Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-08
Noted Publisher Passes Away Sud-
denly al His Home.
WAS FRIEND OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Rare and Notable Figure in Journals
tbs Ranks in the Early Days-Had
Sparse Education and Never Even
Learned 70 Parse a Sentence.

Alexander Kelly Mcclure, friend and
adviser of Lincoln, and a rare, notable
| figure in journalistic ranks in early
days. died suddenly at his country
home in Wallingford. aged 81 years.
He had been escorted from the sick
room 10 seat on the porch. when
Alfred Gratz, brother-in-law, greeted
him, asking about his health.
~You don't find me looking at my
best today" was the coloners reply.
How are you feelingg
| Before Mr.. Gratz could answer him.
Col. Mcclure dropped dead in the
chair. He had been in poor health for
year, and his condition had been
growing steadily worse during the
past two months
Alexander Kelly Mcclure was born
In Shermans Valley, Pa, January y.
1928. and spent his early years on his
fathers farm. With an elder brother,
he divided his time week about at a
country school whenever II was held.
and during his school days got no
further than long division IN arlth-
metic, and never learned how 10 parse
a sentence.
Had no Luck as a Tanner
In 1916 he made his first visit to
Philadelphia to get work as journey.
man tanner. He could get no job
there, and tramped to New York,
where his luck was no better He
worked his way West until he found
himself in Iowa, lAlt still his i'll luck In
the tanning business stuck to him.
He worked his way back East. and
| that fall, in spite of advice TO the con-
trary, he went into the printing bust
ness, starting with the Mifflin Senti-
mel, local paper. He then began TO
take an interest in politics. Soon he
became the owner of the paper, which
was a Wing Journal, getting IL out
alone, except for the assistance Of a
small boy. He disposed of his inter-
csts in the Sentinel In 1850. and put
his money In the Chambersburg re.
pository, OF which he became editor.
Ii became one of the widest known
anti slavery journals in Pennsylvania.
He was the Wing candidate for audi
tor general in 1858, being then the
youngest man ever nominated for a
State Office in Pennsylvania.
He was a member Of the convention
that organized the Republican party
in 1855 and in the following year was
a delegate to the national convention
that nominated Fremont for the pres
| idency. He sold the Repository in
| 1856. and was admitted TO practice at
the bar. He was sent to the legisla-
ture In 1S57-1S5S. and the next year
to the State senate.
Help Nominate Lincoln.
| lie was a delegate to the national
! convention in 1860. and played a prom
| inent part in inducing tn ePennsyl-
| van.a delegation to cast its vote for
Lincoln, though 1t had been instructed
| to vote for Cameron. He went to
Philadelphia to live in 1868, and took
I'D the practice OF law He was chair
man of the state delegation to the
national convention that in 1872 nomi-
mated Horace Greedy for the Presiden-
lcy.
! In 1873. with the late Frank Nc
I.aughiin. he established the Philsdel-
phia Times. with a capItaI of s50,oD.
| In less than ten years the property
was worth more than $f.00o.00O. Col
Mcclure retired from active journal
| ism In 1901. In 1908 he was made pro-
| thonotary of the Pennsylvania SUI
lpreme cour.. The only time he was
defeated for public Office was in 1878.
when he failed of election as mayor
of Philadelphia by very narrow mar
gin.
Col. McClure's pen was prolific. and
he wrote several books. in addition to
his work as editor. Among his works
| were Lincoln and Men OF War
Times" Our Presidents and How We
Make Them" "RecollectioBs of Half
ia Century and Old-time Notes Of
PENNSYLVANIA