Ewing McClure

McCLURE, Ewing W. - Uncle Ewing McClure, an old and honored

citizen of Washington county, died at his home in Boonsboro on Monday

night. He had lived an upright and blameless life and no man was more

universally respected and admired than he. He had been in a very feeble

state of health for two or three years and while his death is not a surprise

he is no less mourned by a large circle of kindred and friends. [Fayetteville

Democrat 8/20/851

{edited) Ewing W. McClure was born in Ray county, Tennessee on the 19th

day of October 1815 and died a t his home on Cane Hill August the 17th,

1885 having nearly finished his three-score years and ten. He has lived on

Cane Hill about 51 years and for some time had been numbered amongst

the old men of this community. Mr. McClure’s father started in 1834 to the

Territory of Arkansas seeking a home for the family of children growing up

around him. At that time, as is well known, traveling in this country was

slow and tedious. A flat boat had conveyed the family from Tennessee to

the mouth of the Arkansas river, thence up the river they traveled on a

steamboat to Lewisburg. On this steamer the father of the family was seized

with that fearful disease, the cholera. He died and the family was put on

shore at Lewisburg to bury him. This was a heavy stroke to the immigrants.

Ewing was the oldest boy and it fell naturally upon him to take the lead

and conduct the family to their destination. He was now about nineteen

years old, of good muscular power and strong will. He hired an ox-team

and wagon with which he made the trip to Cane Hill. After the mother and

children were sheltered in a little cabin near a fine spring of water, he

started back to deliver the team and wagon. When he reached the owner

he was unable to pay what was due. He owed sixteen dollars and had six.

The owner of the cattle, after censuring the young man for not being able

to pay the whole amount, took the six dollars in money and a note for the

remainder. Mr. McClure came back to his mother, hired out at twelve dollars

per month, made the money and paid off that note. In that was displayed

genuine heroism! When Col. John McClellan got the contract for surveying

this part of the country for the Government Mr. McClure was hired at

eighteen dollars per month to carry the chain; hence it was that he was so

well posted in the surveys and the lands of the country. In 1840 he bought,

on credit, a small stock of goods from Levi Richards and with this he started

out in the world as a merchant. He was eminently successful in this business

and accumulated a considerable fortune. He was known far and wide as an

honest dealer. In 1842 he was happily married to Miss Elizabeth McClellan,

by some years his senior, and who still survives him. She was truly a

helpmate t o him and she has acted well her part in building up the

reputation of the family and the fortune which they now possess. For a

number of years he has been a member of the masonic fraternity. He did

well his work as a mason and at his funeral he received from surviving

brethren the honors due. He had been a Christian for more than twenty

years and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. F.R.

Earle. Boonsboro, August 20th, 1885. [Fayetteville Democrat 8/27/1885]