The McLain Family of Vashti, Alexander County, NC - My Family Tree:

Everyone is still being investigated, but this is what I've found so far:

8th great grandfather: F. John McLean (b. 1728, d. 1796)
7th great grandfather: John McLain (b. 1755 in Antrim, Northern Ireland, d. 9-16-1817 Iredell, NC)
     was living in Philadelphia, PA in 1775
     married Martha Richards of Chester, PA (b. 1758, d. 1819)
     traveled the Great Wagon Road with his wife and son to Alexander Co., NC prior to 1800
     they had at least 6 children: Joseph, John Jr., Henry, Sarah, Elsa, Elizabeth, Mary, May, Susanna, James
6th great grandfather: Joseph McLain (b. 7/4/1776 Somerset, PA, d. 11/14/1853 Vashti)
     married Rebecca Smith 1805 or 1808 (b. 1778-1790, d. 1840-1853)
     1810 census shows Joseph (wagon maker), wife, and 1 son in Iredell Co., farm valued at $700
     among the first to settle in Alexander Co. Iredell/Salisbury District
     they had up to 7 children: James Story, Henry, Fielding, Joseph Jr., Jane/Gencie, Susan, John E.
5th great grandfather: James Story McLain (hotel keeper or farmer) (b. 08/20/1806 Vashti, d. 1/21/1895)
     married Jane Eveline (or Emeline) Stevenson 10/21/1830 (b. 2/8/1815 Iredell, d. 3/29/1879)
     1870 census shows both Alexander Co., 1880 census shows James Alexander Co.
     they had 8 children: Henry Sherrill, Joseph Pinkney, James Franklin, Sarah Jane, Rebecca Catherine, Henrietta, John Calvin, Adolphus Newton
4th great grandfather: John Calvin McLain, (b. 11/30/1848 or 1849 Vashti, d. 9/4/1930)
     married Sarah Jane Stephenson 8/6/1866 (b. 4/5/1845, d. 2/10/1919)
     1870, 1880, 1910 censuses show both Alexander Co., 1920 census shows John Alexander Co.
     they had 11 children: Jacob Columbus, Charles Avery, Jasper Newton, Walter Watson, Laura Delia, William Franklin, Bessie Louise, Lula Emma, Fannie Gertrude, Martha Mary, John Henry
3rd great grandfather: Jacob "Jack" Columbus McLain, (b. 7/22/1867 Vashti, d. 8/23/1901)
     married Sarah Elizabeth Woodfin 8/1890 (b. 10/18/1867 Hendersonville, Transylvania, NC, d. 7/15/1950 Charlotte, Mecklenberg, NC)
     they had 7 children: Virgil Robert, George Walter, Laura Annie (Anna) & Fanny, William Mason (Billy), James Cullen, Katherine Elizabeth
2nd great grandfather: Virgil Robert McLain (b. 3/15/1891 Hiddenite, Stanly, NC, d. 8/1 or 4/1966 Albermarle, NC)
1st great grandmother: Anita Virginia McLain (b. 9/8/1917 Albemarle, NC, d. 12/9/1991 Aiken, SC)

Virgil first married Grace and she died by the time my great grandmother was about 5. I don't know if they had any other children together. Anita had a step-mother she called Anna (Mabry, Mably, or McHargue could have been her last name, Mildred may have been her first name) that passed away in the 1980s. I don't know when they were married. Anita had a brother named Donald and sisters named Kath and Connie (b. 12/11/1932, d. 7/3/2013) both of whom I met when I was very young. I don't know if they were Anna's children from a prior marriage or if they were Virgil's children. I remember Anita telling me a story about Anna's daughter, Gertrude, that passed away at a young age, so I know she had at least one child prior to marrying Virgil. I also know that Donald and Connie (McManus) lived in NC all their lives.

I have also seen a post on myheritage.com showing Virgil married a Grace H. Johnson and lists Anita as well as 4 siblings with only one other named as Robert Franklin, but I cannot find this anywhere else. Another myheritage.com post shows Virgil married to a Mildred Ann and 7 children: Fannie (Gertrude?), Connie, Anita, Catherine, Robert, Don, and Warren. This could be a mix of their children from their and previous marriages. ?

Anita was married twice. Her first husband's last name was Franklin and they had two children: John Robert (unknown b/d dates - he was deceased before I was born in 1974, he had 3 daughters who I believe all still live in NC) and my grandmother, Elizabeth.

I read of a man named Marvin Alexander McLain who wrote one or more manuscripts on this genealogy line, but he passed away last year so I have lost that resource. I have also read of someone named Jeannette E. O'Brien who is in possession of his compilations, but I cannot find her. I have gathered all of this information from several resources including: Sonoma Bob's blog, ancestry.com, Iredell County Heritage, familysearch.org, geni.com, ancientfaces.com, findagrave.com, rcasey.net, World Family Tree, mytrees.com, myheritage.com, and genforum. 

If there is anyone else out there that has any information, I would love to talk to you!