From: Jim McClenahan
Received: Thu, 28 May 1998 14:58:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] Most Wanted James Burns MCCLENAHAN
James Burns MCCLENAHAN was born in Ste. Genevieve County, MO, 29 Feb. 1828.
James was the youngest of three brothers and made his way west about 1853-1855
at the age of 25. Most likely he came west with a wagon train, and family
tradition says he served as a scout on more than one train. He may have even
been a scout on a train under the control of Wagon Master Ezra SMITH,
grandfather of Celeste SMITH, whom James married in June of 1864, in
Copperopolis, Calaveras Co. James' oldest brother, John Peyton MCCLENAHAN raised
cattle in Sheeps Ranch. His other older brother, Fred Clarke MCCLENAHAN, lived
in Milton. James was supposedly superintendent of the large copper mine in
Copperopolis in 1879 and also in law enforcement in that area, probably prior to
his involvement in mining. They lived for a short time in Telegraph City, and
their daughter Martha Annie was born there in 1872. In 1881, they moved to Santa
Cruz Co, AZ. A "Minna" whom I believe to be the wife of John Peyton MCCLENAHAN
and their son, Jefferson Davis MCCLENAHAN are buried in the same plot in the
Milton Cemetery. I don't believe they were connected to the "Gold Rush"
directly, but I am really interested in the Wagon Trains that James and Ezra
SMITH were involved in, and the Copperopolis mine, then and now. Thanks for any
information regarding these people. Jim McClenahan (
Mccthescot@aol.com )
Goldrush Most Wanted | California Genealogy | Free Genealogy