The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1914-01-22
CAREER OF W. Il. MCCLURE


vice of the First Baptist church last
Wednesday night 1t was requested by
those present that Rev. Ilsley. pas
tor OF the congregation. write an obit-
uary OF the late William II. Mcclure.
one OF the charter members of the
church, and the following biographi-
cal sketch is from his pen and was
published in The Messenger this
morning:
In the death OF Mr.. Mcclure this
community loses one of its most en-
terprising pioneer citizens and the
First Baptist church one OF its char
ter members. This life which would
have rounded out full seventy-seven
years on the day its body is to be
consigned TO the dust was full of va
ried activities.
Born into a family OF four in
Pulaski county. Ky. in the year 81 he
knew all OF the privations of pioneer
life. AS lad our brother moved with
the family to Gosport. Indiana. and
little Baptist church holding its
meetings in a farm house. Later in
Appan0ose county he was a member OF
the church meeting at the home OF Mr..
Levi Warford. father of Mrs. j. f.
Mcclure. In May, 1864, that little
church OF twenty members. including
its pastor. a Mr. Osborne. granted
letters to one and all and the entire
membership augmented to a company
of forty by the addition OF children
and others started by OK team for the
far west. By easy stages they came.
wagons drawn in a circle by night,
resting fro mtrayel on the Lords day.
ard holding their accustomed worship.
The company reached Canon City
on August 13. OF that year. and en-
eamped on what is now River street.
So large body OF people coming into
this little valley at once startled the
styled "Resurrectionists." W. H.
Mcclure, at the time OF his arrival
here twenty-six years. seven months
old. soon opened a store in partner
ship with his brother j. E.. next to the
corner where now stands the Fremont
County Bank. In the upper room OF
this building the Appanoose county
members organized the First Baptist
stituent members only two now sur
vive. Mrs. J. Z. Mcclure and Mr.. ].
b. Callan. of Beaver Greek.
Brother Mcclure Was identified with
almost every activity OF the town
from its earliest days. He was a
charter member OF the Masonic lodge
here. He built the Strathmore and
other large buildings In the 70's and
was one OF the commissioners who laid
out Main street from 18th to 4-Mile.
The early interest which the boy of
fourteen manifested in religious
things by walking seven long miles
of country roads to church. stayed
with the man of mature years and was
the solace of life's decline. His ac-
customed seat in the SANITARY now
vacant will long be remembered as
well as his testimony and prayer in
the mid-week services.
Brother Mcclure was by nature,
like Isaac Of old. preeminently seer
rather than man of affairs. He ever
saw visions OF greater usefulness for
the church. He loved his Masters
kingdom and dreamed dreams of her
triumph.
In his life among men that tenden-
cy to see visions OF advancement not
merely for himself but for the COM
munity led sometimes to errors OF
Judgment. The mistakes of his life
were not those OF interest. but large
ly dreams unreaiized.
dis sorrows were many. not alone
shattered hopes. but one by one
Brother Mcclure saw his loved ones
lAd away-flrrt the wife OF his youth
in 81. and then one and another of
sis loved children. eight out OF ten.
WAsu he mournsd in death. five after
hey had reached maturity.
The vexations Of life seemed but
TO srectca the face of him whose gen.
De misn and tender voice will long
hAger In our memory.
May the God Of comfort comfort the
0Aew ssa daughters and be near to
- brother aow left alone and teach
rs ever 70 pray.