David V. McClellan
David V. McClellan, proprietor of a farm in Beavercreek township, on rural mail route No. 7 out of Xenia, is a native son of Greene county, born on a farm in Sugarcreek township on July 6, 1853, son of William S. and Mary C. (Bagford) McClellan, both of whom spent their last days in that township.
William S. McClellan also was a native son of Greene county, born at Xenia, March 10, 1823, a son of John McClellan and wife, tlie latter of whom was a Simpson. John McClellan was the first of this branch of the McClellan family to come to Greene county. He was a Virginian and a blacksmith by trade. Upon locating at Xenia he opened a smithy and wagon-making shop and there continued engaged in that business until his retirement, his last days being spent in the household of his son William S. in Sugarcreek township. John McClellan and wife were the parents of five children, those besides William S. having been Robert, who died at Piqua, Martin, Samuel and Mary, the latter of whom married George Filson. William S. McClellan, who was the eldest son, was early trained to the trade of blacksmith and worked at the same more or less all his life, even after buying his farm and settling in Sugarcreek township, maintaining a shop on the farm. He was a Republican and he and his family were members of the United Presbyterian church. William S. McClellan married Mary C. Bagford, who was born in Maryland on March 17, 1824. and both he and his wife spent their last days on their farm in Sugarcreek township, her death occurring there in 1884, she then being sixty years of age, and his in 1893, he being sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. They were the parents of nine children, namely: James W., a retired farmer now living at Beavertown, who married Ella Benham; Alice R., who married Bert Benham and who. as well as her husband, is now deceased; David V., the subject of this sketch; John O., who married Alice Cline and became a farmer in this county and who, as well as his wife, is now deceased; Mary C, wife of Eugene Barney, of Dayton; Harry B., who married Anna Spencer and is also living at Dayton; Edward, who became a carpenter and who died unmarried; Elizabeth, now deceased, who was the wife of Philip Boots, and Sarah, wife of Grant Koontz, of Dayton.
David Y. McClellan was reared on the home farm, received his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until after his marriage in 1880, when he located on the farm on which he is now living, in Beavercreek township, and has ever since made that his place of residence. Mr. McClellan has seventy-five and one-half acres and in addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of Poland China hogs
In December, 1880, David V. McClellan was united in marriage to Anna Babb, who was born at Xenia, daughter of James M. and Susanna (McCreary) Babb, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Ireland. James M. Babb was born in 1811 and was nineteen years of age when he came to this county in 1830 and began to work at his trade, that of a carpenter, at Xenia, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there in March, 1876. James M. Babb was twice married and by his first wife, Hannah Smith, was the father of four sons, James, Thomas, George and Charles, all of whom are now deceased. Following- the death of tlie mother of these children, he married Susanna McCreary and to that union were born three children, Mrs. McClellan having a brother, Lon H. Babb, a carpenter, living at Xenia, and a sister, Lizzie, wife of John McLain, also of Xenia. Mrs. Susanna Babb survived her husband for nearly thirty years, her death occurring in 1905, she then being seventy-eight years of age.
To David V. and Anna (Babb) McClellan three children have been born, namely: D. Oliver, born on December 31, 1881, now living at Dayton, where he is employed as a toolmaker, and who married Hazel Shartel and has three cliildren, Sarah Margaret, George V. and Sue Anna; Sue Ethel, March 23, 1883, who married Ernest Bull, a Xenia township farmer, and has two children, Delmer D. and Harold E.; and Leon C, May 8, 1885, now employed with tlie gas company at Xenia, and who married Clara St. John and has one child, a daughter, Frances Clara. Mr. McClellan is a Republican and he and his wife are affiliated with the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918