Biography - JAMES A. McCLURE

James Allen McClure, the present mayor of Carlinville, has resided in that town for the past fifteen years and has devoted his attention to real estate and other interests. His birth occurred in Carlinville, Illinois, on the 7th of August, 1859, his parents being Milton and Martha K. (Neale) McClure. The father was born at Nicholasville, Jessamine county, Kentucky, in 1832, while the mother was a native of Springfield, Illinois. Although a native of the Blue Grass state, Milton McClure was descended from an old Virginia family and his ancestors were men of education and worth. His grandfather, the Rev. Allen McClure, united with the Presbyterian church and in early manhood became a minister of that denomination. He took up his abode among the early settlers of Kentucky and was one of the original members of the first synod of the Presbyterian church of that state. As a pioneer preacher of Paris, Bourbon county, he did noble and effective work. His son, James Allen McClure, the father of Milton McClure, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, and was still quite young when the family removed to Kentucky. He was educated for the ministry but did not choose to follow that profession, preferring a mercantile life. In Jessamine county he wedded Miss Frances Dickerson, a native of that county and a daughter of Martin and Rebecca Dickerson. Some years later he removed to Shelbyville, Tennessee, and there engaged in merchandising, also conducting branch stores at other places. Unfortunately, however, he lost his property and about 1828 returned to Kentucky, remaining in Jessamine county until 1834. In that year he came to Illinois, traveling via the Kentucky and Mississippi rivers to Columbiana, Greene county. He made his home in Carrollton for one year and then joined the pioneers of Macoupin county, entering government land in Carlinville township. Taking up a claim of one hundred and twenty acres, he erected thereon a double log house. His children improved the land and he remained thereon until after the death of his wife, which occurred in 1844. The same year he was appointed clerk in the land office at Washington, D. C., by President Polk and, being reappointed by President Taylor, served in that capacity until his demise in 1849. He acted as assessor of Macoupin county at an early day, visiting every family, and in 1840 took the county census. Unto him and his wife were born six sons and six daughters.

Milton McClure, the father of the gentleman whose name introduces this review, was brought to Macoupin county during his infancy and assisted in the work of the home farm as soon as his age and strength permitted. His primary education was acquired under the direction of his father and in an old-fashioned log schoolhouse where writing was done with a quill pen. The methods of instruction were very primitive as compared to those of the present day. When a youth of fourteen he became a student at Carlinville and two years later entered Shurtleff College at Upper Alton, remaining in that institution for three years and receiving a recommendation from the faculty as a competent teacher. Instead, however, he became a clerk in the drug store of his brother-in-law, Dr. L. J. Woods, and studied medicine when his clerical duties would permit. A year later he became a dry-goods clerk, being employed in that capacity until 1856, when he was elected sheriff of Macoupin county. He held the office for two years and was afterward engaged in business as a merchant and live stock dealer until 1863. From that time until 1889 he carried on a successful enterprise as the proprietor of a drug store, eventually selling out in order that he might enjoy more leisure. Agricultural interests always claimed his attention and he owned a farm of four hundred and eighty acres. In 1865 he was appointed United States commissioner by President Johnson, serving in that capacity for a number of years. He acted as president of the First National Bank of Carlinville for twenty-five years and assisted in the organization of the Carlinville National Bank, of which institution he was a director. Milton McClure was a member of the village board of trustees and also acted as justice of the peace for about twelve years. In 1872 he was sent as a delegate to the democratic national convention at Baltimore, while in 1884 he was elected to the state board of equalization, remaining a member thereof for four years. During the last few years of his life he lived retired, passing away at Carlinville in January, 1903, in the faith of the Presbyterian church. The county thus lost one of its most prominent, influential and respected citizens — one who had promoted its various interests in no uncertain degree. In 1854 he had wedded Miss Martha K. Neale, a daughter of General Thomas M. Neale, who served as a general in the Black Hawk war and was at one time associated with Abraham Lincoln in the practice of law at Springfield, where his demise occurred in early manhood.’ Mrs. Martha K. McClure died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, on the 3d of March, 1908, when seventy-three years of age, passing away in the faith of the Baptist church. She was the mother of two children, namely: James Allen, of this review; and Harriet B., the deceased wife of Thomas Mellersh.

James Allen McClure was reared in Carlinville and obtained his early education in the public schools, later entering Blackburn University, of which institution he is a graduate. After putting aside his text-books he worked in his father’s drug store and later went to St. Louis, where he was the proprietor of a brokerage house for a number of years. Subsequently he went to San Francisco and on leaving the western coast returned to St. Louis. For the past fifteen years, however, he has made his home in Carlinville, devoting his attention to real estate and other interests. He owns farm lands in Carlinville and Shaws Point township and also has extensive holdings in Texas and Minnesota.

In 1905 Mr. McClure was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Agnes Davis, of Carthage, Missouri, her father being Landon Davis. Mr. McClure is a stanch democrat in politics and on the 17th of April, 1911, was elected mayor of Carlinville, in which capacity he is now serving, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures of reform and improvement. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Orient Lodge. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout his native county and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.

Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 64-66.