C. B. McClellan, one of the pioneer settlers of Kansas and a prominent citizen of Oskaloosa, is one of the few men now living who was in the state during the troublous times just preceding the outbreak of the Civil war, when the "Border Warfare" was waging in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. He is a native of Ohio, born at Wooster, Wayne county, May 7, 1823, a son of John and Nancy (Elder) McClellan, born in Pennsylvania, March 3, 1785, and Dec. 4, 1787, respectively. Mr. McClellan received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his native state and then attended the academy at Xenia, Ohio. In 1847 he entered the employ of his brother, who conducted a mercantile establishment and followed this business for ten years. Like so many young men of the Middle West Mr. McClellan had heard of the many opportunities offered in Kansas, and located here three years before the state was admitted to the union. He located in Jefferson county, in 1857, and at once entered actively into the life of the community, being elected county treasurer in 1858. Being interested in politics and the burning question of the day—"Whether Kansas should be admitted to the Union as a free or slave state." Mr. McClellan was elected a member of the Wyandotte constitutional convention, in 1859. He knew Daniel Boone, who was a son of the old Kentucky pioneer, and who was the farmer appointed to the Kaw Indians in 1827. Their reservation was located in the Kaw bottoms near Williamstown, Jefferson county. Daniel Boone's son, Napoleon, was the first white child born in the Territory of Kansas. Mr. McClellan remembers the stories told about the battle of Hickory Point, in 1856, when the pro-slavery and free-state forces had a fight which lasted some time but the casualties consisted of one pro-slavery man killed and three wounded, while the free-state side had three men shot in the legs and one through the lungs. At the outbreak of the war Mr. McClellan enlisted in Company A, Fourth Kansas militia. He was made captain and served in that capacity until promoted to adjutant. In the fall of 1861 the city of Atchisom was threatened by the Bushwackers of Missouri, and sent word throughout the country for help. Captain McClellan received notice by "messenger" on Saturday night about ten o'clock, by daylight he had his company together, and Sunday morning marched to the aid of the threatened town. The company remained about a week but the enemy did not appear and the men returned to their homes. When General Price captured Lexington, Mo., it was thought that he would invade Kansas and the governor of Kansas called upon the state militia, which went to Fort Leavenworth and were mustered into the service of the United States for thirty days, at the end of which time they were discharged, as Price did not appear. The regiment was reorganized in 1863 as the Third Kansas militia, and during Price's raid, in 1864, Mr. McClellan was adjutant. He took part in the battle of the Blue, where one man of the regiment was killed and twelve were taken prisoners.

Mr. McClellan married Mary Moore, Oct. 1, 1850. She was a daughter of Thomas and Achsah (Harvey) Moore of Wayne county, Ohio, and five children were born to them: Mariah Adelaide, born February, 1852; Achsah J., born November, 1854; Frances, born December, 1856; Thomas, born June, 1859; and Luella, born April, 1863.