Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-06-18
VETERAN OF THE PEN
Colonel 4. K. Mcclure, Who Was
a Power In Politics.
STRONG ALLY OF LINCOLN
Last Survivor of Circle ef nzrtyred
Frss i-ert's A5yiser-Reisec Seven
ts=7 Regiments Fer union Army In
Civil Har-oea cznPsis, Experiences.

Colonel Alexander Kelly Mcclure.
p-atLoDotary Of tha supreme and So
pe-ilr courts of Pvuusy!vauia and for
t1a-y years e prominent figure in pol
itils and journalism who recently died
at his home In WaI.ingfori. Pa. AT the
axe # eis1ty-one years. was the last
survivor u Abraham Liuccln's circle
- personal friends and Intimate pOIit-
irai advisers Lincoln once remarked
q him. Mr. Mcclure has more brains
than any man | know, and il has long
been conceded that excepting only Lin
coin himself Colonel Mcclure was the
nan most responsible for his election
10 the Presidency in Isjn. He was
chairman of tie state committee Of
Pennsylvania az the time, and PennsyI-
valla WHs the pivotal state Colonel
McClUre's able management Of the
campaign swung II into line and thus
assured the success of the ticket
Colonel Mcclure was born Of Scotch
Irish stock. in Sherman's valley, Perry
county, Pa. on Jan. Q. 1S2S Schooled
upon farm he was taught 10 be self
reliant. and after obtaining a meager
book edurarion he was apprenticed, ar
the age Of fourteen years. TO & tanner
During this apprenticeship. which last
ed three years, be made frequent visits
10 the Office Il Judge Baker. editor of
the Perry Freeman. and upon his ad-
vice he studied politics and occasional
ly wrote articles for publication
Through Judge Baker he eventually
beca ne editor Of the Juaiata Sentinel.
new WhiG organ, much against the
wish OF his father With the aid only
Of an apprentice Mr.. Mcclure, who
was then but nineteen years old. got
ouc the paper. ard his caustic pen soon
won for him name. making as ii did
many frieEds and foes. During his
early work <pon the JuHiata Sentinel
be formed a warm friendship with An
drew q Curtin. afterward the war
governor Of Pennsylvania, and a dislike
for the political methods Of Simon
Cameron.
Year by year be forged ahead in pol
itics, becoming burgess Of MifHin and
then deputy United States marshal
Then John " Pomeroy purchased for
him 2 half interest in the Chambers
burg Repository Mr.. Mcclure became
IFS editor and made il one of the best
known journals in the state In 1853
be was the Whig candidate for auditor
general. being the youngest man ever
nominated for a state office in Penn
sylvauia and two years later he was
4 member Of the convention that met
at Pittsburg and organized the Re
publican party. In the following year
be was q delegate TO the national con-
veution that nominated Fremont for
the presidency
In 1858 Mr. Mcclure sold the Re
pository and Quilted journalism for a
time He was soon afterward admit
ted 70 the bar. and the following year
he was elected 70 the assembly and
afterward to the senate. on the latter
occasion succeeding a Democrat who
had added $50 Democratic votes 70
the district by a new apportionment
In 1SGO he was appointed chairman
Of the Republican state central COM
nittee. In that campaign he made for
the first tine in the state a thorough
orEaniZa tion in every county. township
and precinct and In the national con-
veutiou he carried the state for Lin
coin By winning over the delegates
who had been instructed for Simon
Cameron. At the outbreak of the re-
telIion Mr. Mcclure was IN, the SEN
ate. and he was made chairman Of
the committee on military affairs
Two years later he was solicited by
President Lincoln and Secretary Stan
ton 70 make the draft in Pennsylvania,
and with two clerks. he had the state
enrolled. credits adjusted, draft made
and seventeen regiments in the field
in sixty days To give TO him the mill
rary authority 10 make the draft he
was commissioned assistant adjutant
general Of the United States. an office
which he resigned as soon as the work
was finished
After the defeat Of his party in 1863
Colonel Mcclure. at the special request
Of President Lincoln. went 10 Philadel-
phia 10 aid in organizing and perfect
ing the organization for the presiden-
tial election IN the following NoEem-
ber. The same year Lees army. In its
invasion Of Pennsylvania, destroyed
all his property. near Chambersburg,
valued at $1,000 To do this It even
went out Of its way, as II with intent
to leave him homeless as a punishment
for his ardent support OF the Union
cause.
He was a delegate to the convention
which nominated General Grant In
1865. and after that campaign he set
tied in Philadelphia for the practice Of
law. In 1872. with his old friend, Mr..
Curtin, he joined the Greeley move
ment. and ever since then he was more
or less independent in politics.
He was reelected 10 the senate, and
In 1873 he was nominated for mayor Of
Philadelphia against William s. Stok-
ley and made a vigorous campaign, but
BE- was defeated in this contest and
never again appeared as candidate
for offics.
Colonel A. X. Mcclure has stood on
many platforms. has addressed assem-
blies large and small. political. social
and religious. He was noted for his
self command under any circum-
stances, but on one occasion he was
distinctly embarrassed and III at ease.
On this occasion Colonel Mcclure