McCLURE-John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John McClure was a native of Adams Co Ohio b. 1814. In 1838 he came with his parents, Nathaniel & Mary (Beever) McClure and brother Matthias, to Montgomery County Indiana and settled in Pleasant Hill. In 1840 John McClure was married to Sarah A. Gregory, daughter of James Gregory, an early settler of Coal Creek Township. Mr. & Mrs. McClure lived 3 years on her father's farm and in 1845 settled on the farm of 80 acres being the W 1/2 of SW 1/4 Sec 1, R 6W, T 20, which was bought by James Gregory of David Shoemaker, and is almost the first land entered in that township. Mr. McClure added to the 80 till he owned 200 acres. He died May 26, 1876 sadly missed by both family & neighbors. He was a leading member of the Meth. Church, having been class leader many years, frequently conducting class and social meetings in different parts of the township. In educ. affairs he took an active part. In politics he was a strong republican. In his affairs with men he was conscientious and exact. He was always jovial and entertaining, and widely known, even by many who were strangers to him. His wife, Sarah A. (Gregory) McClure, is now living with their children. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Gregorys have long been in America. It is said that Joseph Gregory came from England with William Penn. A son of Joseph moved to Va; where he was killed by the Indians, but left a son, Samuel. Samuel married and moved to Ky. He then moved to Ohio with his wife and two children, and settled 7 miles north. of Hamilton, on a creek which took his name, Gregory's creek, from his being the first settler. There he lived and raised 9 children and buried his wife. Two sons and one daughter died in Ohio; one son and one daughter in Iowa; 3 daughters in Fountain County IN and James and Mrs. Charlotte Clarkson came to Montgomery County, Ind where they also died. Samuel Gregory came in his old age, in 1834 and died at his son James' residence in 1843, aged 84 years. He served in the Revolution and was at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. James Gregory was in the war of 1812, under Harrison. He came to Montgomery County in 1830 and settled in Coal Creek Township, where he entered and bought land to the amount of 540 acres which he deeded to his children. He died in April, 1869, aged 81 years. His father was an elder in the Presbyterian. Church and he a member of the Christian. He was a whig; republican and an abolitionist. He was county commissioner for many years. He left 3 ch: Mrs. Martha Thomas ; Samuel who died 3 months after him and Mrs. Sarah A. McClure. James A. McClure, son of John and Sarah A. (Gregory) McClure, was born Sept. 12, 1846 on the farm which he now owns. He was educated in the common school and Pleasant Hill graded school. When 20 years old he secured a license to teach, which he successfully followed. On Sept 12, 1874, he was married to Mary (Thomas) Hurt, daughter of James & Joanna Thomas, early settlers of Montgomery County. They have had 3 children: two infants (dec) and Clarence D. Mr. & Mrs. McClure are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is class leader. He is a thorough republican.