Our Family Tree

"Lawrenceburg Florist, 234 North Military Avenue, Ph. Area Code 615-762-3722, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee 38464
Wed. 4 Nov 81
Dear McLean Relative,
I received your letter today. Its always good to hear from a relative and particularily one interested in their families.
I have been swapping information with Martin T. McLean Jr., 1237 Jack Dr. Kerrville Texas 78028 for some time. You didn’t say but from the information I have you should be closely related to him.
You ask for no specific information so I hardly know what to send you. I have old Samuels will, also a copy of an outline of the McLean family by Alney McLean written approximately a 100 years ago. Alney was a descendant of Charles a brother of Ephraim. I shall be glad to send you copies if you don’t have them.
The McLean Cemetery is truly here. In 1964 when the Historical Society started listing all cemeterys in the County, the cemetery was listed as abandoned with many of the stones broken & scattered about. Another great great grandson of Samuel was in town last month. He my brother in Law & myself decided we would do what we could to preserve what was left. Last week we had a chain link installed so no more damage will be done by the Neidergesen cows.
Ephraim was born in 1730 in Scotland. He & his brother came to America in 1750 & married Elizabeth Davidson. Ephraim’s children were as follows:

    Married

John B [born] 1 June 1761
Margaret “ 23 June 1763 Robert Brank
Ephraim Jr. “ 5 Mar 1765 Polly Boyd
George “ 24 Dec 1767 Pamela Davidson
Jane “ 12 Dec 1769 Sen. Robert Ewing
Charles “ 30 Nov 1771 Sarah Vance
William “ 17 Feb 1773 Margaret Miller
Samuel “ 27 Jan 1775 Eliz. Irvine
Jas Davidson “ 30 Mar 1777 Eliz. Sloss or Gloss
Alney “ 10 June 1779 Tabitha Campbell
John Davidson “ 4 Jul 1781
Dr. Robert Davidson “ 12 Apr 1783 Rebecca Wilson

Our Elizabeth Irvine was the sister of Josephus Irvine who with David Crockett was one of the First Commissioners of Lawrenceburg. He selected the present site for the City and signed all the deeds for the original lots.

Samuels & Eliz. children were”
B [born] Married
Ephraim 1800 Boyd
William 1802 Parchman
Charles 1804 Mary S. Duncan
Robert Irvine 1806 Shackelford
Mary South 1808 Abel W. Hill
Samuel Davies 1811 Eliz. Wasson
Eliz Davidson 1816 Wasson
Margaret Rebecca 1820 Stephanis Busby
Sarah Amanda 1822 Gillespie
N.E. 1828 ___________

Charles & Mary S. are my great grandparents. I have their children should you need them.
Stephonis Busby was Lawrenceburgs First Post Master. The first official act of Jas K. Polk as president was to fire him for a remark he had made about him. He & Margaret are buried in the McLean Cem. His stone is broken but still in a condition which hopefully can be restored. Perhaps we can find hers under much said leaves & what have you – you will note that in every generation we have a William, a Charles, a Ephraim. My father was Wm. Charles & I am Charles Stribling. My Mothers people were Striblings & Busbys.
Stephonis & Margaret were the grandparents of a Horace Busby. He was a noted minister in the Church of Christ and from Texas. His son Horace Jr. was a speech writer for Pres. Johnson. If you any info on any of that Busby family sure would like their address.
Those McLeans buried in the old cemetery are –

  B [born] D [died]

Robert C. 1845 1847
Robert Irvine 1806 1837
F. A. 1833 1835
Samuel 1775 1850
Elizabeth Irvine 1778 1846
NE 1828 1828
E.C. (Wasson) wife of S.D 1812 1882
S.D. 1811 1879
Gideon B. 1843 1859
S.M. 1852 1886
French J. Gillespie, son of Sarah Amanda McLean 1858 1863

Samuel settled at a big spring in what is now NE of Lawrenceburg. The spring remains and forms what was known as McLean Fork of Shoals Creak. It joins Beeler Fork & together makes Shoals Creak. Beeler also one of the first commissioners is with his brother buried in the cemetery.
Hope there is something in here you can use. Anything else I have I shall be most happy to send you.
Again I appreciate the letter.
Sincerely,

  Stribling McLean"