Jack Beal McClellan was born in Ellis County, Texas in a farm house in the vicinity of Ovilla, Texas, one of the oldest communities in Ellis County, Texas on October 27, 1902. His mother, Beedie Frances (Archer) McClellan had difficulty birthing this baby, and is reported to have almost died at one point during the birthing. The Elijah Shanklin and Beedie Frances (Archer) McClellan family had grown to four persons as the year 1903 began, and they were supporting themselves. Within the next eighteen (18) months, they would decide to homestead farm property in Coleman County, Texas and by Fall, 1905, they were moving to Coleman County, Texas.