CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1898-08-18
little nucleus expanded until the stock
in hand invoiced $3.50 to $4,000.
On one occasion Mr. McClure calls to

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in hand invoiced $15, 900 to $4,000.
On one occasion Mr.. Mcclure calls to
mind buying load of squashes which
netted the grower $50 in cash. This
was during the winter of ga.
Beginning on the first day of Janu-
ary, 1865, the Christian people insti-
tuted series of protracted meetings,
their numbers increasing SO rapidly
that in March of the same year the
Baptist colony decided to organize
church, although in the interim their
minister had proceeded on west and
left them without an ordained leader.
A Saturday was set to transact the
business incident thereto when a
neighbor from down the river reported
the arrival Of new minister on Four
Mile. The news was heralded with
delight, investigation proved the new
conner to be Rev. NJ. B. Adams, now
living in South Canon, who had pur-
chased the now historical Cook ranch,
paying $1,000 spot cash for it.
Father Adams was as delighted as he
was surprised to find Baptist colony
at his new home, and he entered into
the work of his Master with his whole
soul, organizing and assisting to build
up a sect which now owns the finest
church edifce in the city--valued at
$4,000. In the original church
building, which stood where the REC
ORD Office is now located, W. H. Nc
Clure had $500 invested out of total
cost of 81, 200.
Mr.. Mcclure continued in business
10 or II years, accumulating great
deal OF real estate and other property.
In 1876 his monthly rentals reached
the handsome income of $3.50. He
was the proud owner of the finest
residence in Fremont county, occupy
ing the corner where the Fremont
County bank building stands This
building is still intact and is seen
daily by passersby on Fifth street, it
being the second house above the city
ditch on west side of the street.
During the winter of '65, after the
close of the Civil war, another brother,
j. C. Mcclure, came out from the east
and along in the 'TOs he took charge
of the mercantile affairs by purchase.
while w. H. built the Mcclure house,
corner Fourth sa1 Main, and engaged
la the brokerage business in the little
I3eick building Just above the Fremont
County bank building now giving
place to the modern block being
erected by Wright & Morgan He built
the Grape creek toll road for which
the town had voted bonds, but before
it could be inspected and accepted a
food came down the creek and COM
pletely demolished it. Then the panic
of '76 and II set in and before he
could realize what had happened the
accumulation of years had vanished
and W. H. Mcclure found himself
penniless with less than weeks pro-
visions in the house for his family's
needs. He went to Fort Worth,
Texas, where he remained tive years,
but meeting with inferior success
friends sent him $500 to cover the
expense of getting back. For this
sum he executed his personal note,
and when the final payment was made
the names of endorsers upon If repre-
sented over $4,000. He returned
to Canon in 1878 with sick wife,
five children, s. in cash and debts
aggregating $4,000, staring him in
the face Things went wrong as they
usually do when man is down, and
only for the kindness of men to whom
he was indebted. his family would have
suffered far more than they did.
But one day there was rift in the
clouds. Gus Macon approached him
and suggested the practicability of
engaging in the ticket brokerage
business the railroad having its ter
minus here. But Nc was shy the
requisite capital, so Mr. Macon ad-
vanced S25 for old acquaintance sake,
and donated the use of the little old
Office in which Mcclure had originally
conducted his brokerage business and
of which Macon had become the
owner. The fare from Canon City to
Denver was $l4 and from Leadville
to Denver it was S14. so that ticket
broker was enabled to pick up some
real bargains, dispose of them at a
big saving to another traveller and
still make = handsome profit Three
dollars on ticket was Mr.. McClure's
usual margin.
Tho rift in the clouds widened, Che