Person

John Alexander McClernand (Illinois politician and soldier.)

b. 1812-05-30 d. 1900-09-20

Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, politician and soldier. Breckinridge County, Kentucky, native. Son of John McClernand and Fatima Seaton Cummins McClernand. Married to Sarah F. Dunlap McClernand in November 1843. Father of Hellen C. McClernand, Edward J. McClernand, Fatima C. McClernand, Johnnie McClernand, and Sarah McClernand. Married to Minerva Dunlap McClernand on December 23, 1862. Father of Rosalind McCernand. Served as a private in the Illinois State Militia during the Blackhawk War of 1832. Attorney in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, in 1835. Editor of the Shawneetown Democrat in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, in 1835. Member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1836, 1840, 1842, and 1843. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, from 1843 to 1851, and from 1859 to 1861. Resident of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida in 1851. Resident of Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1856. Attorney and politician in Springfield in 1860. Employed James Lawles as a coachman in Springfield, Sangamon County, in 1860. Employed Leonard Lawles, M. J. Tellestin, and Charlotte Sims as servants in Springfield, Sangamon County, in 1860. Appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers (U.S.A.) on May 17, 1861. Promoted to Major General of Volunteers on March 21, 1862. Commanded Union Army's XIII Corps in 1863 and 1864. Resigned from military service on November 30, 1864.

Details

Sex
Male
Race
White

Bibliography

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Illinois, Sangamon County, Springfield District 16, p.134.

Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Illinois, Sangamon County, Springfield, p. 533B.

History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “MCCLERNAND, John Alexander,” , accessed July 8, 2022. https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/M/MCCLERNAND,-John-Alexander-(M000337)/.

“John A. McClernand.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed July 8, 2022. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/john-mcclernand.

Richard L. Kiper, Major General John Alexander McClernand: Politician in Uniform(Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1999), 1, 6, 153.

Johnnie McClernand (1857-1858)," Find A Grave, Memorial #20532392, accessed July 11, 2022, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20532392/johnnie-mcclernand.

"Sarah McClernand (1861-1861)," Find A Grave, Memorial #20532431, accessed July 11, 2022, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20532431/sarah-mcclernand.

Citation

McClernand, John Alexander. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/S32201459 (November 12, 2026).

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