Probably the most controversial artist to appear on the American scene in the last fifty years is Jackson POLLOCK. His art which is incomprehensible to most Ringgold county people, was based on the idea that the artist could portray his feelings and emotions in abstract form as a medium of art. He was a moody, stormy, rebellious person and his art reflected this. Be that as it may, a painting of his a few years ago was sold to the Museum of Modern Art for $300,000.00. His work is in great demand and it has been predicted that some time a Jackson POLLOCK original will bring a million dollars.

Jackson POLLOCK was not a native of Ringgold county but his parents were born in our county and grew to adulthood in the Tingley area. His father was born LeRoy McCOY, son of Alexander and Rebecca McCLELLAND McCOY.

Alexander McCOY was bone poor. Said to be Scotish-Irish, they lived in the old Eugene Presbyterian neighborhood located on the west side of Tingley township and the east side of Jefferson township. Death was an early and frequent visitor in the pioneer home and the McCOY family was no exception. First to go was a daughter, then the mother was taken. Mr. McCOY struggled along with Mrs. McCOY'S mother assisting him in caring for his three sons. A neighbor, James & Elizabeth POLLOCK, unable to have children of their own offered to make a home for young LeRoy McCOY, then 3 years old. The offer was accepted and LeRoy was taken into the POLLOCK home and became LeRoy, or as better known, Roy POLLOCK.

Alexander McCoy left Tingley after his son was “adopted” and returned to his former home area in Missouri. As a widower, he married in Bates county to Mary Jane (last name unclear—probably Clark) in 1881. Subsequently had two daughters and then died in 1883 and is buried in Missouri.. His wife's mother was Elizabeth McCLELLAND and is buried in the Eugene Cemetery in Jefferson township.

NOTE: Elizabeth McCLELLAND, wife of T. McCLELLAND, was born February 14, 1801, and died August 12, 1886. Rebecca H. (McCLELLAND) McCOY died at the age of 35 years, 4 months and 24 days on April 22, 1879. Nina J. McCOY, daughter of Alexander J. and Rebecca H. (McCLELLAND) McCOY died at the age of 4 years, 1 month and 19 days on February 28, 1879. They are all interred at Euguene Cemetery.

Alexander J. McCoy died in Mulbery, Bates Co., MO on September 26, 1883.

Roy POLLOCK attended High School in Tingley, graduating in the same class [1895] with Ralph TIDRICK, distinguished missionary, and Dan McGUGIN, famous Vanderbilt football coach. Later Ralph TIDRICK and Roy POLLOCK drived the the Mississippi River together. Roy then returned to Iowa, BEALL'S Ringgold County Directory has Roy POLLOCK working for Walter EDIE in Section 17, Tingley Twp. Later he was to marry Stella McCLURE who also attended the Tingley School.

TINGLEY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, 1895
Thomas ARCHBOLD, Mary BUTLER, Webster HANCOX, Stella May McCLURE (mother of artist Jackson POLLOCK), Daniel Earle McGUGIN, Mae PALMER (seated to far right), Roy POLLACK (father of artist Jackson POLLOCK), Ralph TIDRICK

NOTE: Records list only 8 graduates yet there are nine graduates in the photograph.
photograph courtesy of Janet Ann (PALMER) PROCTOR BRAWNER,
granddaughter of Nellie Mae (PALMER) PROCTOR

Stella McCLURE was one of seven children of John and Cordelia (SPECK) McCLURE and was born [1875] in Liberty township. At the time of her birth the McCLURE family was living in Section 30. Their home was located on the knoll northwest of the Highway 169 Walnut Creek Bridge on land now [1975] owned by Richard DRAKE. The McCLURE farmily was originally from Ohio and the SPECK family was early residents of Union township. Later John McCLURE moved to Tingley where he became a mason. He was an excellent workman as attested by the many basements and structures in the Tingley area built by him and still in active use.

Roy POLLOCK and Stella McCLURE were married around 1900. They moved to Wyoming where most of their children were born. Besides being a housewife and mother, Stella (McCLURE) POLLOCK was a seamstress and an excellent cook.

At Right: The POLLOCK Family eating watermelon, Arizona, 1914
L-R: LeRoy, Frank, Charles, Jackson, Jay, Sanford, Stella NOTE: John R. McCLURE was born April 23, 1849 and died April 2, 1917. Cordelia J. (SPECK) McCLURE was born in September 14, 1848 and died in July 19, 1941. Stella (McCLURE) POLLOCK was born May 20, 1875 and died in April 19, 1958. They were interred at Tingley Cemetery.

LeRoy "Roy" POLLOCK was February 25, 1877, married Stella McCLURE January 14, 1903 in Alliance, Nebraska and died on March 5, 1933 in California and is interred at the Grand View Memorial Park and Crematory, Los Angeles.

Roy's adoptive father, James Madison POLLOCK was born in January 20, 1835, was a Civil War Veteran and died November 28, 1909. Roy's adoptive mother Elizabeth J. "Lizzie" (LEWIS) POLLOCK was born May 30, 1836 and died February 20, 1926. They were interred at Tingley Cemetery.

The information in this article [outside of vital and interment information] has been provided by Clair HEYER of Tingley and Leslie McCLURE, retired Tingley Lumberman, who is a brother of Stella McLURE and uncle of Jackson POLLOCK.

SOURCE: Ringgold County Tour Bulletin. Ringgold County Historical Society. July 27, 1975.

Transcription and notes by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011