ELBRIDGE BENNETT McCLONG was born in 1871 in New Jersey, the only child, according to Census records of Sylvia and Colonel Thomas K. McClong. His father was a veteran of the Civil War. He was named after his grandfather Ebridge G. McClong, a prominent resident of Millville, New Jersey. Census records indicate that he was born in New Jersey, however City Directories indicate that much of his early life was spent in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From 1868 to 1874 Thomas K. McClong is listed in Pittsburgh directories. The family lived at 13 Apsley Street in the Germantown section of Philadelphia in the late 1870s and early 1880s. The family came back to Millville for a short time after grandfather Elbridge G. McClong died in May of 1881. The 1883 Millville Directory shows Thomas K. McClong living their and engaging in the lumber business, and the rental of McClong's Hall at 135 East Main Street for various sorts of events. 

By 1885 Thomas K. McClong had relocated to Camden. The family is listed at 112 Federal Street through 1888.Thomas McClong stayed in the lumber business through this time. By the time the 1890 City Directory was published, there was a change in address and a change in careers.

The 1890 City Directory lists Thomas McClong and family at 820 Federal Street. For the next 23 years Thomas McClong is listed at this address. He was in the insurance business, working primarily in Philadelphia. Elbridge B. McClong makes his first appearance in City Directories in 1890, working in Philadelphia as a clerk. The 1891 and 1892 Directories show his occupation as salesman.

In 1893 Elbridge McClong engaged in a short lived shoe manufacturing business called McClong & Company at 94 Federal Street, with a partner, J. Wilson Simpkins. On December 30, 1893 he attended a meeting at the Camden County Courthouse, only two blocks from his home, to protest a free-trade bill that would have adversely impacted American businesses and workers. Shortly afterwards, Elbridge B. McClong was appointed to the Camden Police Department, appearing there in the 1894 City Directory. 

Elbridge McClong's clerical and administrative skills were soon recognized. By 1908 he had been promoted to sergeant and served in administrative positions culminating with a promotion to Chief Clerk in late 1913 or early 1914. This position carried the rank of Captain. He served as Chief Clerk until July of 1923 when political considerations forced him and Chief of Police Edward S. Hyde to retire on pension.

Elbridge McClong was married three times, bit never had any children. His first wife, listed in the 1898 City Directory as May and the 1899 edition as Mary, was not living with him and his parents at 820 Federal Street when the 1900 Census was enumerated. Around 1903 he again wed. In 1911 Elbridge McClong and his second wife, the former Alice "Effie" Resch, began to be listed in Directories at 822 Federal Street. Alice McClong is last shown in City Directories in 1922. 

Thomas McClong had been quite successful in the insurance business. He left Camden, first moving to Atlantic City, where he appears in the 1911 Directory, and then purchased a home in Ocean City, New Jersey. He passed away there in December of 1919 and was buried in Millville. He left property in Camden, a home in Ocean City and apparently an estate of some size

After retiring on pension, Elbridge McClong began spending more time outside of Camden. His last appearance at 822 Federal Street Camden Directories came in 1928. His mother, Sylvia, last appears in the Ocean City Directories, at 5812 Central Avenue, in 1924. Elbridge McClong is listed at that address as late as 1948. In the 1930s Elbridge McClong began looking into buying a summer home in Florida. The 1940 Camden City Directory indicates that he was renting an apartment at 1026 Federal Street and he had a business interest in the Nash-Lakeview Garage. The 1940 Orlando City Directory shows him at 125 North Eola Drive. He traveled back and forth between New Jersey and Florida as late as 1948, his last listing in the Ocean City's directory.

In the 1940s Elbridge McClong again married, this time to Elizabeth Graham. The McClongs lived at the North Eola Drive address through 1957. Mrs. McClong died in March of that year. Elbridge McClong moved to 808 Delaney Street in Orlando. He passed away in July of 1959.