Washington Co., AR - Biographies - George W. Mcclure *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** George W. Mcclure, another successful merchant at Evansville, is the son of John and Margaret (Kennedy) McClure. The father was probably born in Tennessee, although his parents came from Ireland, and the mother was also born in Tennessee. After marriage they remained in their native State until 1834, when they started for Arkansas, but the father died of cholera at Louisburg. The mother and children came on to this county, but soon after she moved to Barry County, Mo., where her death occurred in 1855. The father was a farmer by occupation, and a Democrat in politics, and the mother was a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Nine children of their family lived to be grown, and the youngest but one, George W., was born in Ray County, Mo., December 22, 1828. He was reared on a farm, and received a limited education, owing to the deficiency of schools. After remaining with his mother until sixteen years of age he returned to Arkansas, and here worked for a brother, but in 1849 went to California, where he mined for two years. In 1851 he opened a store in Evansville, where he remained until the breaking out of the war. In 1856 he married Miss Sarah Ward, who was born in the Cherokee Nation, and of Indian descent. Two children, Ruth and Alice, were born to this union. In 1862 Mr. McClure enlisted in Waite's Cherokee brigade (Confederate States army), and served until the close of the war. After returning from the war he found his finances very low, and after farming a year hired out as a clerk in a store, and there continued until 1874. Previous to this, in 1866, he had the misfortune to lose his wife, and has remained single ever since. From 1874 to 1877 Mr. McClure was in Flinn's mill, and from the latter date until 1886 he clerked in the store of Flinn. He then opened his present store, and has had a successful trade ever since. He began life a poor boy, but by industry and close attention to business has made all his property. He is a Democrat in politics.