The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-18
The McGuIre Brothers,

Ihere are now living in Hanover town
ship, Beaver county, Penn'a., two bachelor
brothers, Samuel and John MCGUIRE, who,
for men removed from the usual possibili-
ties OF eventful lives, have still history
which reads like romance. They are the
sons of Thomas Mcclure, of Cumberland
county, Pa, who left that county and To-
Gated in the Sewickley settlement, near
Greensburg, Pa, in 1884, whence he re-
moved to what Is now Manor's station,
Pennsylvania Central railroad, on the we'll
known Coulter lands. Here, in 1906 and
1909 respectively Samuel and Johns birth,
the family removed to that part of Brooke
county, W. Va, which is now Hancock
living there until 1927, when the father
purchased valuable farm of 230 acres, in
Hanover township, Beaver county Pa,
which thcy have since owned and worked
Here the father also lived until 1864, when
he died. In 1864, ten years before their
fathers death, the farm being admirably
adapted for sheep, they concluded to begin
wool raising, and, with that purpose in
view, four hundred head Of the finest Sax
ony blood in this country were purchased
and placed on the farm. With this stock
they began work, selling regularly each
years clip until 1861, when the war broke
out. Then in the unsettled condition of
affairs, they refused to sell, and for seven
teen years every pound of wool was held,
and their place was marked with good
weather-tight sheds, built to keep their
wool. In the spring of 1878 they had on
hand about 36, 900 pounds, which was sold
to VIM. Shay, of Pugtown, Hancock coun-
ty, w. Va, for Walter Brown, an extensive
wool dealer of Boston, netting the Mcclure
brothers about SO cents per pound. This
figure was ID cents per pound less than
sumo of the wool could have been sold for,
as Samuel Wltherspoon, of Hookstown, Pa,
had offered them 81. 10 per pound for seve-
raj clips. When asked why they had re-
fused to sell at these phenomenal figures,
and why they had held the wool 30 long,
the brothers replied that various disloyal
people had told them the government
money was not worth the paper it was
printed on, and they thought if the govern
ment went to pieces on the rebellion their
wool was better to them than the money.
Then they had no special need of money,
and again at that time banks were being
robbed everywhere and money stolen, and
the wool was easier and safer to handle
than cash. All these things combined in
duced them to do as they had done, and in
the end they thought they were about as
well off as If they had done otherwise.
During the time the Messrs. Mcclure held
this large stock Of wool they lived to them
selves, both being bachelors and having no
immediate kin, and took care of their own
household affairs. Living thus retired 1t
became noised abroad that the brothers had
great quantities of gold or silver secretcd
about their house, and on one or two oc-
casions attempts had been made at night to
decoy them from their home in order to Sc
cure them and search the place at the lei
sure OF the thieves. The brothers, however,
escaped until September 25, 1874, when,
about two o'clock in tho afternoon, John
having gone to Franklin Springs for the
mail, four masked men slipped up to the
house and sprang upon Samuel, and knock
Ing HIM down, tied him hand and foot upon
his bed in the loom. The thieves then be-
gan to work upon their prisoner to compel
him to tell where the money was hid. He
told them at point about half mile from
the house, md offered to 60 with them and
show them, but the men, fearing to 90 out
into the daylight, refused to be piloted TO
the spot. Being unable to get any further
information out of Samuel, they concluded
to wait around, and take John in upon his
arrival. AT four o'clock he rode up to the
house, and just as he was getting of his
horse he was caught, borne to the earth and
dragged Into the house where his brother