James McClure
Two miles northwest from Lexington in the sere of life lives James McClure, Esq., whose mind is rich in historical and thrilling legends of the Indians of this fertile region and of the political history of the primitive days of our grand commonwealth. This venerable gentleman, who was born 79 years ago four miles from that sublime architecture of nature, the Natural Bridge, Virginia, is amazed at the rich and busy marts which have sprung up as if by magic between rock-ribbed and sterile New England and the Pacific's golden strand. A few years after his birth his father removed to Chillicothe, but the blighting miasma of that region caused the family to direct their course farther westward, locating in Jefferson Township in 1809. When they in 1815 located on the site of the gentleman's present residence wild animals roamed in unfettered freedom, the Indians were the sovereigns of this prolific region and they were awed by their wild orgies, and little but the rude and sublime beauty of nature entranced their vision. Amariah Watson, whose ax was the first to break the silence of nature in troy and who first filled its virgin soil, had first erected a house in the solitude of the forest north of the village near the banks of the historic Mohican, and when the McClure family made their advent here there were but two houses in the village, one of which was erected by Amariah Watson on the site of the residence of Mrs. P. Colman, and the other was built by the father of Col. Cook. The memory of the name of Amariah Watson, who died more than 25 years ago, is revered by Col. Cook and Mr. McClure, who with nerves of steel and hearts of valor endured with him the trying ordeals incident to life in the early era of our broad domain. There was then not a single house between Lexington and Bellville, and in all our beautiful realm west of the cabin of the McClures where now is a marvelous civilization but four houses had been erected prior to their arrival. About the time of the arrival of the family in Troy the country was emerging victorious from the second conflict with England and the hearts of the settlers throbbed convulsively with joy at the brilliant achievements of Commodore Perry at Lake Erie and General Jackson at the Crescent City. Thomas Worthington, of Ross County, was then Governor of the State, and James Madison was Chief Magistrate of the Nation. Mr. McClure was an ardent admirer of the valor, the patriotism and the inflexible will of Andrew Jackson, and he voted for President first for that stern conservator of the constitution. Mr. McClure has a violent hatred of the crime of human vassalage, and the aggressiveness of the defenders of the blighting curse fired his heart with just indignation and caused him to early identify himself with the free soil party. He voted both times for Jackson, and he next cast his ballot for President for Van Buren. The campaign of 1840 was the most memorable in the annals of the country. The land was being lit, as it were, by the brilliancy of the matchless eloquence of Tom Corwin, and the venerable gentleman speaks with thrilling rapture of the enthusiasm inspired by the eloquence, the beautiful imagery and gems of wit and profound logic of that illustrious statesman. The gentleman has keen practical judgment and a clear conception of the social, scientific and political problems, which absorb the public mind, and the lightness of his spirits, the vigor of his step and the luster of his eyes indicate strong vitality and a much longer tenure of life.
From the Mansfield Herald, May 15, 1884, Vol. 34, No. 26