Biographical Sketch of Rev. M. L. McCluer, Greene County, Missouri,
Campbell Township

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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The subject of this sketch, who is as well known perhaps, in Polk and
Webster counties as in Greene, was born in Loudon county, East Tenn.,
November 9th, 1839.  He is the only son, now living, of Joseph McCluer,
who formerly lived on Little Tennessee river, in the county above named
and owned there a large farm of eight hundred acres.  Rev. Mr. McCluers
mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Greenway, died when he was only 
three months old.  He grew up and was educated in his native State, 
continuing with his father and engaging in farming till 1859.  In April
of that year, he started for the silver region of Pike's Peak.  Having
got as far west as Springfield, Greene county, this State, he concluded
to forego his trip to the mountains, and he remained one year in Spring-
field.  In 1860, the father, Joseph McCluer, sold out in Tennessee and
came to Greene county, where the son had arrived the year before.  They
bought a large farm on Sac river, fifteen miles north of Springfield,
lying partly in Greene and partly in Polk county.  It contained seven
hundred and fifty acres, and they at once began extensive farming oper-
ations.  On the 25th of September, 1861, Mr. McCluer married Elizabeth
Beckley, of Polk county.  He continued to live with his father during
the civil war, which came on about the time he was married.  After the
war he purchased a hundred and fifty acre farm near his father's, but
on the Polk county side.  Here he cleared one hundred acres of heavy
timbered land, built a good house, barn and out houses, and made other
necessary improvements.  In this place he made his home; but concluding
that he would have better health on the prairie, he moved to a farm
that he purchased, one and a half miles south of Springfield, on Kicka-
poo prairie.  This removal was in September, 1873, and he has ever 
since resided there.  His occupation has been that of a farmer and 
minister of the gospel, he having been licensed to exhort by the M. E.
Church South, at Hickory Grove, November 24th, 1867.  In March, 1868, 
he was licensed to preach, and has done a great deal for the upbuilding
of the church since then.  Chiefly through his instrumentality, assist-
ed by a few others, a church, costing $18,000, was erected at Hickory
Grove, he going around and collecting the neighbers, who convened at 
his house, where most of the money was subscribed in one day.  Mr. Mc-
Cluer organized the first Y.M.C.A. at Hickory Grove ever organized in 
this part of the country, of which he was elected president.  At Nevada
in October, 1872, he joined the West St. Louis Conference, and was sent 
to Hermitage circuit, in Hickory county, which he traveled until locat-
ed at his own request, in 1873, because of ill health.  Soon after this
he began operations at intervals as an evangelical worker, and held a
number of revivals, which resulted in large accessions of membership.
In the years 1875-6 he traveled Henderson circuit as "supply."  Though 
the circuit was in a demoralized condition when he began labors there,
with only one organized church and two or three partly organized, and a
membership of scarcely fifty, he left it with nine church organizations
and a membership of two hundred and fifty, and two established "camp
grounds," with sheds, etc., for the convenience of the worshiping camp-
ers.  In 1876 he joined the Southwest Missouri Conference, and was sent
back to Henderson circuit, where the Lord had so abundantly blessed his
previous efforts.  In the fall of 1877, he was sent to Ozark mission,
which he traveled one year.  He was again located in 1878, since when
he has labored only on the evangelical plan.  Mr. McCluer has a family,
two sons and four daughters living, and one daughter deceased.  The
surviving children are: Ola J., Samuel J., Rebecca E., Flora P., Lafay-
ette H. and Stella G.  Mr. McCluer has labored more for the good of
others and less for his own financial aggrandizement than most men are
inclined to do.  Still, he has seen good and abundant fruits from his
labors, and will have his reward here and hereafter.  "The laborer is
worthy of his hire," and the faithful need not fear but that the prom-
ise will be kept.

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