David Waddle McClung
David Waddle McClung, surveryor of customs for the port of Cincinnati, is of West Scotland or Highland stock. In 1730 his great-grandfather came to this country and settled in Washington County, New York. His descendants mostly resided in that State; but his son Charles McClung, grandfather of David W. McClung, removed to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where David's father and mother were both born, but were both brought to Ohio by their parents in early childhood, the families settling in Fairfield County. The father's name was also David. He was married in 1824 to Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of David and Elizabeth (McTeer) Brown. Their fifth child and fourth son was David Waddle, born December 18, 1831, in Eaton Township, Seneca County, Ohio, to which his parents had removed two years after marriage. But five of this large family, including David, are now living. The father died in October, 1867, and the mother in August, 1877. David was brought up on a farm, attended the country schools in his childhood, which were very good for the time, the residence of the family being on the border of the famous Western Reserve, and was a member of the Seneca County Academy at Republic, then taught by Thomas W. Harvey, since State commissioner of schools. Here he prepared for college, and entered as a freshman at Muskingum College, New Concord, in October 1850; remained one term, and then transferred his allegiance to Miami University at Oxford, from which he was graduated A. B. in 1854.
During much of his preparatory course he maintained himself by teaching school, beginning at the early age of fifteen, and for a large share of the expenses of his college course he served the university in various capacities, but had to create a debt, which was faithfully repaid upon his entrance into business life. After graduation he again undertook the pedagogue vocation, but in a higher field, becoming at first principal of the high schools, then superintendent of the public schools in Hamilton, in which two positions he remained three years.
At the expiration of his year as superintendent, he accepted the charge of the Republican organ here, the Hamilton Intelligencer, which he conducted, or assisted in editing, for about two years, in association with his old friend and classmate, Colonel Minor Millikin. It was the early day of the Republican party; Butler County was largely Democratic. It was an important transition period, and the Intelligencer bore its full share in fixing the current of public opinion. The fight with the opponents was at times close and sharp, and Mr. McClung was himself personally attacked by an infuriated Democrat, and bore from the conflict an honorable scar which he wears to this day. He was, during this time of editiorial work, engaged at intervals in the study of the law, and in the Winter of 1859 and 1860 he was appointed by the governor to the position of probate judge of the county in the place of William R. Kinder, who died in office.
Upon the outbreak of the war, the call for volunteers being issued Monday morning, April 16, 1861, he enlisted in a Hamilton company as a private soldier, and went with it to Camp Jefferson, Columbus, where it was sworn into service April 24th, and assigned as Company F, Third Ohio Infantry. On the 27th of the same month the regiment was sent, with five companies of the Eleventh, to establish Camp Dennison, on the Little Miami Railroad. Mr. McClung was taken from the ranks, where he was still serving as a private, and made quartermaster of the camp, in which place of responsibility and honor he was detained, contrary to all precedents of the service, until the following March, hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and property passing through his hands meanwhile. He then received a commission, to date from February 19, 1862, as captain and assistant quartermaster. He remained at the camp until Jun 15, 1862, having meanwhile rebuilt it, in order to fit it for Winter quarters, and was then ordered to Camp Chase to build the barracks for rebel prisoners there.
When the call for five hundred thousand more was made by President Lincoln, Camp Dennison acquired more importance than ever, and Captain McClung was ordered back to equip the regiments forming therein. From first to last it is believed that he prepared not far from one hundred regiments for the field. When the second levy of troops had been equipped he supervised the conversion of the barracks at the camp during November and December, of 1862, into a convalescent hospital. Thence he departed for Madison, Indiana, whee hospitals more convenient to the river were to be built, and then to Cincinnati, to take charge of the purchase of supplies, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. His money accounts with the government, during his entire term of service, aggregated about twenty-five million dollars; his property accounts, more than twice as much.
His services were not finally dispensed with until November 8, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out, at his own reiterated request. Shortly before this, October 30, he was breveted major of volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services, on the recommendation of General Ekin and other high officers of the quartermaster's department.
He returned to Hamilton, and was elected president of the Second National Bank, although not then a stockholder. In about a year and a half he resigned that place, and began the manufacture of machinery, in Hamilton, remaining in this business for two years, when he exchanged his stock in the maching-shop for an interest in the Woodsdale Paper Company, of which he took charge, and remained its business manager until February 1, 1879, when he removed to Cincinnati and became assistant postmaster. In January, 1881, he was nominated by President Hayes surveyor of the port of Cincinnati, and again by President Garfield, upon his accession, when he was promptly confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission of date March 10, 1881.
Colonel McClung was married on the 19th of March, 1861, to Miss Ann Carter Harrison, only daughter of Carter B. Harrison, youngest son of General Harrison. Her mother was Mary, of the family of John Sutherland, one of the pioneers of Butler County. She is a worthy helpmate of her distinguished spouse. They have had no children.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.