Jacob McClain
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana ArchivesMay be copied for non-profit purposes.

Jacob P. McClain, prominent pioneer farmer of the Bitter 
Root Valley, was born near Mount Pleasant, Henry County
Iowa, April 1, 1845. He is a descendant of an old Virginia 
family, both Scotch and German ancestry. His father,Jacob 
B. McClain was born in Virginia in 1810 and was there 
married, January 10, 1836, to Miss Olive Wilson, who
was born in that state in 1817. They lived n Virginia 
until three of their children were born then moved to 
Henry County Iowa and seven years afterward, in 1850 
located in Polk County, that state. Mr. McClain died 
there in 1889 hiswife having departed this life 
November 30, 1860. They raised twelve children, eight 
of whom still survive.Jacob P., their seventh child, 
received his education in the public schools of Polk 
County. When sixteen years of agethe great Civil War 
broke forth upon the country and after reaching an age 
sufficient to be accepted, he enlisted in a Nebraska 
regiment to serve nine months or until the close of 
the struggle. He was stationed in the Indians country 
and participated in several engagements. After 
receiving his honorable discharge, he returned home. 
February 18, 1865 Mr. McClaim was united in marriage 
with Miss Emily E. Coon who was born in Indiana, 
November 17, 1844,a daughter of George Coon, a native 
of Belmont County, Ohio. He now resides in Indiana, 
aged seventy-four years. His wife departed this life 
in 1891, in her sixty-ninth year.After marriage Mr. 
McClain farmed on his father's place and afterward 
purchased a small farm. In 1868 he came up the 
Missouri River on the steamer Deer Lodge to German 
Gulch in Deer Lodge County, Montana where he 
followed mining a year and a half and took out 
large quantities of gold during that time. He then 
returned to his home but in the following spring 
came again to Montana, accompanied by his wife and 
child. The latter, Carrie Virginia, was then two 
years of age. She is now the wife of David Maclay 
and resides near her parents. After spending one 
year in German Gulch they removed to Deer Lodge 
Valley where Mr. McClain was engaged in raising 
cattle and hay for fouryears. Three children were 
born to them at that place: George D., Olive and 
William Henry. In 1874 the family came to their 
present home in the Bitter Root Valley, fifteen 
miles south of Missoula. He first purchased 160 
acres on which was a small log cabin with a board 
and dirt roof and their nearest neighbor was four 
miles distant. The Nez Perces Indians were 
plentiful and camped near their home. Mrs. 
McClain was much loved by the Indian women 
and as the settlers were leaving the valley 
because of the fear of being massacred, one 
of the women gave her a bracelet, after first 
pressing it to her heart in a token of love. 
While in Missoula, Mrs. McClain was petitioned 
by Whitehead, one of the chiefs to return to 
them. Mr. McClain now owns 760 acres of fine 
farming land and is considered one of the 
leading farmers of the valley.Three children 
have been added to the family at their present 
home--Albert Perry, Charles A. and Frederick Homer.

USGenWeb Project NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on 
the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as
long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in 
any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for 
purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from 
the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.