My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS C. McCLURE, Murrysville, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1819. His grandfather, Francis McClure, came from Ireland, settled on a farm in Mifflin township, this county, about 1780, and died there April 24, 1843, in his one hundred and fourth year. He was several times in the legislature, and was associate judge of Allegheny county for over thirty years. Andrew, son of Francis McClure, was born in Mifflin, and learned the fulling and dyeing business at Steubenville, and afterward engaged at it in Mifflin. He married Margaret Abrams, a native of Steubenville. During the latter part of his life he followed farming, and died in 1858, in his sixty-first year. He had six children: F. C., Sarah (Kelley), Alexander McKim, Andrew William, Margaret (Rhodes) and Susan (Abrams). Francis C. McClure attended subscription schools. When eighteen years old he began to work at the carpenter’s trade, and helped build the first free school house in Mifflin township. He engaged in farming in that township for nineteen years, and for a short time in Westmoreland county. In 1864 he came to Patton and purchased 126 acres near Murrysville, on which several gas-wells have been recently sunk. Mr. McClure has been school director eleven years; also collector and supervisor. He is a republican, and with his family is associated with the Murrysville Presbyterian Church.

Mr. McClure was married, in 1843, to Catharine Ann, a daughter of George and Mary (Gregory) Lang. Their five living children are Elizabeth (McWilliams) in Penn, Westmoreland county, Pa.; Francis Samuel, at home; William Matthew, in Franklin, Westmoreland county; Alexander Winfield, in Penn, Westmoreland county; Melissa Belle, at home. George A., the second child, was murdered by robbers near McKeesport, while in search of goods stolen from his store at that place; Amanda Ellen, the youngest, died at the age of twenty-two; Sarah Agnes, Margaret and Mary Susan died when small. Winfield’s daughter, Mary Rebecca, resides with her grandparents, her mother being deceased. Mr. McClure has seen the fifth generation of Francis McClures, and voted twelve times for president, on the whig and republican tickets.