While most of the family history regarding the ancestors of Donel McClain is in central Indiana, the earliest known confirmed information is found in Kentucky.  There are some internet resources that draw lineage back to Colonial America and even Gilleoin MacLean in medieval Scotland, but documentation is not easily forthcoming to verify those claims. [1] 

0 Jacob McClain: 1782 - 20 Aug 1857
  +Catherine Lacefield: 1782 - Nov 1830
     1 John L. McClain: 1804 - 1885
     1 Moses S. McClain: 1806 - Unknown
     1 James G. McClain: 1808 - 1894
     1 Thomas B. McClain: 1810 - 1864
     1 Elizabeth McClain: 1822 - 1892
  +Susannah Woods: 1795/1800 - Unknown
     1 Samuel McClain: 1838 - 1925
     1 Edward C. McClain: 1841 - 1900?
     1 Jacob McClain: 1844 - Unknown

Jacob McClain was born in Mercer County, Kentucky around 1782.  He was one of the early pioneer farmers to settle in central Indiana.  Jacob married Catherine Lacefield in 1803 in Shelby County, Kentucky.  He volunteered to fight in the War of 1812, and was assigned to a Kentucky militia regiment of light horsemen.  Jacob was wounded on October 5, 1813 in the Battle of the Thames in Upper Canada (Ontario), taking a bullet to the right side of his chest, which left him partially disabled.  Jacob and Catherine moved to Indiana in 1829, settling in Perry Township of Marion County for about one year before she died.  He then relocated to Johnson County for a short time before returning to Kentucky where he married Susannah Woods in 1837.  He remained in Kentucky for about five years, then returned to Johnson County where he lived out the rest of his life.  Jacob McClain died on August 20, 1857 and was buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Marion County, Indiana. [2]

Catherine Lacefield was born in Kentucky around 1782.  She married Jacob McClain on May 12, 1803 in Shelby County, Kentucky.  She was the mother of at least five children with Jacob.  Catherine (Lacefield) McClain died in November of 1830 in Indiana and was buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery. [3]

Susannah Woods was born in Maryland around 1797.  She married Jacob McClain on August 23, 1837 in Trimble County, Kentucky and they had three sons.  Susannah also had two sons and a daughter from a previous marriage.  The family appears together in the 1850 census living on a farm in rural Johnson County.  Susannah filed an appeal for Jacob's military pension after it had been denied following his death.  No other confirmed information for Susannah has been located at this time. [3]