Greenbrier County, West Virginia DR. WILLIAM HENRY McCLUNG AND HIS FAMILY This biography was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Greenbrier County J. R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 210-214 DR. WILLIAM HENRY McCLUNG AND HIS FAMILY. Another Branch of the Mcclung Brothers Who Emigrated to Virginia. The unwelcome visitor of Death entered the home of Dr. William Henry McClung, at Meadow Bluff, on May 6; 1915, and took from the county another one of Greenbrier's most prominent citizens. He died in his seventy-second year, and was born near Crawley, October 28, 1843. He was the grandson of John McClung, born probably in Ireland, and died in Rockbridge county, Virginia, about 178&. Seven sons of John McClung settled in Greenbrier county, among the descendants of whom, it is said, two companies-the "Greenbrier Swifts" and the "Nicholas Greys," enrolled thirty-two members of this family in the Confederate service. They rode the finest horses to be seen in Gen. Robert E. Lee's army. Alpheus Paris McClung was captain of the Greenbrier Swifts. In the vicinity of Mt. Lookout, W. Va., the McClungs are very numerous, and a worthy gentleman who had lived for eight years among the McClungs asserts that he never heard a profane oath uttered by one of that name. Alexander McClung, the father of William H., was born November 22, 1805, and died May 1, 1892. He married on July 24, 1834, Eleanor Thompson, born July 19, 1816. She died June 13, 1901. W. H. McClung followed the ordinary vocations of life until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he left his home with his two older brothers to defend his native soil. He first enlisted as a substitute in Colonel Henry's regiment, but later joined the Creenbrier Cavalry, Company K, Fourteenth Virginia regiment, under Captain Burkhart, and took part in the famous battles at Forestvifle Stampede, near Harrisonburg, and in the stirring campaign in the valley of Virginia with General Early. He was also with him when he made the raid on Washington City. and was wounded in front of the Block House while trying to carry his brother, John T., who had been shot, from the battlefield. In October, 1864, he was transferred to Hownshell's battalion as Drillmaster, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was several times wounded, twice severely. He was severely wounded in the left breast at Frederick City, Md., and besides being wounded in the right side during an engagement in front of the block house at Washington. He was also wounded in the face during the battle of Ninevah, where he was captured. but escaped by riding through the Federal lines, swimming the Shenandoah river three times and taking refuge in the mountains, and reaching his command three days later. Upon his return home, Dr. McClung was united in marriage to Miss Adeline E. Thompson, daughter of Isaac and Jane (Burns) Thompson, on November 15, j866. To this union was born two sons and three daughters, four of whom, Mrs. A. N. Shawver, Mrs. George Wall, Mrs. John Helper arid W. K. McClung, survive him. The following sketch is taken from the Methodist Laymen's Herald, Sutton, W. Va., published May 20, 1915, and because of being so ably written and true to life, is given here: "Dr. McCung started life as many ofAmerica's most successful sons-a poor boy. Living in a section not then developed, his educational advantages were very limited, but being blessed with native ability and with an indomitable will, backed by industry and economy, he soon rose to prominence. "After his marriage in j866, he moved to Roane county, this State, and began the practice of medicine, but in a few months he returned to his native country, without money and without reputation as a physician, but with more, he had that God-given courage and will which always finds a way. He located near Crawley and undertook the job of clearing six acres of land on the Glencoe farm. He worked in the day time and studied at night and when the work was done he received $30, which formed his capital stock, and which he said looked like a fortune. Being a natural born physician and surgeon, though he never attended college, he rose rapidly in his profession, gaining an enviable reputation. For nearly fifty years he was the leading physician in western Greenbrier and perhaps traveled more miles and visited more patients than any other doctor who ever lived in the county. He was a hard student and always provided himself with the latest books and journals on his profession, regardless of the cost. "He was a Jeffersonian and Bryan Democrat, a man of pronounced convictions and a conspicuous figiire in every political campaign in this county for many years, ever ready to defend the principles of true Democracy. He was a successful politician, being five times elected to represent Greenbrier in the West Virginia Legislature-an honor bestowed on no other man. He was a faithful representative and assisted in enacting many of the laws now upon our statute books. He was appointed by Governor W. A. MacCorkle a member of the Board of Regents for the Deaf and Blind School at Romney, and served as president of that body for twelve years, and held many other positions of trust in the state and county. "He was a successful farmer, owning and managing successfully some of the best farms in this end of the county. He had a beautiful home, where hospitality was generously bestowed by himself and family. He loved his district, was connected with many public enterprises for its development, and lived to see many changes made for the betterment of its citizens. "Dr. Mcclung had been a member of the M. E. Church, South, for forty years, having been converted at Old Amell Church under the ministry of Rev. R. C. Wiseman in 1872, and was actively identified with its interest. He realized that he was nearing the end of his earthly pilgrimage and talked with his pastor and family of the life beyond. He said he had no fears of the future-that all was well. "Funeral services were conducted at his home by his pastor, Rev. T. J. Hopson, assisted by Rev. L. J. Barnett, at noon on the 8th, after which his body was borne to its last resting place in the family cemetery near Rupert, attended by the largest con-course of relatives and friends that ever attended a burial in western Greenbrier. The pallbearers were Drs. S. H. Austin, G. A. Gilchrist, of Lewisburg; L. H. McClung, of Dawson; E. G. Kesler, of Williamsburg; D. N. Wall, of Crawley, and C. I Wall, of Rainelle. The services at the grave were conducted by Meadow Bluff Lodge, No.233,I.O.O. F., of which he was a member. "Dr. McClung leaves to mourn his departure, besides his wife and children, one brother, John T. McClung, of Fort Spring, and four sisters, Mrs. Martha Burdett. of Charleston; Mrs. D. C. Snyder, of Huntington; Mrs. Harvey Smith, of Meadow Bluff, and Mrs. Watson McClung, of Dawson. "The writer has been intimately acquainted with the deceased for thirty-three years and can truthfully say that his loyalty to his friends was unbounded. There never was a night too dark and cold, the road too long or the water and mud too deep for him to go at the call of a friend who was sick or in distress. 'Valiant soul, farewell, And tho' the warrior's sun has set, Its light shall linger 'round us yet, Bright, radiant, blest.' "E. D. SMOOT."