DR. JOSIAH R. MCCLELLAND FAMILY (Part 3)

MCCLELLAND, RHEA, HALL, CLARK, MCGINNIS

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 11/8/2009 at 15:44:16

1910 Center Twp; Leon, Decatur Co., IA census: (Commercial Street)

Amanda McClelland, Head, 80, widow
Eva E. Rhea, Niece, 37, single
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Note: Amanda (Rhea) McClelland died May 12, 1910.

OBITUARY - AMANDA MCCLELLAND

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, May 19, 1910

AMANDA RHEA was born July 16, 1829, in White County, Tennessee, and died at
Her home in Leon, Iowa, May 12, 1910, aged 80 years, 9 months and 26 days.

When nine years of age she came with her parents to Mercer County, Missouri,

Riding on horseback all the way. Here she was reared to womanhood, enduring
Hardships and privations incident to frontier life. On March 18, 1853, she
Was married to Dr. JOSIAH MCCLELLAND, and moved to Princeton, where they
Lived two years, after which they moved to Decatur City which was at that
Time the county seat of Decatur County. After a few years residence there,
They moved to Leon where they made their home and reared their family which
Consisted of one son and two daughters. The son, EDGAR, died about two
Years ago. The daughters, Mrs. HALL and Mrs. CLARK, survive.

Mrs. MCCLELLAND made the good confession when in her seventeenth year and
Identified herself with a small band of Disciples in Missouri, and when they

Moved to Leon both she and her husband became charter members of the
Christian Church. She had the distinction of being the last charter member
Of this congregation. About a year ago when a directory of the church was
Being prepared this good woman contributed the following article: "Dearly
Beloved in Christ: Fifty-five years ago today my husband, the late Dr.
MCCLELLAND, and I, with a few others, banded together to work in the Lord's
Vineyard for the betterment of those around us, and that we might exalt
Jesus, the Lord's Christ, above all else. Today I find myself alone. The
Rest are not here. Many of them are at rest, their labors being ended. Let
Us labor on with a hope founded on His promise that, if faithful until He
Calls us, we shall receive the crown of everlasting life. How well any of
Us have wrought, eternity alone will reveal. Yours in the One Hope, Mrs.
AMANDA MCCLELLAND." Being a faithful member of the church for over sixty
Years, she was acquainted with the trials, struggles and hardships of an
Infant congregation struggling for existence. She has lived to see the
Church grow from a small band, meeting in private homes for its worship, to
A flourishing congregation with a beautiful church edifice. Sister
MCCLELLAND was a faithful attendant at the regular services of the church as

Long as her health would permit. Her life, her deeds and the place she
Occupied in this community will be left to us as a sacred memory.

The funeral services were conducted from the Christian Church Lord's Day
Afternoon at 2:30 by the writer, assisted by Pastor J.L. Boyd of the M.E.
Church, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Leon Cemetery in
The midst of a large company of friends and neighbors.

-- J.S. Coffin, Pastor
Leon Christian
Church
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Leon Cemetery:

McClelland, Amanda Rhea Jul 16, 1829 - May 12, 1910 (footstone-Mother)
McClelland, Dr. Josiah R. Dec 15, 1823 - Dec 24, 1893 (footstone-Father)
McClelland, Edgar B. Oct 19, 1860 - Aug 3, 1908 (footstone-Edgar)
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1920 Center Twp; Leon; Decatur Co., IA census: (Main Street)

M. Clayton Rhea, Head, 83, widowed
Eva E. Rhea, daughter, 47, single
Helena M., grandchild, 30, single

Note: M. Clayton Rhea was Amanda (Rhea) McClelland's brother.

Three years after Amanda's death, Eva Rhea married:

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, December 6, l923
A wedding which came as a surprise to the many friends of the contracting
Parties, occurred last Wednesday evening at 5:30 o'clock, when MISS EVA
ELIZABETH RHEA and MR. VAN RENSSELAER MCGINNIS were quietly united in
Marriage, Rev. W.B. Paterson, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church officiating.

Immediately after the ceremony, MR. And MRS. MCGINNIS motored to Osceola to
Take a train for Chicago where they visited over Thanksgiving with MR.
MCGINNIS' son, DONALD, who is attending Chicago University, and returned to
Leon Sunday.
There are perhaps no couple in Decatur County who are better known than MR.
And MRS. MCGINNIS. The bride has been a resident of Leon for many years, and

Has been a leader in religious and social circles, and is esteemed and loved

By everyone for her cheerful disposition and self-sacrifice, devoting a
great deal of time to public work, in addition to her duties as chief
stenographer in the law office of McGinnis & McGinnis. MR. MCGINNIS needs no

words of praise. He is known all over Iowa as one of the most successful
attorneys in the State.
The congratulations of the entire community are extended to MR. And MRS.
MCGINNIS, and their friends wish them every happiness.
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Back to WILLIAM RHEA, the freed slave of Seibirt & Nancy (Cook) Rhea.
The first that I find him in census records is as follows:
1880 Leon; Decatur Co., IA census:
William Rhea, black, 37, waiter; Restaurant owned by Samual A. Miller.
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1900 Leon; Decatur Co., IA census:
William Rhea, Head, black, 57.
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WILLIAM RHEA died in 1910 - exact date unknown.. I looked for an obituary
after the article that talked about him coming to Decatur County, dated June

23, 1910. I did not find one. Perhaps it was printed in the Princeton, MO
newspaper.
Leon Cemetery:
WILLIAM RHEA - 1832-1910.