TA McLean
Scott Mclean
Today is a continuation of family history.
Thomas Ashton McLean, better known as TA, was our first ancestor to bring his family here. He definitely didn’t take the shortest or easiest route.
He heard that he might have relatives in Texas so headed down there from his home in Minnesota. You have to know the Civil War was still in progress so a questionable move right off the bat.
He found no relatives so turned west. During the war, the army had pulled out for the most part and the Arizona area was pretty much owned by the Apaches. There was no wagon train, just a crazy man of Scottish descent and his family. He actually paused long enough to mine copper in the area.
TA, still in possession of his scalp, then continued on to California. He then headed north for Washington territory. He cached supplies in the Wenas Valley in 1865 while he picked his home site. Not a very good trip planner, it must have been tough to make that trip.
My Great Uncle Ted claimed TA was an ornery old bastard. His words exactly!
TA is buried in the old Cowiche pioneer cemetery along with others of our McLean and Weddle forebears.
There’s a lot of history in that little plot of ground and it’s worth a visit. TA was a 2nd son and there was a tradition of giving every 2nd son the middle name of Ashton. That continued through my Dad.
The McLeans had a reputation for liking a good scrap. One local old timer claimed the McLean boys only came to the town dances for the fights afterwards.
My Great Uncle Lyle was town marshal for a while and had to lock up nephews a time or two until they calmed down.
The McLean boys kept up the pranks as well. Dad snuck a goat into the women’s faculty room and there was one reported incident involving Dad and brothers stealing a bunch of watermelons and putting them on the other side of a sharp curve.
There are too many stories to relate them all today so you’ll have to be patient. I treasure the time I spent listening to family stories from Great Uncles Ted, Bill, and Walt. Take the time to listen to us old farts so these tales and traditions can be passed down.
Bye for now.