When William Patton McClellan was born on 10 May 1898, in Scott, Virginia, United States, his father, William Logan McClelland, was 37 and his mother, Malissa Jane Smith, was 27. He married Mary Virginia Butt on 4 January 1927, in Tavares, Lake, Florida, United States. He lived in Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States in 1930 and Norfolk City Voting Precinct 20, Norfolk, Virginia, United States in 1940. He died on 29 March 1979, in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States.