James McClellan [was] born August 8, 1804 in Bedford, Tennessee. From a report by George A. McClellan, "James, on January 18, 1826, at the age of 22, married the 16 year-old Cynthia Stewart and moved to Shelby County, Illinois where they were squatted on a quarter section, but in 1834 or '35, they bought out a man named Siler, who wanted to move on. He had a cabin, corn crib, and smokehouse.
"By industry and economy James rapidly surrounded himself with the comforts of life. Hogs and cattle did well on the range, and quite a portion of the year, and St. Louis and Chicago furnished a fairly good market for all surplus, including coonskins, dressed turkeys, venison and hams."
"This was their condition when the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ found them. They embraced the gospel and were baptized May 13, 1839...
"They sold their property, which consisted of 600 acres of farm and 100 acres of timberland, under fence and cultivation and moved to Nauvoo in the fall of 1842." At this time they had a family of seven living children, having buried one son.
Cynthia Stewart
Cynthia's activities during their time in Shelby County was mainly caring for small children, cooking and doing all the house cleaning and laundry. No doubt, as with all women of that time, she had a loom and spinning wheel whereby she was able to manufacture all of the family's clothing.
While in Nauvoo, Cynthia, along with her husband, was endowed in the Nauvoo Temple on January 7, 1846. They were sealed April 2, 1846. The last three of their twelve children wer born under the covenant.
When the Saints began their exit from Nauvoo, the McClellan Family was among them. When they reached Mesquite Creek (Kanesville) on July 15th, there were U.S. Government representatives enlisting men for the army to participate in the war against Mexico. James's son, William, volunteered and became a member of one of the famous marches of history known as the "Mormon Batallion".
James was asked to stay and help keep guardian as bishop over several families, and later served on the high council while in Kanesville. One can easily conclude what Cynthia's activities might have been as wife of a bishop and stake leader along with her stewardship as mother of twelve children.
