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This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook,
E-mail address: <vfcrook@trellis.net>
The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 327
JACOB MCLEAN, a venerable and honored retired farmer residing at Belington, has been a resident of Barbour County
fully seventy-five years—since the time of his boyhood. He was born in Randolph County, Virginia (now West
Virginia), June 12, 1838. He is a son of William and Hannah (Weese) McLean, his father having been born and
reared in the timbered section of the Tygart River Valley in Eandolph County, and his entire life having been marked
by close association with farm industry, though in earlier years he worked more or less at the carpenter's trade. He
was bora about the year 1800, and he was fifty-nine years of age at the time of his death, his remains resting in
the old-time cemetery at Chenoweth, Barbour County, as do also those of his wife, who survived him by about
twenty years and who was a daughter of Jacob Weese. William McLean was a son of Daniel McLean, who was born in the
vicinity of Petersburg, Virginia and whose father, a Scotsman, there settled in the early pioneer days.
Daniel McLean died in the early '40s, in the present Eandolph County,
West Virginia, and his remains rest in the little cemetery about two miles north of Beverly, that county. Of the
children of William McLean the eldest was Aretus, who was one of the substantial farmers of Barbour County at the time
of his death; Sarah Ann is the widow of Newton Chenoweth, and, in 1922, still resides on her old home farm near
Belington, at the age of ninety-two years; Martha became the wife of Joseph Rohrbough, and they became pioneers in the
State of Oregon; Daniel was a resident of Scotland County, Missouri, at the time of his death; Jacob, of this review,
was the next in order of birth; Mary and her husband, George Ice, went to Kansas after the Civil war, and her
death occurred at Lawrence, that state; Elizabeth, the wife of Zebulon Holland, resides in Upshur County, West
Virginia; Susan became the wife of Perry Mason, and they established their home in Scotland County, Missouri; and
Minerva, the wife of Francis Finley, still resides in Barbour County.
The pioneer log schoolhouse, with its primitive equipment
and facilities, afforded Jacob McLean his early education, which was necessarily limited in scope, and he was an active
exponent of farm enterprise in Barbour County at the Inception of the Civil war, but he was not called into military
service; As a young man familiar with slavery, he had no prejudice against that institution, but in later years he has
realized the injustice thereof and recognized that war between the states was inevitable and the cause of abolition
was just. After their marriage Mr. McLean and his young wife established their first home in a two-story log house
on his father's old farm, the house having five rooms and being superior to most domiciles of the locality and period.
A part of this ancient building is still standing, two miles distant from Belington. Mr. McLean remained on the old
homestead and continued as one of the substantial farmers of Barbour County until advancing age justified his
retirement, and he removed to Belington, where he has since maintained his home and enjoyed the rewards of former years
of earnest and worthy endeavor. He purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters and thus became the
owner of a valuable farm property of 144 acres, upon which he made many improvements. He served as school trustee,
lived at peace with his neighbors and never was personally involved in a law suit, though he had his share of service
on petit and grand juries. His first presidential vote was cast in 1860, and he has continuously given his allegiance
to the democratic party since that time. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, as was also his first wife, and his identification with the church has covered a period of forty-five years.
In 1863 he wedded Mary, a daughter of Samuel Kelley, and
her death occurred in 1907. Of the eight children of this union six are living: Samuel is a resident of Clay County;
Hanning F. lives in the State of Nevada; Arthur resides at Cedar Grove, West Virginia; Fleming is a resident of
the State of Idaho; Edmond resides at Fallen, Nevada; and Charles resides at Elkins, West Virginia, where he is
a postal clerk. For his second wife Mr. McLean married Mrs. Sarah Pitzer, widow of Silas Pitzer. She was born on
Laura Creek, Barbour County, June 14, 1840, and is a daughter of the late Willis and Nancy
(Dignan) Stalnaker. The first husband of Mrs. McLean was Ikeney Poling, and
they became the parents of eight children: Adolphus D., Rachel (Mrs. William Talbott), Ellen (Mrs. Samuel
Talbott), Blue Dell (Mrs. George Haller), Willis (married Nora Nestor), and three who are deceased. No children
were born of the second marriage of Mrs. McLean (to Silas Pitzer). She and her husband are passing the gracious
evening of their lives in peace and comfort and surrounded by friends who are tried and true. |
