The family story is that Alice's father (Thomas McClain) was engaged to one women but then actually married her sister.  I think that Eliza Young and Adaline Young were the sisters.  Maybe Thomas was engaged to Adaline but married Eliza.  (See the census on Thomas McClain's page.)   Notice that Eliza remarried and Adaline married 7 days apart during the Civil War.

Sacca Gold told the story about  her mother Alice as a child during the civil war.  Alice remembered being carried to safety by her Black Nanny during a Civil War battle near their house.  Her nanny had to carry her through an orchard to the safety of Alice's father's tavern.  While running through the orchard, tree branches were being blown off by artillery shells going through them.

Another family story was that Alice's father was being chased by bushwackers during the Civil War.  He had to bury his money and escape to Arkansas.  He was caught and murdered.  His murderers brought his gold toothpick that he always carried back to his home in Newton County, MO and threw it on his wife's lap as proof that they had murdered him.  Eliza's sister went to Arkansas to bring his body back for burial.  It was thought that maybe Thomas McClain's business partner had him murdered.

On the McClain message board at Genforum.Genealogy.com, Laurel G., a descendent of Amanda McClain, Thomas's sister writes, "Amanda moved with her children to Newtonia, Missouri to live with her brother Tom around the end of the Civil War. He was shot & killed by his best friend Bob Christian." 

Click the image to see it bigger. 

This map shows McClain's farm during a battle in Newtonia, Newton Co., Missouri in 1864.  This map is from the American Memory Project at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html

William and Alice Gold are buried at Wanda Cemetery and I have pictures of their tombstones.

Vestal Weems (1905-1982) requested to be buried at the Wanda Cemetery because Aunt Rose Meredith was buried there, so she wouldn't be by herself.

from Pat who has the Wanda Cemetery records:
In lot 161:  Vestal Weems, Rose Meredith (no stone),  A.C. McClain (no stone) and ??Slokum   (no dates-no stone)

The great-granddaughter of Alec McClain, Alice's brother, has emailed with me.  He is buried at Wanda cemetery also.

Oliver Asury McClain's tombstone, on Thomas N. McClain's property from that time, born Oct 1, 1855, died Nov 22, 1856

Death records:  I have a copy of Alice McClain's death record, which lists her parents' names.
I have a copy of Alice's brother, Alec McClain's death record with lists the same parents.

Mrs. Elizabeth McClain married James P. Slocum (maybe the parents of the children in the 1880 census on Alice McClain's page)
Aug 28, 1864 in Newton Co, MO

Mrs. Eliza McLain married Hansin Harris
Sept. 19, 1869 in Newton Co, MO
(Maybe the person in the 1870 census on Alice McClain's page.  A descendent of that Mary Catherine McClain sent me a probate that listed Eliza Harris as Thomas McClain's widow.)

Adline Young married Trey Ellis
Aug. 21, 1864 in Newton Co, MO

Alexander McClain married Susan Hatery
Oct 22, 1868 Newton Co, MO

Mary C. McLain married Clinton C. Culp
Dec. 18, 1879
(info confirmed from their great-granddaughter)

Jennie Slocum married Wesley Siler
Aug 12 1883 in Newton, MO  
batch #M515512  Source call #0929789

from Familysearch.org   Marriage record  
Adline Young married Trey Ellis
Aug. 21, 1864 in Newton Co, MO
Batch No: M515511      Source Call No:  0929788

In 1850 census, Adaline is living with her father, Alexander Young in Benton Co., AR.  In 1860 census, she is living with Thomas McClain.

In 1870 census, Adaline is listed with her husband Ira Ellis.  In 1880 census, Adaline is living in the same household as Alice (McClain) Gold (see Alice's page.)  In the 1880 census, Alice's sisters are listed as Adaline's nieces.  Adaline Young was sister to Eliza Young.  From a family story, Thomas McClain was engaged to one woman but married her sister.  So maybe Adaline was the first woman.

Wanda Cemetery, Newton Co, MO
    Ada H. Ellis
    1822-1889

Message on Genforum Board:

Posted By: Laurel G.
Subject: Re: McClain's in Missouri
Post Date: January 17, 2001 at 18:25:42
Message URL: http://genforum.genealogy.com/mcclain/messages/1555.html
Forum: Mcclain Family Genealogy Forum
Forum URL: http://genforum.genealogy.com/mcclain/


"Hi,
I just started and am new at this. I have a little information. I show John
McClain born 9/15/1765 in Virginia married Eleanora Nelson (dob 5/28/1771)
on 1/26/1794. I believe they had Amanda Eleanora McClain(6/21/1814),Black
McClain and Tom McClain. Amanda married Jonathan Dryden Duff(4/12/1800)in
Arkansas on 7/18/1837. They had Susan J., Marha E., James Black,Josephine A.
and John Samuel Duff(my ggf). Amanda moved with her children to Newtonia,
Missouri to live with her brother Tom around the end of the Civil War. He
was shot & killed by his best friend Bob Christian. My ggf, John Duff left
Missouri around 1869 and went to Florence Texas to live with Black McClain
who was the Post Master of Florence. Have you come across any of this?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found a land grant at www.glorecords.blm.gov for Robert H Christian in McDonald Co, MO in 1856. 

From FamilySearch.org
Amanda Duff married Stephen Ellis 1871 in Newton Co, MO

In the 1850 census, Amanda Duff is living in Benton County, AR near Thomas McClain (see his page.)   She is living with her sister Isabella McClain Harston and I guess her mother Ellen.

In the 1860 and 1870 censuses, Amanda Duff in living in Newton Co, MO near Thomas McClain in 1860.

In 1880, Amanda is married to Stephen Ellis, William Gold's grandfather.  William Gold marries Amanda's niece Alice McClain in 1878.

Isabella McClain, maybe Thomas's sister.

From FamilySearch.org
Pedigree resource file Individual record   Compact Disc #29  Pin # 213795
Isabella McLane b 1800 prob. NC; d abt 1851 Pea Ridge, Benton Co, AR
mother Elen M. Lane abt 1776 prob NC
husband Robert A. Harston married Oct 6, 1832 in Bedford Co, TN

Amanda lives with her in 1850 census.