(2) George Alexander McClanahan and (3) Leona Alton

 Lineage: Pauline McClanahan Cooper > George Alexander Cooper

(2) George Alexander McClanahan (my great-grandfather) was born 23 Dec 1874 in James County, Tennessee to (4) Lace and (5) Malinda (Smith) McClanahan. He only went to school up to the 4th. grade, but could read and write. He worked at various jobs during his life including being a: Coal miner, Farmer laborer, and a carpenter.

(3) Leona “Onar” Alton was born 11 Jul 1880 in James County, Tennessee to (6) Robert H. Alton and (7) Isabella Texas Davis. She grew up in Jasper City, Marion County, TN. Leona and many of her family members, on her mother’s side, were recognized members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Click here for more on our Cherokee Ancestry, 

There is a decent amount of evidence that her official first name was Leonar. She appears to have gone by the nickname of "Onar" for much of her life. She is listed as Onar in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses. She is also listed as Onar in an application to the Cherokee Nation and on her husband's WWI draft registration card. She then appears to start going by the name of Leona, without the "r," and that is even how her name is spelled on her gravestone. Her obituary and social security death record shows her as "Leonar."

George and Leona married in 1900 in Marion County, Tennessee, he was 25 and she was 20.  

In the 1900 census, George and Leona are living directly next door to Leona’s parents and only 4 doors down from George’s brother James’s family. George is listed as a farm laborer and has not been unemployed for 4 months. They are renting a house.

Leona’s Cherokee Heritage

Flag of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation

In 1902, the Eastern Cherokee sued the United States to get funds due them under the treaties of 1835, 1836, and 1845. They won that suit and were awarded 1 million dollars ($33 million in 2022) to be distributed to members of the Cherokee Tribe. A man named, Guion Miller, was appointed to take applications and decide who was eligible. Over 120,000 applied and around 30,000 were accepted. 

In 1907, Ona [Leona] McClanahan applied for herself and two of her children, Nellie and Earl. Leona and George were living in Tracy City, Grundy County, Tennessee at the time, according to the application. To make the determination, Miller took detailed records of their ancestry and compared that to earlier Cherokee rolls:

• Henderson Roll - 1835 list of Cherokee just prior to forced removal
• Chapman Roll - 1851 list of Cherokees that remained in the East
• Drennen - 1851 list of Cherokees that had moved West

On 18 Apr 1911, Ona [Leona] and two of her children, were accepted onto the Guion Miller Roll. Her application number was 33529 and her enrollment number was 1585. Her enrollment record states that her grandmother, Nancy Davis, was enrolled number 1609 on the 1851 Chapman Roll. Many other members of her family were also enrolled, including her mother, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Ona would eventually receive $133 ($4,400 in 2022).

In the 1910 census, they are still living in Marion County, TN and George is listed as a Coal Miner. They are renting a home and have 1 daughter Nellie, and three sons Earl, Leonard, and James.

In 1917, they have (1) Pauline McClanahan (my grandmother) in Marion County, Tennessee.

On 03 Jan 1918, George and Leona’s daughter, Nellie, married Charles Anderson.

In 1918, George’s WWI draft card lists him as living in Jackson County, Alabama. He is listed as having a medium build, of medium height, with black hair and blue eyes. He is a farmer and his next of kin is listed as Onar McClanahan.

In the 1920 census, they are living in Scottsboro, Jackson County, Alabama at 1920 Guntersville Road. They are renting a house and George is still a farmer. Living with them are their two daughters Nellie Anderson and Pauline, and 3 sons Earl, Leonard, James, and Paul. Also living with them, is their grand-daughter, Mabel V. Anderson (1 year old). 

In 1924, George and Leona are listed in the Macon City Directory.

In the 1930 census, George and Leona are living  Vineville (Macon), Bibb County, Georgia at 616 Church Street. They are renting their house and George is a Carpenter. Living with them are their sons James and Paul, their daughter Pauline, and their granddaughter Mabel V. Anderson. Mabel’s mother died sometime before 1930. 

In the 1940 census, George is still listed as a carpenter. They rent their house for $8 per month ($142 in 2022). He made $814 that year ($14,000 in 2022). No one is living with them.

In the 1950 census, George and Leona are still living alone in Vineville (Macon), Bibb County, GA. George is 74 and Leona is 70.  They are no longer working.

On 31 Oct 1952, Leona (Alton) McClanahan died of breast cancer in Richmond County, GA. She was 72 years old and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Around 1961, George’s son Leonard lived in Augusta. Him and his wife came to Macon and took George out of his nursing home (Lockhart Nursing Home) and took him back to Augusta and put him in a psychiatric facility. No other family members believed that George had any mental issues and don’t know why Leonard did that. His granddaughter, Peggy Cooper Cox, got him out of the hospital and returned him to the nursing care facility.

On 29 Dec 1963, George Alexander McClanahan died in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. He was 89 years old and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

George Alexander McClanahan and Lenora (Alton) McClanahan:

1. Earl William m. Evelyn Lighthizer
2. Nellie m. Charles Anderson
3. Leonard Franklin m. Christine Silvers
4. James Floyd m. Trevie May Nail
5. Paul G. m. Mattie Lee Reynolds
6. Pauline m. Virgil E. Cooper

Family Remembrances:

Her granddaughter, Peggy Cooper, Cox, remembers that She remembers her not wanting the children to touch anything or do anything. They had a tiny house with a front yard with no grass. They had a garden in back with a chicken coop. They grew vegetables including tomatoes. They had a refrigerator with block ice.

Once her grandchildren Peggy, Virgil Jr., and Kay were staying with her. They found a bar of chocolate in her ice box. Peggy was the oldest and ate all of the chocolate, while her little brother and sister begged to have some. But the joke was on Peggy, as the chocolate bar as actually a chocolate laxative.

Appendix:

Tennessee "Tennie" Davis 1906 Guion Miller Roll Application (pdf)

Texas (Davis) Alton 1906 Guion Miller Roll Application (pdf)

Lafayette Davis 1906 Guion Miller Roll Application (pdf)

Leona "Ona" (Alton) McClanahan's 1907 Guion Miller Roll Application (pdf)

Burduir Alton 1906 Guion Miller Roll Application (pdf)

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