MATTHEW MCCLAIN, sheriff of Lewis County, Tennessee, and a resident of Hohenwald, is a native of that county, has been one of its representative agriculturists for a number of years and always has been worthily identified with its best citizenship. He first took up the duties of sheriff on October 3, 1910, in consequence of his election to that office by the county court and his services were of that efficient order that in August, 1912, he was returned to that official station by the vote of the citizens of Lewis County. The McClains were originally of Kentucky stock, and the grandfather and father of Matthew McClain were, respectively, soldiers in the War of 1812 and in the Civil War, the latter as a supporter of the southern cause. The former, John McClain, was the first of the family to locate in Tennessee. He was born in Kentucky April 4, 1777, and came to this state as a young man. He served throughout the second struggle for American independence and fought with Gen. Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans in 1815. On coming to Tennessee he settled in Maury County, where he spent the remainder of his active years as a farmer. He lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, passing away on April 4, 1881. In political adherency he was first a Whig and then later a Democrat. He wedded Elizabeth McMillian, also a Kentuckian by birth, who bore him seven sons and four daughters. Martin, the youngest of his sons and the father of Matthew, was born in Maury County, this state, March 2, 1833, and grew to manhood there, receiving such educational discipline as the public schools of the place and period afforded. When the Civil War broke out he espoused the cause of the southland and entered the Confederate service as a member of Captain Biffle’s company, which was assigned to the Third Tennessee Regiment. At the battle of Fort Donelson he received a wound in his leg, from which he suffered severely and which caused him to return home. After the minnie ball causing the wound had been removed and he had recovered, which was some four months later, he returned to the service and remained with the army until its surrender. Returning to Maury County, he was married there in 1867 and shortly afterward removed to Lewis County, where he purchased a small farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement in 1890. He is yet living and is quite active for one of his years, though suffering from failing sight. He has always been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party in political affairs. His wife was Miss Nancy J. Beckum prior to her marriage, a daughter of Alexander Beckum and a native of Maury County, where she was born April 20, 1848. She passed to rest on December 16, 1881, leaving a family of six children, all of whom are still living and are as follows: Felix, Matthew and Lavona, residents of Lewis County, Tennessee; Robert, who home is in Maury County, this state; Knox, now located in New Mexico; and Martin, also a resident of Lewis County.
Matthew McClain, the second of this family, was born in the Fourth civil district of Lewis County, Tennessee, July 8, 1873. He received such educational advantages as the schools of Lewis County afforded at that time but which were very limited. He took up responsibilities at the early age of fourteen working a in a sawmill, first being employed in firing the engine and then later becoming a sawyer. At the age of twenty he bought a farm and took up agriculture, at the same time also running a sawmill. He carried on these industries jointly until October 3, 1910, when he became sheriff of Lewis County, which office he continues to fill with satisfaction to all concerned. Prior to becoming sheriff, however, he had served ten years as a magistrate of the Fourth District of Lewis County. He still retains his farming interests. Fraternally he is a member of Hohenwald Lodge, No. 293, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in political views and allegiance he is a Democrat.
On March 19, 1894, Mr. McClain was joined in marriage to Miss Betty Kilpatrick, daughter of William Kilpatrick, of Perry County. The union of Mr. and Mrs. McClain has been blessed with ten children, all living and all at home except the eldest daughter, Jennie, who is now the wife of Linton Maxwell and resides at Mount Pleasant, Maury County, Tennessee, and the youngest, who died March 8, 1913. In order of birth they are: William Thomas, Jennie, John Turley, Felix Martin, Capitola, Gladys, Alice, Medola, Lavona and Matthew.
