The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-06-17
VETERAN OF THE PEN
Colonel A. K. Mcclure, Who Was
a Power In Politics.
STRONG ALLY OF LINCOLN.
Last Survivor of Circle of Martyred
Presidents Advisers-Raised Seven
teen Regiments For Union Army In
Civil War-Odd Campaign Experience.

teen Regiments For Union Army In
Civil War-Odd Campaign Experience.
Colonel Alexander Kelly Mcclure,
prothonotary of the supreme and su-
perior courts of Pennsylvania and for
many years prominent figure in pol
itics and journalism, who recently died
at his home in Wallingford Pa, at the
age of eighty-one years, was the last
survivor of Abraham Lincoln's circle
of personal friends and intimate polit-
ical advisers. Lincoln once remarked
of him, ''Mr. Mcclure has more brains
than any man l know" and 1t has long
been conceded that excepting only Lin
coin himself Colonel Mcclure was the
man most responsible for his election
to the presidency in 1860 He was
chairman of the state committee or
PENNSYLVANIA at the time, and Pennsyl-
vania was 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. o. 1923. Schooled
upon farm. he was taught to be self
reliant, and after obtaining meager
book education he was apprenticed, at
the age of fourteen years, to tanner.
During this apprenticeship. which last
ed three years, he made frequent visits
to the Office of 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
became editor of the Juniata Sentinel
a new Whig organ, much against the
wish Of his father. With the aid only
of an apprentice Mr.. Mcclure, wh'
was Their but nineteen years old, go
out the paper, and his caustic pen sooI
won for him n name, making as 1t dit
many friends and foes. During hi
early work upon the Juniata Sentine
he formed a warm friendship with An
drew G.. Curtin. afterward the wal
governor of Pennsylvania, and dislik'
for the political methods of Simol
Cameron.
Year by year he forged ahead In pol
tiles. becoming burgess of Miff1in ant
then deputy United States marshal
Then John NJ. Pomeroy purchased 10
him a half interest in the Chambers
burg Repository Mr.. Mcclure becam
its editor and made it one of the bes
known Journals IL the state. In 1S5
he was the Whig candidate for audito
general. being the youngest man eve
nominated for a state office In Penn
sylvania, and two years later he wa
q member of the convention that me
at PIttsburg and organized the re
publican party. In the following yea
he was q delegate to the national cor
yention that nominated Fremont 10
the presidency.
In 1853 Mr. Mcclure sold the Re
pository and quilted journalism for
time. He was soon afterward admit
ted to the bar, and the following yea
he was elected to the assembly an
afterward to the senate, on the latte
occasion succeeding Democrat VIII
had added $50 Democratic votes
the district by new apportloninenl
In 1860 he was appointed chairma
Of the Republican state central con
mittee. In that campaign he made ft
the first time in the state thoroug
organization In every county. tow'lshl
and precinct. and in the national col
vention he carried the state for LII
coin by winning over the delegate
who had been instructed for Simo
Cameron. At the outbreak OF the r
bellion Mr.. Mcclure was In the SCI
ate. and he was made chairman
the committee on military affairs.
Two years later he was solicited
President Lincoln and Secretary sta
ton to make the draft In Pennsylvani
md, with two clerks. he had the sta
snEolled, credits adjusted, draft mat