Oliver Jasper McClelland

Oliver Jasper McClelland

Oliver Jasper McClelland was born 28 October 1858. Only six years younger than Anna Mae's father, John Allen McClelland, Oliver was sucked into the rumor and suspicion that swirled around the McClelland Pond Mystery that captivated the country in the 1890s. He stood by his older brother, and was one of the family members who served as bondsmen so John A. could be released on bail.

Oliver married Elizabeth Tate 1 February 1888 in Clinton County.  They had four children together, but only Mabel lived to adulthood. They lost Hazel (18 months old), Freeda (19 months old) and Fern (10 months old) in less than two years. Two of those daughters died while the McClelland Pond fervor was at its height. Fern died two months after Oliver's brother was indicted. To me, it's no wonder Lizzie Tate McClelland died 23 March 1895, nineteen days after little Fern.

Oliver married Julia Castelain on 23 April 1897. Two months later the Illinois States Attorney asked the Marion County Court to dismiss the indictment against John Allen. Julia had a son Louis by her first husband. Oliver and Julia had a daughter together (Grecque). According to the Marion County Genealogical Society a son was born and died the same day as Grecque (9 May 1898), but I haven't direct proof of it. There isn't a stone for him in Elmwood Cemetery, where plot 440-0150 has grave markers for Oliver, Lizzie, Julia, Hazel, Fern and Freida.

Oliver ran a saloon in Centralia and was repeatedly fined for violating the law by doing business on Sundays. The Centralia newspaper reported warrants had been issued against him for gambling. One of his employees sued him, claiming he was a bar tender and Oliver batted him over the head with a beer bottle. 

Julia filed for divorce and it was granted 21 September 1906. Five days later:

Centralia Sentinel, Centralia, Illinois, 26 September 1906 page 3 col. C  (NewpaperArchive)

Ol. McClelland Suicide

His Dead Body Found in his Room Probably Thirty Minutes After the Deed had Been Committed.

O.J. McClelland, the well known North Oak street saloon man, ended his life this afternoon by shooting himself through the breast with a revolver, and died sitting in a chair.

Yesterday he arranged with Haussler & Son to fit up a room for his own use on the second floor over the saloon and the arrangements were that the stuff was to be delivered and placed in the room at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Seifert, one of Haussler & Son's employees, went to the room to get it ready for the furniture which was on the way. On entering the room he found McClelland sitting in a chair with his head thrown back and his breast all covered with blood. Under the chair lay a pearl handled revolver. From the blood clots it was presumed that he had been dead about half an hour when found. His barkeeper said that he had been away from the saloon about that long, but no one about the building heard the report of the revolver.

Mr. McClelland has been quite despondent of late over some troubles and some of his intimate friends were not greatly surprised when they heard the news.

The room was at once locked up and he was left still reclining in the chair with nothing disturbed till the Coroner could take hold of the case.