General Notes

In his obituary, it is stated that Jas. McLain was one of fifteen children, the last surviving.

James Erastus McLain came from Hartsville, Alabama, according to Edna Earl McLain Dolland, and has 13 siblings, one of whom was named Felix. James was always somewhat mysterious, and probably eccentric, according to Edna Earl Dolland. He was, perhaps, according to family lore, raised by his grandmother. A review of the 1880 census, however, reveals that James or Erastus was living with his mother and the other two youngest children and that his grandmother is, apparently, no longer living.

In 1900 Census,he is  identified as James P. McLain, possibly the result of some confusion over his initials and his job, J.D. or J. E. vs. J.P.

First two children born in Alabama, last two in Mississippi. Birth dates of children taken from 1900 Census, except for John L. It appears that the family must have moved to Mississippi between 1892 and 1897. His obituary states that he was member of the Old Enterprise Baptist Church at Double Springs, Alabama and that James and Idella moved to Pontotoc County in 1895, specifically the Longview Community, where they farmed.

Buried with Idella Morton, Mammy Clain, in Pontotoc City Cemetery.

Known to all of the kids and grand kids as Daddy Clain.

Melba's recollections indicate that he was something of the black sheep of the family, especially following his marriage to Idella (Jane's note: at age 16. Janes Note: this is probably an error; Melba probably meant Mattie, his mistress and second wife). After reviewing Mary McLain's will of 1888, perhaps Melba was right after all since James's name is conspicuously absent from his mother will.

Nita's recollections indicate that he was a Justice of the Peace and easy prey for the tricks of his son John and John's good friend, Reed Porter. James, as Justice of the Peace, and possibly also as a sign of good will, performed the marriage ceremony when his son Gray's wife, Sallie, married Curtis Pennington in 1933. His obituary states that James served five terms as Justice of the Peace in Pontotoc County, 1911-1935. After retiring from that position, he worked as a night watchman at the local compress.

After Idella died, Erastus remarried, this time to his wife's brother Clark's widow, Mattie.

In his will, written 4 October 1946, he states:

"I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mattie A. McLain, my homestead, consisting of house and lot situated in the town of Pontotoc, State of Mississippi, and described as Lot No. 1, Block No. 12 of the Knox Subdivision of Section 5 in Township 10 of Range 3, East, for and during the term of her natural life or widowhood, with remainder over to my four living children, to wit: Mrs. Daisy McLain McCord, Grover Wesley McLain, Johnnie Lee McLain, and James Claude McLain, and to my two granddaughters, children of Allen Gray McLain, deceased, to wit: Melba McLain Caldwell and Amie Bell McLain, I do hereby give and bequeath the sum of One Dollar each.

In the event I should leave any cash money at my home or on deposit, it is my will that same be equally divided among my widow and my said above four living children."

By the time this will was written Melba and Amy were grown and, though he may not have been aware of it, Amy was also married. It is probable that they were each left One Dollar to make it obvious that he had not inadvertently left them out of his will. In any case, he must have felt that they were well taken care of at this point in their lives.

James died in the home of his son, James Claude, in Jackson, Mississippi, after an illness from cancer of two years.