Edward C McLarren

Edward McLarren states in various census and military records that he was born in Cumberland County, Virginia about 1828. As yet there is no definitive record of his parents or the time that he immigrated to Ohio.

The first paper records of Edward McLarren are from when he is 18 years old, living in Ohio and enlisting in the Mexican War. He enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Ohio Regiment of Volunteers in Circleville, Ohio on 1 June 1846.

The Ohio volunteers were shipped to New Orleans, LA, where they joined the volunteers of other states. These volunteers were grouped together in General Quitman’s division and they were sent off to join General Zachary Taylor’s Army of Regulars in northern Mexico. Edward thus served in the same army as then Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant.

His widow Anna McLarren’s deposition for death benefits in 1870, says Edward fought at the Battle of Aqua Frio, near Monterrey in February 1847. This was not a major battle. On 25 February 1847 Edward’s regiment, under Colonel Morgan, was attacked by Mexican cavalry while moving south from Monterrey. In a running battle they beat off the Mexicans. After the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847 (in which Edward did not take part), things slowed on the Northern Front and the focus of the war shifted to General Winfield Scott’s daring and ultimately successful campaign against Mexico City itself. Meanwhile Edward was transferred back to New Orleans and was discharged there on 15 June 1847.

On May 23, 1849 Edward McClaren (sp) married Margaret Robinson in Ross County Ohio. 1 The 1850 Federal Census of Concord Township, Ross county, Ohio, (16 October 1850), lists 22 year old Edward McClaren (sp) as married, a butcher with $300 value of Real Estate and born in Virginia. Twenty year old wife, Margaret, born in Ohio, is with him.2

Edward McLarren had several land purchases in Ohio. In July 1851 he bought 106 acres in Frankfort Co. for $1000. In August 1852 he bought 60 acres also in Frankfort Co. Ohio for $275. In September 1853 he bought 80 acres in Concord Co. for $150. Then in June 1857 he sold 60 acres in Frankfort for $360. He also sold nine acres for $150 in 1861 and 7.8 acres in 1865 for $150 both in Frankfort Co., and also in 1865 four acres in Buckskin Township, Ross Co. for $100. The last transaction I found was McLarren buying four acres in Ross Co. for $400. These records were found in Ross county Ohio land and Property Deeds Index Mc-Q 1787-1900. Pages; 340 and 440.

In 1860, (Federal Census, Buckskin Township, Ross county, Ohio p. 425),3 besides wife Margaret, the family now includes children: Joseph Robinson McLarren age 7, Virginia T. age 5, and Mary Alpha age 3. Edward states his occupation as farmer. In 1858 another son, Edward, was born. But he lived only a short time and died on December 2, 1858 and was buried in the Waugh Cemetery in Ross County Ohio. This cemetery is located on a narrow country road with about 50 stones scattered on the field. A stream defines one side and it is thought that some gravesites have been lost to its changing banks. Edward’s gravestone was in good condition and readable in 2008 stating, ‘Edward McLarren infant son of M & E McLarren died 12-2-1858.’

Also listed in the 1860 Census in the same vicinity is the William G. Kerr family. Son Levi, age 4, would grow up to marry Virginia McLarren. Just months after the 1860 Federal Census was taken, Margaret Robinson McLarren died on June22, 1860 age 30 years one month of age. Interestingly she is not buried near her infant son, but at the Old Burying Ground, Greenfield, Madison Township, Highland County, Ohio.

On 15 October 1861 Edward McLarren, Sergeant, enlisted in Captain Henry R. Miller’s Co. A, 18th Regiment of the Ohio Foot Volunteers; ‘to serve 3 years’. Edward was administratively discharged as an enlisted man on the 22nd of December 1862 in Nashville, Tennessee (thus voiding his enlisted contract-the normal procedure). His career as an officer was quite short however; just eight days later he was wounded at the Battle of Stone’s River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4 If that name sounds familiar, it is because private Hawkins Brooks, 46th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, with whom Edward McLarren will share great-grand children Robert and Bette McLarren-was from the area and was fighting in the opposing Confederate army!

Edward was hit by a minie ball (the bullet of the time) in the lower left ankle and foot. He was invalided home and discharged from the Army on the 5th of August 1863 in Winchester, TN. His physical description on the discharge papers state: “at 33 years of age he is “5’10 ¼” high, dark complexion, hazel eyes, black hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a butcher.”

On 9 September 1863 Edward married Anna E. Wells, in Frankfort, Ohio. The presiding Minister was Reverend J.R. Gibson. (In the 1850’s Edward sold land to a Gibson and their lives seem to have inter-mingled. The Gibson family also came from Virginia. It is possible that grandson Arthur Gibson McLarren received his middle name from this close family friend.) In 1865 Edward and Anna moved to Chula Ridge, Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri where they purchased a farm. Edward applied and received a military pension on September 22, 1866 because of his inability to make his living by manual labor.

By 1870 many things had changed in the life of Edward McLarren. In the 1870 Federal Census in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio,5 his daughters are living with their maternal grandparents. Virginia age 15 and Mary age 13 are living in Ross County, Buckskin Township, Ohio with Joseph and Mary Robinson. (Spelled Robertson in the census.) Edward is remarried to Anna Wells (1827-1919) and now has three additional children; Felix (December 25, 1864-1931), Horace (b. 1865/6), and Edith McLarren (b.1870). From the Administrators Bond, Livingston County, Missouri, dated November 29, 1875 comes the following information; “Edward McLarren died intestate, and without leaving any will, at Livingston Co., Mo. the 28th of November 1875.” He is about 47 years old. It appears, through census and death records, that Anna, Felix, Horace, and Edith moved back to Ohio soon after his death. (In the 1920 Franklin Co. Ohio Federal Census, Edith is married to William D. Dixon and has two sons; Ralph G., age 20; and Roy, age 18.) In the 1900 Federal Census of Columbus City, Franklin Co. Ohio, Horace is listed with wife Eva but no children. In the 1900 Columbus City Directory Horace is listed as an attorney. In the 1930 Columbus Ohio census Felix McLarren is listed living with his half sister Mary McLarren Young, now a widow after 25 years of marriage. This indicates that the half siblings or at least these two remained close.