Dan McClane was one of many interesting characters to inhabit the mining community of Hayden Hill. McClane was born in 1815 in Scotland, making him the second oldest miner there—the town’s namesake Joseph W. Hayden was a year older.
McClane’s first career was the open seas traveling much of the world. In early 1850s he came to California and settled in Solano County, where he first developed an interest in ranching, then in time mining.
Reports when he came to Hayden Hill vary, though most place it in 1877 during the town’ second mining boom. At that time, there was a large influx of prospectors from Napa and Solano counties. It should be noted he married Mary Shepherd in Modoc County in 1874. The following year, at the age of 59 he became a father, and from this marriage a total of 11 children were born to them. Some of the children were born at Hayden Hill and others at Round Mountain, Shasta County.
In the late spring of 1916, Dan McClane and Clarence Williams set off on horseback on a prospecting trip. It does not appear on the face that remarkable, until you examine the ages of two men–Williams, 36 and McClane 101. That is correct a hundred year old man prospecting on horseback. The duo left the Williams Ranch in Willow Creek Valley, now owned by Five Dot and first ventured to look at the abandoned mines of adjacent Round Valley. From there they went all the way to the top of Green’s Peak looking for the fabled “Grabel’s hole.” The Grabel was a rich lode, that falls into the category of the lost mine tales. They then ventured down to Rongstock Canyon, back up and over to Papoose Meadows and numerous crooks and crannies along the way. Then back over Gallatin Peak and back to Willow Creek Valley. In all, Williams estimated they traveled nearly forty miles that day.
McClane kept up with his forays and he passed away in 1920 at age of 119 in San Mateo County.