Mr. McClure
was born at. Dexter,
in Effingham county, September 19, 1885, the son of G. W. McClure.
The
grandfather was a native of Maryland and of Scotch-English descent. However, he
early left his native heath and came to the west, and his son, the subject’s
father, was born within the boundaries of Edwards county. The first of the
McClures in Illinois was among the forty-niners, making the trip overland to
California in that year, but soon returning and devoting his energies to
Illinois agriculture, finding far greater peace and happiness in the tilling of
the soil than in the quest of gold. When the Civil war cloud broke, plunging the
nation into sorrow and devastation, he enlisted and served under the flag of
the cause he believed to be just as a member of an Illinois regiment.
The subject’s father, after his marriage, removed to Dexter, Effingham county,
and there started a general
mercantile business, which was
destined to meet with the best of fortunes and which he operated in Dexter for
three and a half years, until 1883. He then removed his business to
Bone Gap, in whose future he had all of confidence, and this business he
operated until his demise, its growth being continual and substantial. This
fine citizen was Republican in politics. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow
and a Mason. He was active in church work and served in the affairs of the
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member as steward, trustee and
class leader.
In 1880 he married Susan J. Walser,
daughter of James Walser,
a pioneer of Edwards county, she having been reared on a country estate
about a mile and a half east of West Salem. Three children were born to
their union,—Chester A., a child who died in infancy and Flossie A.,
wife of George W. Porter, of Bone Gap.
Mr. McClure of this review
received his first introduction to Minerva in the public schools of Bone Gap
and Effingham and had his higher training in the Southern Collegiate
Institute. Subsequently he completed a business course in the Austin
Business College at Effingham in 1900. Previous to that he served in the
Spanish-American war, being mustered into the service on June 28, 1898, as a
member of Company G, Ninth Illinois Volunteer Regiment. He was on detached
duty at brigade headquarters under Brigadier General Douglas and
Brigadier
General Kribben, being stationed at Jacksonville, Savannah and Havana,
Cuba. He was mustered out May 20, 1899, with the rank of mounted orderly.
Upon the return of peace Mr.
McClure came back to his home town,
P. 1670
and after the business course
at Effingham, mentioned previously, he went to Detroit and engaged in the
machinist’s trade, working at the Bayer plant of the Chicago Pneumatic Tube
Company. He was subsequently employed by various automobile companies, the
Packard Company, etc., and was also in the employ of the Burroughs Adding
Machine Company. He resided for a considerable period in Detroit, from
August, 1901, to September 14, 1905. Upon the demise of his father
Mr.
McClure took charge of the business of that gentleman and he has shown the
same good judgment and honorable and effective business methods displayed
by the elder gentleman. The stock carried at the present time is an
excellent one and exceeds $6,000.
Mr. McClure is a prominent
lodge man and finds pleasure and profit in fraternal association with his
fellows. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, No. 866, at West Salem; Monitor
Lodge, No. 235, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Bone Gap; the Modern
Woodmen of America, No. 648, of whose counsel he is a member; Ben Hur and
the Rebekahs. In religious faith be is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
On June 13, 1909, Mr. McClure was happily married at Mt. Carmel, the lady of his choice being
Claribel J.
Inakeep, daughter of Dr. J. E. Inskeep. They have one daughter, Catherine
Wilbur, born May 26, 1910. They are among the most popular and highly
regarded of the young people of the community and maintain a pleasant and
hospitable home.
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