Jamesie Eli McClain

Biographical Information

Jamesie Eli McClain was first noted in the 1880 Federal Census living in Sims Township, Grant Co., Indiana with his parents, James and Mary J. McClain, and his siblings. He was 6 years old, born in Indiana. Since his parents were living in Sims Township, Grant Co., Indiana in 1870 as well, this is presumably where Jamesie was born. His father was a farmer. Sims Township is about half way between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the 1900 Federal census of Sims Township, Grant Co., Indiana, "Jemes" E. McClain, born Oct 1873 in Indiana was noted living with parents, James M. and Mary J. McClain. Shortly after this, Jamesie married Mary Alice Enright and the couple moved to Arizona where they were noted:
 
Arizona Republican, 28 Dec 1902, p. 6: MESA ...J. E. McClain and wife, recently from Shirley, Indiana, were in Mesa today, this being their first visit to the Gem city. Mr. McClain until a short time since published the Shirley-Wilkinson News, but disposed of his property in Indiana and will locate in the Salt River valley probably at Mesa. For the present he is making his headquarters at Phoenix. By 1905, J. E. McClain was noted advocating statehood for Arizona;
 
Arizona Republican, 27 Jan 1905, p. 9 TEMPE THE WOODMEN BANQUET. An Occasion Enjoyed by Nearly a Hundred Guests. ...Arizona, a Star in the Sisterhood of States, was ably responded to by J. E. McClain. He advanced among many other reasons why Arizona should become a state the fact that the territory was fully entitled to it in every respect. In other states there were those that had not the railroads, schools and other improvements of which this territory had good reason to be proud. He gave the assurance that all that was necessary was an unlimited amount of patience.... In July 1905, his daughter was born:

Arizona Republican, 1 Aug 1905, p. 7: BIRTH OF A DAUGHTER. J. E. McClain is justly proud over the birth of a daughter, yesterday; all the more so for the reason that this is the first addition to his family, and the young lady is of unusual promise. At least, the fond parents are of that opinion. Mr. McClain has not put in an appearance in town since the event, but his friends are in wait for him in order to properly express their congratulations, and he is hereby warned to come prepared and bring his pocketbook with him. By 1908, J. E. McClain was noted helping to organize a produce association:

Arizona Republican, 12 Oct 1908, Section 2, p. 11: PRODUCE ASSOCIATION TO BE ORGANIZED HERE An Outgrowth of the Tempe Melon Growers' Association. The annual meeting of the Tempe Melon Growers' association was held at the office of the Tempe Canal Co. Saturday afternoon and the following officers for the ensuing year were elected: President, A. S. Frankenberg; vice president, W. T. Cummings; secretary, L. E. Pafford; treasurer, C. G. Jones. These four and J. E. McClain constitute the board of directors.... Unfortunately, the family has not been located in the 1910 Federal Census of Arizona. In 1913 and 1914, J. E. McClain, as Maricopa County Fair Commissioner, was active planning for the State Fair. J. E. McClain was elected as a Democrat from Maricopa County to the 2nd Arizona State Legislature and served during the Regular and First and Second Special Sessions in 1915. He was living in Tempe, Arizona. Since Jamesie Eli McClain was not the only J. E. McClain noted in Maricopa County before statehood, the following article is key to identifying the J. E. McClain who was elected to the Legislature:
 
Arizona Republican, 26 May 1915, p. 5: ILLNESS OF MOTHER Representative McClain yesterday received a telegram informing him that his mother, Mrs. Mary Jane McClain, living at Swayzee. Ind., had been stricken with paralysis. According to the Find a Grave site, Mary Jane McClain was the daughter of John T. and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Howard and she died June 2, 1915. In 1916, J. E. McClain was still active with the State Fair:

Arizona Republican, 19 Nov 1916, p. 2: TEMPE COACH STOCK PRIZES AT FAIR Two grand championships, eight first and one second were prizes J. E. McClain, of the Double Butte ranch west of Tempe, took at the state fair this year with his display of coach stock. On top of that he has to his credit the taking of all the first places in this class four times out of the last five years. Grand sweepstakes were taken by his registered coach stallion and grand championship was taken by the registered coach mare in the four-year-old and over class. First prizes were taken by a registered coach mare, one-year-old; gelding, three-year-old; gelding, two-year-old, and by various other colts and shown in their various classes. On his World War I Draft Registration Card, J. E. McClain listed his name as Jamesie Eli McClain and he signed his name the same way. He listed his address as No. 1 Tempe, Maricopa Co., AZ and gave his date of birth as "Oct. 8th 1872" He listed his age as 45 on the registration form dated 12 Sep 1918 which is consistent with an October 1872 birth. He listed his occupation as Farmer. In 1919, J. E. McClain was appointed Custodian of the Papago Saguaro National Monument:

The Holbrook News, 5 Sep 1919, p. 1: ARIZONA NEWS FROM WASHINGTON A Washington dispatch of Sept 2d says: ...J. E. McClain of Tempe, has been appointed by the Director of the National Park Service as Custodian of the Papago Saguaro National Monument, consisting of a tract of two thousand acres in the hills east of Phoenix. Jay Mark. "Papago Park: The fight to transform a Tempe reservation." The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct 2014 noted: ...In 1879, President Rutherford Hayes' executive order established a "reservation for the Pima and Maricopa Indians" on land between Phoenix and Tempe. Part of the reservation's vast 53,600 acres included what is now Papago Park.... With the nation's youngest state lacking funds to create and maintain another park, proponents turned to freshman Congressman Carl Hayden for help establishing the nearly 2,000 acres as a national monument — a classification created in 1906 allowing the president to make such a designation without congressional authorization. Hayden and the Arizona delegation pressured President Woodrow Wilson until Jan. 31, 1914, when he finally acceded, establishing the Papago-Saguaro National Monument.... Finally in October 1919, 5½ years after its designation, the monument got its first custodian. Jamsie Ely McClain, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from Tempe, owner of Double Butte Ranch, inventor and auctioneer, "accepted the appointment at a nominal salary." J. E. McClain was noted in the 1920 Federal Census living on a farm in Tempe, Maricopa Co., Arizona with his wife and daughter, both named Mary. J. E. McClain died 22 May 1943 at Lake Mary, Coconino Co., Arizona. Unfortunately, the name on the death record was: Jamsie [sic] E. McClain and the date of birth was listed as Oct 10 1873. He was buried at St. Francis Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ. The tombstone records the name as "McCLAIN Jamsie Eli" possibly because that was the spelling on the Arizona death record and the tombstone notes the years of birth and death: 1872-1943.

Additional Information

Arizona Republican, 31 Oct 1913, p. 5: MARICOPA COUNTY NEEDS EXTRA SPACE AT FAIR J. E. McClain Will Devote His Time to Fair Grounds Now New Stuff Coming In. Another building has been found necessary to hold the great big exhibit that is being prepared for the State Fair. The commissioner from Maricopa county, J. E. McClain, now has room and plenty of it and is prepared to take care of exhibits of manufactured products. He says: "Here is a chance for our infant industries to get into the public notice. There will be room for exhibits from the cement factory, from the brick and tile works, from the mattress factory, for trunks, iron works, wood working, brooms, in fact anything that is manufactured locally. Canned goods of all varieties will be shown." The commissioner will be ready to receive exhibits on Saturday, and arrangements should be made at once with him for the amount of space that is required. The commissioner will be at the State Fair grounds in the Agricultural building from now on. He wants everybody to make early application and entries should be made early to insure plenty of room.

Arizona Republican, 4 Jun 1914, Section 2: M'CLAIN CALLS EXHIBIT MEET At the meeting of representatives of boards of trade of Maricopa county Saturday afternoon, there will be discussed one of the most important topics yet brought up in connection with the farmers' part in the coming state fair. The exhibit question--one in which Maricopa, the leading agricultural county is intensely interested--will be threshed out from one end to the other. The call for the meeting has been issued by Maricopa County Fair Commissioner J. E. McClain of Tempe, who says in a letter to Harry Welch, secretary of the board of trade. "I have secured a silver cup, given by the state fair commissioners, as an inter-county prize. I will offer the same prizes as last year, in addition to the cup. The first prize will be the $100 silver cup, second prize $50.00 cash, third prize $25.00, fourth prize, $15.0O, fifth prize $10.00. $10.00 to each board of trade for the expense of placing and caring for exhibits. In addition to this I have secured a pass for the individual who has charge of the exhibit of your board of trade. We will not compete for the state-county prize. "Of course, now is the time to secure sheaf and head exhibits, and secure your best wheat, barley and oats, and I would recommend your getting a plenty, as you will have a chance for very good prizes at the county fair, which will be held July 10th and 11th, and as I am manager of same, I will expect a good exhibit from your district. The same can be carried to the state fair and also on to San Francisco and San Diego, to help swell the exhibit from the great state of Arizona. "Now, I want you, or whoever you may appoint to go through the last year's premium list and if there is anything that needs to be added in the agricultural or horticultural departments write it down and bring it up at this meeting. The subject of space will be taken up and many other questions. "Be present at this meeting, enjoy a good smoke, tell us your troubles. This will be a free and open meeting, bring up anything you like and we will thrash it out. Be sure and come or send a delegate, as we may not have another meeting soon." Cordially yours, J. E. McCLAIN, Maricopa County Fair Commissioner.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Name: from signature on WWI draft card HOWEVER "Jamsie Eli" is on the tombstone, possibly because that was the spelling on the AZ Death record; Birth: WWI draft card: "Oct. 8th 1872" and tombstone notes: 1872-1943, HOWEVER, 1900 census listed Oct 1873 and AZ Death record listed "Oct 10 1873"; Death: AZ death record; Burial: Find A Grave Memorial 33097612, originally created by James Burke, maintained by Jeremy Millard, record added Jan 21, 2009