Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 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.
Colonel Alexander Kelly Mcclure.
prothonotary of the supreme and SUI
perior courts of Pennsylvania and for
many years Il prominent figure in pol
itics and journalism, who recently died
mt his home in Wallingford, Pa, a t the
age of eighty-one years, was the last
survivor of Abraham Lincoln's circle
of personal friends and intimate pollt-
ical advisers. Lincoln once remarked
of him, MIR. Mcclure has more brains
than any man | 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 Of
Pennsylvania at the time, and Pennsyl-
vaDia was the pivotal state. Colonel
McClurc's able management of the
campaign swung it 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. ., 1898. Schoolcd
upon farm, he was taught to be self
reliant, and after obtaining a meager
book education he was apprenticed ut
the age of fourteen years, to n 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 adj
vice he studied politics and occasional
ly wrote articles for publication.
Through Judge Baker he eventually
became editor of the Juniata Sentinel,
new Whix 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
out the paper, and his caustic pen soon
won for him a name, making as 1t did
many friends and foes. During his
early work upon the Juniata Sentinel
he formed n warm friendship with An
drew G. Curtin, afterward the war
governor Of Pennsylvania, and a dislike
for the political methods of Simon
Cameron.
Year by year he forged ahead in pol
itics, becoming burgess Of Miflin and
then deputy United States marshal
Then John NJ. Pomeroy purchased for
him half interest In the Chambers
burg Repository. Mr.. Mcclure became
its editor and made it one of the bes
known journals in the state. In 1853
he was the Whig candidate for auditor
general being the youngest man ever
nominated for Il state Office in Penn
sylvania, and two years later he was
a member of the convention that met
at pittsburg and organized the Re
publican party. In the following year
he was a delegate to the national con-
veution that nominated Fremont for
the presidency.
In 1893 ATr. Mcclure sold the Re
pository and Quilted journalism for n
time He was soon afterward admit
ted to the bar. and the following year
he was elected to the assembly and
afterward 10 the senate, on the latter
occasion succeeding Democrat who
had added $50 Democratic votes to
the district 10y a new apportionmcnt
In 1860 he was appointed chairman
Of the Republican state central com
mittee. In that campaign he made for
the first time in the state n thorough
organization in every county. township
and precinct and IN the national con
veution he carried the state for Lin
/ coin by winning over the delegates
who had been instructed for Simon
Cameron. vt the outbreak of the re
bellion Mr. Mcclure was IN the SEN
ate. and ne was made chairman Of
the committee on military affairs.
Two years later he was solicited by
President Lincoln and Secretary Stan
ton to 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
/ tary authority to 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 1869
/ Colonel Mcclure, Mt the special request
of President Lincoln. went to rhiladel-
phia to aid In or-"ni1iug and perfect
ING the organization for the presidcn-
her The same year Lees army, In its
invasion Of Pennsylvania, 4 destroyed
all his property. near Chambr.-hurg,