Effie O'Dell McClelland was born in Reelfoot, TN to Terrel Theodore and Melita Musidore (Longwith) McCleland/McClelland. I was told by my grandmother and great grandmother that Effie was born on a fishing barge on the Mississippi River near Reelfoot, TN. In those times this area was home to the Choctaw and the Mississippi busy with traders and business travel.

Father, Terrel, was born in Illinois to Thomas and Mary McClelland (shown on census with father, mother, brother, Iredel, and sister, Lucinda) and served in the Civil War for state of Tennessee, switching sides, as happened during the Civil War.

Her mother, Melita, I was told was Cherokee, however never verified and DNA testing shows no native DNA so questionable, born in Tennessee to William and Amanda (Harden/Hardin) Longwith. William Longwith's parents were Reuben and Tabitha (Harden/Hardin) Longwith. Melita died when Effie was about 4 years old, circa 1884-1885, I believe in Tennessee.

I believe Melita's brother, Effie's uncle, John Longwith is findagrave #123540990 buried in Catoosa, GA where Melita and Terrel married.

Terrel McClelan married M.M. Longwith September 20, 1873 Whitfield County, Georgia (spelling taken directly from record).

Effie's sister was Anna "Annie" Belle McClelland Gulley findagrave #18557648.

Effie married Pet Thomas Hankins 02-04-1895 In Collin Co., TX (on horseback at the home of her father, Terrel McClelland--marriage license misspelled last name as Hainks another place as Hanks) -- 2nd wife of PT Hankins.

Mother of 11 children: Lena Odell Miles, Andrew Jackson, Luther Erron, Littie Musidore Harper Collins, Elizabeth Belle Leonard, Robert Theodore, Charles Edward Mason, Joe Howell, Georgia Lorene Riddle, Grace Idella Bush Mullins, and Coy Leacher.