Captain Daniel McLean (1827-1895)

Captain Daniel McLean (1827-1895)

Captain Daniel McLean was one of the many Civil War veterans that moved to the Washington Territory following the conflict.  Although he was born in Scotland, he joined the California Volunteer Cavalry Second Regiment, Company H as a commissioned officer on September 5, 1861.  On January 5, 1865 he was promoted to full captain and on April 26, 1866 was mustered at at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA.  Captain McLean had suffered a leg and arm wound while serving in the military during the war and received a monthly pension of $24.00 starting in 1867.  (Pierce County Washington 1883 Pensioners on the Roll)

Unfortunately I was unable to find any information about his parents, when or how he came to America or how he found himself in Vallejo, California but he certainly contributed to the growth of Washington Territory.  (Vallejo, Solano County, California not Sonoma County as stated on Find-a-Grave site.  Although Mariano Vallejo, for whom Vallejo is named owned 250,000 acres of land titles in Sonoma County in 1850.)

iPhone photo of Picture on Find-a-Grave Site for Capt. McLean

Captain McLean and his first wife, Magadeline Alf, arrived in Rosedale in 1882 and became one of the small community’s leading citizens.  According to The History of Pierce County “ROSEDALE:  Rosedale acquired its name because of the wild roses growing in the area.  Captain and Mrs. McLean and Walter and Willie White were the first to settle in 1882.  Transportation was by rowboat.  In 1883, both the post office and the school district were established.  Logging, as well as farming, formed the economic base for the community.  By 1912, the business district included two docks, two stores, a church, a public library and school and also the home of the steamer Tyconda. 

Martha Hoy Bernhartsen wrote a brief history of the Rosedale Cemetery covering the period August 20, 1896 to February 10, 1948 which you are able to read in its entirety in the Harbor History Museum Research Room.  I shall only include what she specifically stated about the McLean family.

“The land for the original, or “Old Part” of the Rosedale Cemetery, was a gift from the estate of Captain Daniel McLean, administered according to his widow, Mrs. Sarah McLean.  The transaction date was August 20, 1896.

Captain McLean dies April 22, 1895 and is buried in Lot 13 of this cemetery he gave to the Rosedale Community.  But his first wife, Magadeline Helen Alf McLean and infant son had died in1887 and had been buried on their home property.  After Captain McLean’s death and the establishment of the cemetery they were reinterred next to their husband and father.  Captain Daniel and Magadeline’s first son, Donald was buried in Lot 13 on March 23, 1964.  Donald McLean was born on October 2, 1885 and died on March 17, 1964 in Spokane, Washington.  Donald McLean never married.

Captain McLean and Sarah Cooper were married in 1890.  A daughter, Mildred was born in 1892.  After Captain McLean’s death, his widow, Sarah, and children, Donald and Mildred, moved first to Tacoma and then to Roseland, British Columbia.  Sarah McLean became Mrs. B. E. O’Brien in 1901.  Mildred married Mr. R. L. McAllister in 1917and they are still living in Roseland, Canada (as of 1963).

Originally, this cemetery was called “Greenwood Cemetery”.  This community cemetery eliminated the necessity of burials on individual farms.  …”

Captain McLean had several Land Titles amounting to approximately 95 acres as shown on the below property map.   I have attached the Land Patent Details at the end of this blog for you viewing and understanding the map.

Shortly after their arrival and settling in Rosedale, Magadeline was appointed Postmistrees and served from 1883 until her death in 1887.  Captain McLean was appointed November 15, 1892 and Sarah, Captain McLean’s second wife was then appointed as Postmistress in 1897.

As in any small community in the late 19th century, residents home frequently became the center of their social life.  And Captain McLean’s home was no exception:  they hosted community meetings, dances whenever a fiddler or musician could be found, potluck dinners, and other activities.  

The Captain being the leader he was, petitioned Washington Territorial Governor William A. Newell for permission to build a schoolhouse on property he was donated to the Rosedale community.  This petition was approved in 1884 and construction of the school house was started. 

I also found a couple interesting documents, one Ax-I-Dent-Ax  containing an article entitled “Early Utah Mining and Smelting Addenda” discussing the founding of the Jordan Silver Mining Company and listing a group of members of the company.  Each man was granted one share except for the discoverer of the mine, a George B. Ogilvie who received two shares.  The majority were Mormans (members of The Church of Latter Day Saints).  However, a few were officers serving at Camp Douglas.  The military men are identified as:  General Edward McGarry, Colonel Robert Pollock, Colonel Charles Jeffrey Sprague, Captain Micajah G. Lewis, Lieutenant James Finnerty, General Richard Colter Drum, Dr. Robert K. Reid (Reed) and Captain Daniel McLean.    However in another document entitled “Professional Paper-US Geological Survey 1905”  in discussing the Jordan Silver Mine they show Daniel MacLane rather than “McLean”.  Which is correct?  I honestly cannot say.  Unfortunately I cannot print the geological report due to length and format.

Captain Daniel McLean Homestead

US Land Patent Details:

Accession No. WAOAA083301

Document Type:  Serial Patent

State: WA

Issue Date: 12/4/1884

Cancelled: No

Name on Document:  McLean, Daniel

Land Office:  Olympia

US Reservation: No

Mineral Reservation: No

Tribe: —

Militia - ——

State in Favor of:  —

Authority:  May 20, 1862:  Homestead Entry Original (12 Stat. 392)

Document: 1771 Total Acres: 157.25

BLM Serial No.: WAOAA083301

WA-Willamette - Twp021N, Rng001E, S 1/2SW1/4, Sec2, County Pierce

WA-Willamette - Twp021N, Rng001E, SW 1/4SE1/4, Sec2, County Pierce

WA-Willamette, Twp021N, Rng001E, Lot/Tract7, Sec3, County Pierce (remarks: Lot 7 or nose quarter

WA-Willamette, Twp021N, Rng001E, Lot/Tract8, Sec 3, County Pierce (remarks: Lot 8 or see quarter)

WA-Willamette, Twp021N, Rng001E, Lot/Tract 1, Sec 10, County Pierce (remarks: Lot 1 or nene quarter)

Notes:

• Ancestry.com
• Ax-I-Dent-Ax (Early Utah Mining and Smelting Addenda) by Edgar M. Ledyard
• California Civil War Roosters
• Find-a-Grave
• The History of Pierce County
• BLM Land Patent Details

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