BIOGRAPHY - Edwin S. McClure
REV. EDWIN S. McCLURE, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Piper City,
was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, February 6, 1861, and is of Scotch
descent. The great-grandfather of our subject, the founder of the family in
America, was a native of Scotland. The grandfather, William McClure, removed
from Ohio to Iowa in 1850, and there engaged in farming until his death,
which occurred during the war.
John McClure, the father of our subject, was born in Illinois but reared in
Iowa as a farmer. He graduated from the Yellow Springs College, of Kossuth,
Iowa. In 1859, near Sparta, Ill., he married Miss Jane Campbell, a lady of
Scotch descent. In 1861, at the first call for three-year men, he enlisted
in October as a member of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, and participated in
the battles of Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson and Shiloh. He was in the thickest of
the fight on that memorable Sunday afternoon and was taken prisoner and for
three months confined at Macon, Ga., where the prisoners were almost
starved. On his release, he rejoined his regiment at St. Louis and
participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the Red River campaign and the
campaigns under Gens. Grant and Sherman. He was in the service for three
years and one month. On his return home, he continued to engage in farming
in Iowa for a few years, and then accepted a professorship in the Deaf and
Dumb Institute of Omaha, Neb., where he remained for fifteen years. He then
resigned on account of failing eyesight, resulting from his army experience.
He is now living on a fine farm near Sioux City, Iowa. In politics, he is a
stanch Republican and is a member of the Grand Army Post. Himself and wife
are both active members of the Presbyterian Church and are highly respected
people.
The McClure family numbered eight children, two of whom are deceased. Our
subject is the eldest; Addie, who has been a teacher in deaf and dumb
institutes both in Kansas and Minnesota, is now at home; William is engaged
in merchandising in Omaha, Neb.; D. F. is a professor in a deaf and dumb
asylum in Faribault, Minn.; Lillie died in 1887, at the age of fourteen
years; Bertha and Grace are at home.
The Rev. Mr. McClure was educated at Parsons' College, of Fairfield, Iowa,
Lake Forest University and the Seminary of the Northwest, now called the
McCormick Theological School. He spent three years in that school, studying
for the ministry, and after his graduation at the age of twenty-five, became
Pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Lenox, Iowa, where he remained for two
years. During that time he was united in marriage, on the 27th of June,
1888, to Sarah M. Gordon, a native of the Hawkeye State. Their union has
been blessed with one daughter, Edna Lucile, who was born July 27, 1889, and
died March 20, 1892.
On leaving Lenox, Mr. McClure accepted a call from the church in Red Oak,
Iowa, where he remained for two years, when he engaged in mission work in
Omaha, Neb., spending one year in that city. On the 1st of April, 1891, he
came to Piper City, and has since been Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at
this place. His labors have been very successful. During the past year he
had sixty-one additions. He is held in the highest regard, not only by the
members of his own congregation but by all who know him, his upright life
and courteous manner winning him high esteem. He is a man of great energy
and perseverance and his church is now in a flourishing condition. In
politics, he is a stanch Republican, having supported that party since he
attained his majority.
Extracted 31 Jul 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 297-298.
