The Eufaula Captain Stouten Hubert Dent Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will conduct a Memorial Grave Marking Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday for John W. McLean (1839-1862), Private in Company G 29th Alabama Regiment. The service will be at the Pea River Presbyterian Church Cemetery on State Highway 51 two miles north of Clio. John W McLean is the second great uncle to Abbeville dentist Dr. Larry McLean, formerly of Clio.

Mary P. Williams, Chapter president of the Eufaula Capt. S.H. Dent Chapter of the UDC, said the McLean family was listed in the 1830 census of Pike County and in the first census of Barbour County in 1833.

“The John McLean family migrated from Richmond County, North Carolina,” Williams said. “Their first children were born in the Carolinas and the younger children were born in Alabama. The trip from North Carolina took six weeks by wagon train.”

Private John W. McLean (1839 Alabama-1862) was one of five children born to John and Margaret Currie McLean who were early pioneers of southern Barbour County and among the early members of Pea River Presbyterian Church.”

The other children of John and Margaret McLean were three daughters and two sons.

All three sons joined the Confederate cause as privates in Co G 29th Alabama Infantry, Williams said.

“John W. McLean enlisted Marcxh 11, 1962 in Pensacola, Florida for the duration of the war,” Williams said. “He was not married.  He died in Camp Jackson, Florida July 16, 1862 of disease. His father was notified of his son’s death and and had his body brought back to Pea River Church Cemetery for proper burial.  His father was given his son’s Confederate soldier back pay of $52.86 on Sept 29,1862.”

Williams said the McLeans’ oldest son, Daniel McLean, was discharged as a corporal. The youngest son, Angus McLean, enlisted on the same day as his brother, John, and was discharged as a private.

The recorded death of John W. McLean from the church minutes were: Died at Camp Jackson, Florida, July 15th 1862-John W. McLean-son of Margaret and John McLean- in the 23rd year of his age –a member of Pea River Church.

“There were many members from the Pea River Presbyterian Church who joined the Confederate cause,” Williams said. “Thirteen of the 49 marked Confederate veteran graves in Pea River Cemetery were from Co G 29th Alabama Infantry. Men from the area were heavily recruited from Co G and many did not return home.”

The public is invited to attend the Memorial Grave Marking Ceremony for Pvt. John W. McLean on Saturday.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be held in the church sanctuary. Refreshments will be served in the church fellowship hall following the ceremony.