. A.
McClelland were the parents of 9 children, of whom three died in infancy.  The
others are,  Rufus,  Luther,  Bessie (now Mrs. Jack Castile),  Lillie (wife of
Robert Gowe),  Nancy (wife of Ellis Welch), and  Blanche.

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