OBIT: James H. McCLURE, 1941, formerly of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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JAMES H. McCLURE

Death Calls J. H. McClure
Able Lawyer and Former Legislator Succumbs to Heart Ailment

  Hon. James H. McClure of Glassport, Pa., formerly a resident of Salisbury, 
died in the Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Monday night, Feb. 17, 1941, 
at the age of 54 years, as the result of a heart ailment, by which he was 
stricken while eating lunch in Pittsburgh, Friday, Feb. 7th.  Since that time he 
was in an oxygen tent in the hospital where he died.
  He was a son of the late Captain Quincy A. and Ellen (Broadbury) McClure, of 
McKeesport, and was born in the old McClure homestead on Second Avenue and Water 
Street, in that city.  His father for years operated a ferry at the point where 
the Youghiogheny River connects with the Monongahela.
  After retiring from that business and becoming the owner of much valuable real 
estate in McKeesport, Captain McClure purchased a farm in Elk Lick Township, 
Somerset County, near Salisbury, where he and his family spent the summers for 
some years, but later erected a residence in Salisbury, where Captain McClure 
and wife resided the remainder of their lives.
  It was while residents of Salisbury that two of their sons, the late William 
B. and James H., were graduated from Gettysburg College.  Later the elder 
brother, now deceased, became a specialist of marked ability in the medical 
profession, and James H., the younger, a lawyer and legislator of much ability 
after his graduation from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, in 
1911.

Legal and Legislative Record

  Hon. James H. McClure, who represented the Tenth Legislative District six 
consecutive sessions in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania at Harrisburg, was 
Acting Speaker of the House at the session of 1927, and chairman of the 
important Judiciary General Committee for several years.  As a lawyer he had 
been associated with the office of District Attorney Andrew Park of Allegheny 
County since the 1st of last October, and was a member of the law firm of 
McGrady, McClure, Nicklas and Hirshfield of Pittsburgh, after becoming a member 
of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.
  He served as solicitor of both Glassport Borough and its school board for a 
total of 18 years.  In 1922 he was elected to his first term in the Legislature 
as a Republican, and re-elected on the same ticket for the same office in 1924, 
1926, 1928, 1930 and 1932.
  Mr. McClure served as campaign manager for Senator W. D. Mansfield in the 
latter's successful run for County Commissioner of Allegheny County in 1931.  He 
then served as assistant County Solicitor for four years, beginning in 1932.

Was Candidate for Congress, Also Sponsored Important State Legislation

  Two years later Mr. McClure was a candidate for Congress, on the Republican 
ticket in the Thirty-first Congressional District in Allegheny County, but was 
defeated by James L. Quim of Braddock.
  During his service in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, Mr. McClure 
sponsored many measures, some of which now are included in the state's laws.  He 
sponsored the General Borough Act in 1927 to revise the old borough code.  In 
that same year he became Speaker of the House, following the resignation of 
Judge Thomas Bluett.

Advocated Important Legislation

  He advocated important state legislation that included Pennsylvania's Old Age 
Pension Act, Mothers' Assistance Fund, soldiers' bonus, pension system for the 
blind, abolition of child labor and permanent registration.
  Following the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, Mr. McClure was requested 
during a special session of the General Assembly in 1933 to sponsor the Liquor 
Control Bill which established the state liquor store system.  This bill enacted 
over the opposition of a faction of Pennsylvania's "wets", was signed by 
Governor Pinchot in Mr. McClure's presence, Nov. 29, 1933.

Surviving Relatives, Funeral, etc.

  Mr. McClure is survived by his wife, Mary (Walton) McClure; two sons, James Q. 
A. and William Haines McClure; two brothers, Samuel Q. A., of Chevy Chase, Md., 
and Harry Knox McClure of Salisbury, Pa.; two sisters, Mrs. John L. Barchus, and 
Miss Emma R., both of Salisbury.
  Hon. J. H. McClure was a member of the McKeesport First Baptist Church, the 
Meyersdale Masonic Lodge, Syria Shrine, Glassport Lodge of Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, and McKeesport Lodge No. 136, Benevolent Order of Elks.
  The funeral services were held at the family home at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 
20th, and was conducted by the Rev. Franklin W. Wiley, pastor of the First 
Baptist Church of McKeesport.  Burial was in the Versailles Cemetery.  The 
obsequies were largely attended.
  During about the last ten years of his life, Mr. McClure maintained a summer 
residence in Salisbury, and spent such leisure time there as he had during the 
summer months.  He will be sadly missed in the town which was his home when he 
reached the age of manhood, and for some years immediately preceding, and had 
many warm personal friends, as well as in other places he has resided.

Meyersdale Republican, February 27, 1941