(1) Pauline McClanahan Cooper and Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr.

(1) Pauline "Polly" McClanahan (my maternal grandmother) was born on 19 Mar 1916 in Jasper, Marion County, Tennessee. Her parents were (2) George Alexander McClanahan and (3) Leona Alton. Her mother, Leona, was a recognized member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, through her mother's lineage. Click here for more on our Cherokee Ancestry.

Pauline was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She loved to cook and care for her family. She also worked at Channin’s clothing store and KMart. 

Her father was a coal miner, farmer, and carpenter. Her brother's were known to call her "Polly." On the 3rd of November 1911,  Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. (my maternal grandfather) was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia to  Richard Thomas Cooper (31yo) and Pearl Estelle Ham (29yo). He was the youngest of 3 brothers. His older brothers were Richard Hanson Cooper (b. 1906) and John Earl Cooper (b. 1907). 

Virgil E. Cooper, Sr. had a difficult childhood, growing up in a home with an alcoholic father, who died when he was just 19. His oldest brother was in and out of trouble with the law, so Virgil took on a lot of responsibility at a young age. From all accounts, he was a strong man, who always provided for his family. According to his daughter, Peggy, “we were poor, but did not know it.”

His primary occupations were as a fireman at Robins Air Force Base and a jewelry salesman for Friedman’s Jewelers. For many years, he worked both jobs at the same time. As a jewelry salesman, he would often sell the jewelry out of the back of his car in the minority neighborhoods of Macon and Forsyth. 

He was a Freemason and a member of the Optimist Club of Macon. He loved to fish, dance, gamble, smoke cigars, and watch baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves.

By the age of 4, Virgil Sr. and his family had moved to downtown Macon, GA where they lived on Pine Street, Walnut street, and then at 2333 Second Street.

In 1931, at the age of 19, his father dies. In 1932, he graduated from Miller Lanier High School where he was in the ROTC program and played basketball and volleyball. A quote in his senior yearbook says, “He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart.” It is not known why Virgil graduated at the late age of 20. Perhaps he got setback or had to drop out for some time to work.

In August of 1932, Virgil’s brother, Richard “Dick” Cooper, and another man, committed an armed robbery in downtown Macon. They picked up a friend of Richard’s, who worked for the Broadway Trading Company and forced him at gun point to open the companies safe. They stole $800. They then dropped off the victim in the case and drove to Richard’s house at 2333 Second Street. Once there, they picked up Richard’s younger brother, Virgil (20yo). The three of them drove to Atlanta, where Richard gave Virgil $26 to give to his mother, Pearl, and sent Virgil back home in the car.

Virgil returns home around 5:30am and the police show up around 7:30am. They questioned him and, at first, he gave them a story that they did not believe. They put him in the stockade, but “under strenuous questioning Virgil Cooper broke down and made a statement.” The police did not think that Virgil had anything to do with the initial crime, so they released him.

Richard and the other man involved in the crime were eventually caught, but I could not find any details on their sentences. But it is known that Richard spent some time in prison, perhaps it was for this offense. (I have posted some of the newspaper articles about this incident below).

A year or so later, he marries Pauline McClanahan and soon after they have their first child, Shirley Ann Cooper (b. 1934).

Pauline (McClanahan) Cooper

As a couple, they enjoyed going out dancing on Saturday nights.

In the 1940 census, Virgil, Pauline, and Shirley are  living at 2333 Second street in Macon, GA. Virgil’s mother, Pearl, is listed as the head of the household. They are also sharing this house with Pearl’s parents, John Earl Ham and Genevieve Ham. They are also sharing the house with Virgil’s cousin Jessie E. Pitts, whose parents had recently died in a car accident. According to the census, Virgil is a clerk at a Jewelry store, worked 59 hours the previous week, is a wage worker, worked 52 weeks in 1939, and made 900 that year (approximately $17,000 in 2020).

 

Virgil, Jr. remembers accompanying his father on Saturday mornings to the Douglas Theater in Downtown Macon to sell his jewelry. The Douglas Theater was the premier movie theater for African-Americans. Virgil, Jr. remembers eating soft serve ice cream and watching movies, while his father conducted business. Later in life, Virgil, Jr. would contribute to the remodeling and reopening effort of the Douglas Theater. In exchange for this, he has two chairs sponsored by him, where he used to sit, as boy.

Virgil, Jr. also remembers his father traveling on Mondays to Forsyth, GA to sell his jewelry. He knows a woman there that remembers her parents buying her a watch from Virgil, Sr. when she was a child. He also remembers Virgil, Sr. selling to the waiters and cooking staff at the The Elks Lodge.

His children remember him having 3x5 index cards and a pen in the front pocket of his shirt. On these cards, he would keep track of money owed to him by his customers. His daughter, Kay, remembered people coming to the door and giving him money and him making notes on the cards. Perhaps this was tied to his work as a jewelry salesman or perhaps he was simply making small loans as a sort of low level loan shark.

Virgil was a tall man and had a commanding presence, but was very soft spoken and kind to everyone he met. His son, Virgil, Jr., remembers that he never met anyone that would not be a friend a few minutes later. He was very gregarious and loved socializing. 

On the 2nd of October 1942, they have their second daughter, Peggy Louise Cooper.

On the 25th of January 1945, he enlisted in the US Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta. 

He was discharged on 9 Nov 1945 from Fort Ord, Monterey California. His military unit at the time of discharge was Private Army Ground Forces Replacement. His place of birth is listed as Vidalia, GA.

Shirley, Peggy, Pauline, and Virgil

On the 30th of August 1946, Virgil and Pauline had their first son, Virgil Edward Cooper, Jr. 

On the 28th of November 1948, Virgil and Pauline had their 3rd daughter, Sharon Kay Cooper.

Peggy, Kay, Pauline, Virgil Jr.

Virgil Jr., Pauline, Virgil Sr., Kay

In 1952, the city directory lists Virgil as a jewelry salesman for Friedman's Jewelers and says that he and Pauline live at h2359 Second Street. Virgil’s mother, Pearl E, widow of Richard T, is also listed at r2359. Virgil’s brother, J Earl Cooper, and his wife, Irene, are also listed at h2359.

On the 11th of November 1956, Kay Rauscher bumped into an open flame radiator causing her clothing to catch on fire. Pauline put out the fire with her hands and suffered third degree burns. Both survived, but suffered painful recoveries.   

Virgil worked two jobs for most of his life. He worked as a jewelry salesman for Friedman’s Jewelers and as a civilian fireman at the Robin’s Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga. Below is an article about him being recognized for 20 years of service at Robins.

After retirement, he spent his time fishing, watching baseball, and volunteering his time with the Optimist Club of Macon. 

He was always an avid fisherman. His daughter, Kay, remembered that they would often take family holidays to fishing camps so that he could fish. I, his grandson Clint, remember him sitting at the end of the dock at Lake Sinclair all day fishing. I would sit with him, but would get bored and wonder off. He would just sit there for hours almost in a state of zen.

I also remember him taking me to minor league baseball games and sitting in his den watching the Atlanta Brave’s play baseball, drinking pepsi from the bottle, while he smoked his cigars.

He was also an avid gambler and card player. His children remember him coming home late at night happy with money coming out of his pockets and stuck in his hat.

He would also volunteer his time to the Optimist Club of Macon. He would visit people in the hospital, as a red coat, bringing the patients newspapers and candies.  Virgil also worked at events to raise money for the organizations he was a member of. In the late 70s and early 80s, I remember him taking me to wrestling matches at the Macon Coliseum. I would watch the matches while he worked the door or concession stands.

In 1978, his brother, Richard Hanson Cooper, and his mother, Pearl Estelle Cooper, died.

In 1983, Virgil and Pauline celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Macon, GA.

In 1984, his brother, John Earl Cooper, died.

In 1986, Pauline, died of lung cancer. She is buried in Macon Memorial Park (section U lot 445). 

On the 29th of January 1998, Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. died in Macon, Ga at the age of 86 years old. He is buried at Macon Memorial park (section U lot 445).

 

Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. and Pauline McClanahan Cooper:

1. Shirley Ann m. DeWitt Byrd
1. Cathy
2. Vicky
3. Julie
4. Timothy
5. Kim
2. Peggy Louise m. William Cox
3. Virgil Edward Cooper, Jr. 
1. Virgil Edward Cooper, III
4. Sharon Kay m. Arthur Franklin Rauscher
1. Arthur Clinton Rauscher

Family Stories and Remembrances: 

Virgil’s daughter, Kay, remembered her father teaching her to drive. She said her mother would be in the backseat being nervous wreak, while her father was calmly sitting next to her saying, “Pauline, she is doing just fine.”

Pauline’s daughter, Peggy, remembers her mother getting angry with her one time. Peggy came home and saw some meat cooking in a pot on the stove. She thought it looked lumpy, so she mashed all of the meat up. Her mother came in and it turns out that she had been making small meatballs all afternoon and those meatballs were the “lumps” of meat in that pot cooking.

Virgil's great-granddaughter, Jennifer, remembers him taking her to the S&S Cafeteria and then to the Macon Mall to sit and people watch.

Along with his two jobs, he would also drive his mother, Pearl, around to sell Watkins products. Watkins products were extracts, salves, and seasonings. In the 1940s, they were the largest direct-sales company in the world.

Videos:

Photographs:

Daughter, Kay

Pauline and Daughter Kay in her garden

Misty, Pauline, Virgil, Sr. Christmas 1968

Grandson Clint, and Pauline (mid-1970s)

Shirley, Virgil Sr., Pauline, Peggy, Kay, and Virgil Jr.

Newspaper Articles about 1932 Robbery:

(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)

Photographs:

(4) Lace McClanahan and (5) Malinda Smith

Lineage: Pauline McClanahan Cooper > George Alexander Cooper > Lace McClanahan

(4) Lace McClanahan (my 2nd great-grandfather) was born in August of 1849 in Meigs County, Tennessee to (8) Mason T. McClanahan and (9) Malinda (Gross) McClanahan. Lace was a farmer.

(5) Malinda “Linda” Smith (my 2nd great-grandmother) was born in 1853 in James County, Tennessee. She was likely the daughter of (10) Abner Comstock Smith and (11) Vina (Johnson) Smith.

In 1865, when the Civil War began, Lace would have been just 16 and too young to serve. But four of his brothers did serve. Learn more about their Civil War service in the following article: 

In 1870, Lace’s father, Mason T. McClanahan, dies. Lace is mentioned in his will along with his brothers Jehue, J.F., John, and Mason.

On 23 Dec 1874, Lace and Malinda have my great-grandfather, (2) George Alexander McClanahan, in James County, Tennessee.

In the 1880 census, Lace (32) is listed as married to Linda McClanahan (27) in James County, Tennessee. He is a farm hand and cannot read nor write. They have 3 children: James F. McClanahan (7), George McClanahan (2), and Lily McClanahan (1). His son, James F., is probably named after Lace’s brother, James Franklin McClanahan.

In 1891, L McClanahan is listed in the male voter roll in James County, Tennessee.

We do not know when Malinda “Linda” (Smith) McClanahan died, but it was before 1894, when Lace remarries.

In 1894, Lace remarries, but we do not know the name of his second wife.

In the 1900 census, Lace (50) is living in James County, Tennessee. Living with him are, his children, Lillie Combs (19), Will L. (14), Rachel (12), and Ethel (7). Also, living with them is Lillie (McClanahan) Combs’s son, James B. Combs (1). The census says that Lace has been married for 6 years (1894). Since, there is no wife listed in this census, Lace must be twice widowed. Lace is also listed as being a farmer and owning his farm.

In the 1920 census, Tom McClanahan (70) is listed as living with the family of his daughter, Rachel Kirby, in Lawrence, Alabama. This makes me think his full name was Lace Thomas McClanahan and that the T in Mason T was likely short for Thomas.

On 20 Mar 1923, Lace T. McClanahan died and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

On 5 May 1943, his son, James Franklin McClanahan died in Marion County, Tennessee and his parents are listed as Lacy McClanahan and Malinda Smith.

Lace T McClanahan and Malinda (Smith) McClanahan:

1. George Alexander m. Leona Alton
2. James Franklin m. Mary ?
3. Lillie A. m. D. Daniel Combs
4. Rachel m. William Jenkins, m. Samuel Kirby
5. William L. m. Bessie Barber
6. Ethel m. Henry Kirby

Photos:

The Fighting McClanahans of East Tennessee

It is wrong to believe that all Southerners supported secession and slavery, in the years leading up to the Civil War. In fact, in 1826, there were 143 anti-slavery societies in the United States, of which 103 were in the South. 

In many areas, in the lead up to the Civil War, the majority of people did not support secession. For example, West Virginia split from Virginia to stay in the Union. Eastern Tennessee and northern Alabama were also mostly against secession and had to be occupied by Confederate troops during the War. Sam Houston, the Governor of Texas, was against secession and refused to swear an Oath of Loyalty to the Confederacy. As a result, he was stripped of his governorship. Houston predicted the South would lose the war “after the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives.” It is worth noting, that Houston grew up in East Tennessee, in what would later become Meigs County.

My McClanahan ancestors had settled in East Tennessee starting in the late 1700s, in what would become Rhea and Meigs counties. My 3rd great-grandfather, Mason T. McClanahan and his children were living in Meigs county during the Civil War period.

Even though, only 15% of Meigs County’s population were slaveholders, the county voted for Tennessee’s Ordinance of Secession (481-267). Meigs and Rhea were 2 of only 6 counties in East Tennessee that voted for Secession. The vote of all 30 counties from East Tennessee was 34,023 against secession to 14,872 for secession. 

The state of Tennessee furnished more soldiers for the Union Army than any other Confederate state, totaling 31,092 white troops and 20,133 black troops. Meigs county provided troops for both sides of the war.

It is not hard to figure out where Mason T. McClanahan stood, as 6 of his 9 sons fought for the Union. Of the other 3 sons, one had already passed away and the other two were too young to fight. Two of his sons would die in the war, Miles and Hiram.

For the McClanahans, and all the soldiers from Confederate States that fought for the Union, this would not have been a territorial war, but rather a true “civil” war. A war between communities, neighbors, and even families. They chose to go off and fight while leaving their families to live behind enemy lines.

Why Fight for the Union?

It is impossible to know exactly why the McClanahans fought for the Union, but we do have  interviews and writings of Unionist soldiers from Confederate States.

The most obvious reason, could have been simply patriotism. They loved their country and wanted to preserve it.

Another reason could have been a moral and/or religious objection to slavery. There is no record of the McClanahans owning slaves. They seemed to be small rural farmers, who did their work themselves. According to the famous abolitionist Rev. John Rankin, in his youth “a majority of the people of East Tennessee were Abolitionists.”

There is also some evidence that the McClanahans were Methodist. The Methodist Church was staunchly anti-slavery going back to its’ founder, John Wesley. In his 1774 pamphlet “Thoughts Upon Slavery” Wesley ended with:

“O thou God of love, thou who art loving to every man, and whose mercy is over all thy works; thou who art the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and who art rich in mercy unto all; thou who hast mingled of one blood all the nations upon earth; have compassion upon these outcasts of men, who are trodden down as dung upon the earth! Arise, and help these that have no helper, whose blood is spilt upon the ground like water! Are not these also the work of thine own hands, the purchase of thy Son's blood? Stir them up to cry unto thee in the land of their captivity; and let their complaint come up before thee; let it enter into thy ears! Make even those that lead them away captive to pity them, and turn their captivity as the rivers in the south. O burst thou all their chains in sunder; more especially the chains of their sins! Thou Saviour of all, make them free, that they may be free indeed!”

In 1845, there was a split within the church, over the issue of slavery, resulting in northern and southern branches. (The two branches would be reunited in 1939.) But surely, many southern Methodists retained their anti-slavery convictions, after the split.

On a purely economic level, prior to the Civil War, only 9 percent of the population of East Tennessee were slaves. Slavery was not as large of an economic factor in East Tennessee, as in some other areas. One reason for this is that the soil in East Tennessee did not support the growing of cash crops such as cotton, rice, tobacco, or sugar. These were all crops that were very highly labor intensive and the lack of these crops therefore produced less of a demand for slaves. As a result, the farmers of East Tennessee produced more diversified crops than in other parts of the south.

Below are the summaries of the service of each of the McClanahan brothers:

Jehue McClanahan (1830-1904)
Private, Company B, 3rd Regiment Tennessee Infantry
Enlisted Feb 12, 1862 in Flat Lick, KY for a 3 year enlistment.
Captured at Loudon, KY in Aug of 1862 and imprisoned at Camp Chase.
February to March 1864 Out sick in Knoxville, TN
July to December 1864 Absent Sick.
He was discharged on Feb 23, 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee and was paid $100.
Registered as Invalid in 1887.
1890 Veterans Schedule of US Census from Meigs County, TN shows Jahu McClanahan as a Pvt., Co. B, 3rd Regiment of Tennessee Infantry.
The 3rd Tennessee Infantry would have been part of the Army of Tennessee (Union) and would have supported  participated in some of the largest battles and campaigns of the war, including: Atlanta Campaign, Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, Battle of Jonesboro, Second Battle of Franklin, and the Battle of Nashville. For much of the time, they would have served under General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Learn more about the 3rd Tennessee Infantry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Tennessee_Infantry_Regiment_(Union)

Four of the brothers, Mason, Miles, James Franklin, and Hiram, were all members of the 5th Regiment of Tennessee Infantry. The 5th Tennessee Infantry would have participated in the Battle of Spring Hill, Second Battle of Franklin, Battle of Nashville, and the Carolinas Campaign.
Learn more about the 5th. Regiment of the Tennessee Infantry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Tennessee_Infantry_Regiment_(Union)

Mason “Mace” McClanahan (1844-1922)
Private, Comapny E, 5th Regiment Tennessee Infantry
Enlisted on March 2, 1862 in Decatur, Tennessee and mustered in on March 29th, 1862 at Barbourville, Kentucky.
His enlistment record states that he was 17 years old, 6’ tall with a dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair. He was from Meigs County, TN and was a farmer.
In a muster roll from 1864, he is listed as the company cook.
At the time of his discharge on Apr 4, 1865, he was in the hospital sick and was in need of transportation home.

Miles McClanahan (1848-1864)
Private, Company E, 5th Regiment East Tennessee Infantry
He enlisted on March 2nd, 1862 for 3 years in Decatur, TN at 16 years old.
He mustered in on March 29th in Barbourville, KY.
On April 17, he was left sick at the hospital in Barbourville.
He had rejoined his regiment by May of 1862.
In 1863, he was a prisoner of war and paroled sick to the Union Hospital at McMinnville, TN on Oct 3, 1863.
In February of 1864 he was furloughed and returned to Meigs County, TN where he died of disease on May 8, 1864.

Hiram D. McClanahan (1842-1864)
Private, Company E, 5th Regiment East Tennessee Infantry
He mustered in March 29th, 1862 and died in field hospital in Allatoona, GA on June 9th, 1864 of wounds received in action on June 2nd, 1864. He was just 22 years old. 

The official record shows that he was wounded in action on June 2nd, 1864 at Lost Mountain, in Georgia. Lost Mountain served as the southwesterly anchor of a ten-mile Confederate defensive line against Union troops marching toward Atlanta, preceding the battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27th.  Confederate earthworks remain on the property. This is precisely where Sherman’s army would have been on June 2nd, 1864 and it would make perfect sense for wounded soldiers from there to be sent to Allatoona, GA. While there was no battle on June 2nd, 1864, Hiram could have been wounded in a skirmish or as a scout, in what was the lead up to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

In the first days of June, 1864, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman concentrated his armies along the Western and Atlantic Railroad north of Marietta to resupply after a month of heavy fighting. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston positioned his Confederate army defensively between Lost Mountain west of the railroad and Brush Mountain to the east. Sherman moved forward toward Johnston’s position on June 10. After a week of skirmishing at Gilgal Church and along Mud Creek, Johnston pulled back to a new line centered on Kennesaw Mountain, just outside Marietta by June 19. South of Kennesaw, Gen. John B. Hood struck Sherman at Kolb’s Farm on June 22 but was repulsed. Convinced Johnston had stretched his line too thin, Sherman decided on a frontal attack on the Confederate mountain bastion. After an  artillery bombardment, Sherman sent his troops forward the morning of June 27. Determined Yankee assaults reached the Rebel trenches, but were unable to break the Southern line. Sherman called the battle as "the hardest fight of the campaign up to that date.” The tactical Confederate victory failed to deliver a strategic win, namely a halt to Sherman's advance towards Atlanta. In the battle of Kennesaw mountain, 100,000 Union soldiers fought 50,000 Confederate soldiers. The union lost 3,000 while the confederates lost 1,000.

Artillery at Kennesaw Mountain

Hiram’s widow, Elizabeth, applied for pension Aug 1865, and was approved to receive $8 per month and $2 per month for each of their 4 children.

James Franklin McClanahan (1837-1901)

Private, Company E, 5th Regiment East Tennessee Infantry
He enlisted on Mar 3, 1863.
He was discharged on July 4, 1865.
He registered for invalid pension on Jan 9, 1888
James’s widow, Elizabeth, registered for his pension on Nov 29, 1901.

John McClanahan (1832-1889)
Private, Company G, 3rd Regiment Tennessee Cavalry
He enlisted on July 12, 1863 in Decatur, TN for 3 years.
He mustered in August 21, 1863 in Nashville, TN.
In most of his muster files, he was listed as a cook.
Between, February and March of 1864 he was listed as sick in Knoxville, TN

In September of 1864, the 3rd Tennessee Cavalry, 9th Indiana Cavalry, and the 111th United States Colored Troops occupied the Sulphur Creek Trestle, north of Athens, AL. Fortifications there were protecting the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, which were being used to supply Maj. General William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.

On 25 Sep 1864, Confederate cavalry under Maj. General Nathan Bedford Forrest surrounded Sulphur Creek Trestle, and after heavy bombardment the Union troops surrendered.

He was then imprisoned at Cahaba, AL. 

On 21 Mar 1865, at the end of the war, he was released from prison as part of a prisoner exchange and travelled to Vicksburg, Mississippi. In April, he and 1,965 other federal soldiers, 35 officers, and about 300 civilians boarded the Sultana steamboat. The vessel was only constructed to hold 376 passengers. 

On the evening of April 26th, the Sultana arrived in Memphis, TN and unloaded much of its cargo and some of the passengers. It then loaded the cargo with coal and headed out. Around 2am, one of her boilers exploded and caught the ship on fire. 1,169 people died in what remains the worst maritime disaster in US history. 

Picture of the Sultana taken on April 26th, 1865

John McClanahan was originally listed as one of the dead, but he actually survived. On May 7th, he was sent to Nashville, TN and mustered out there on 10 Jun 1865. He was paid $25 and the record showed that he was still owed $75.

No one was ever held accountable for the disaster and it as even overshadowed in the news by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, which had happened the day before.

To learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultana_(steamboat)

On 27 Oct 1879, he registered as an invalid and started receiving a pension. John died on Aug 3rd, 1889 and was buried in Georgetown, TN.His wife Adeline registered for his pension on Oct 5, 1889.