Finla L. MCCLURE

Male 1823 -


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  • Name Finla L. MCCLURE  [1, 2, 3, 4
    • "Portrait and Biographical Record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Illinois":

      FINLA L. MCCLURE This gentleman was born in Bath, Steuben Co., New York, November 17, 1823. He is the son of Finla and Hannah (Carpenter) McClure, who were married at Elmira, NY in 1808. His father Finla McClure, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America in 1793. Belonging to the race of Scotch Irish, so especially noted among the early settlers of America, he possessed the sterling qualities of mind and heart which enabled him to become one of the leading spirits in all enterprises of progress and reform in his locality. A deacon in the Presbyterian Church for nearly half a century; a prosperous farmer, with a heart susceptible to the keenest appreciation of the joys and responsibilities of domestic life, he left to his family the richest legacy of earth - a pure, noble, helpful life.

      Hannah (Carpenter) McClure was born at West Point, NY in 1788. Her ancestry were among the first permanent settlers of New York, sturdy sons of the church, who fled to this haven of refuge for the persecuted for conscience sake. her father, Matthew Carpenter, was a general in the War of 1812, and one of the founders of Elmira, NY.

      Mr. McClure's paternal grandfather, Finla McClure, Sr., was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1739, and his paternal grandmother was born in 1741. the former died in New York in 1812, and his widow followed him in 1818.

      In 1846 Finla L. McClure removed with his father's family to the then "far West," and settled in the little village of Elgin, where he still resides. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Levantia, daughter of R.W. Padelford, Esq., and of this union were bon two sons: Charles V, and Frederick, the latter of whom died in infancy. The wife was stricken by the hand of the "pale messenger" when barely upon the threshold of middle life. His second marriage was, in 1861, with Miss Fannie K. Wilder, by whom is one child - Bertha B. Mrs. Fannie K. McClure is a daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Davis) Wilder, the father a native of New York, and the mother of Massachusetts. They were married in New York, and came to Illinois in 1845, making a long overland journey, and finally locating in Dundee Township, Kane County; he died in 1864, and his widow in 1887 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. McClure's ancestors on the mother's side were direct descendants from the Puritan stock, and were men and women of sterling qualities, honest, industrious, cultured, righteous and God-fearing people. her grandfather was a prominent man in the Revolutionary War, shouldering his musket at the first call for minute men. Her father, who was of English descent, was a soldier in the War of 1812.

      Elgin has long since taken its place among the cities of the West, and for over forty years Mr. McClure has been closely connected with many of its business interest. He built and tilled the first icehouse, from which ice was either shipped or delivered about town, and continued in the business both retail and wholesale, until the past tow years. He caused to be made the first eight-gallon milk can ever used in Elgin, and kept up a route in the city, also shipped milk to Chicago for years. He has lived to see both these industries increase from the above mentioned insignificant beginnings to their present enormous proportions. The ice business now uses a large amount of capital, furnishes employment to thousands, and provides an unlimited amount of ice for shipping purposes. The dairy interests of the Fox River Valley now take the lead of all agricultural pursuits, and the best milk and butter known in the markets are produced. The prices of their products on the Elgin Board of Trade each week are consulted in all parts of the commercial world.

      When the Elgin Packing Company was reorganized, Mr. McClure was one of the active and efficient promoters of the scheme for saving this to the other industries of Elgin, and from that time to the present he has been its business manager. The Elgin Packing Company has become one of the prosperous industries of Elgin, furnishing employment for many, and a ready market for various kinds of products.

      in connection with his other business interests Mr. McClure has for years carried on his farm, and may justly be classes with the successful agriculturists as well as with the business men of Elgin. He has served the people in the aldermanie councils of the city, and has for years been town trustee. Having no ambition for public emoluments, he has repeatedly refused to allow his name to be proposed for public office. he enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community, and is considered by many of the laboring class as a public benefactor, having in his business enterprises aimed, as far as practicable, to follow those industries which would furnish employment to the greater number. Mr. McClure and family are members of the Congregational Church. [1]
    Birth 17 Nov 1823  Bath, Steuben County, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1846  Removed to Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Census 1850  LIving in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Census 1860  Living in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Occupation 1860  Merchant Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Census 1870  Living in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinos Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Occupation 1870  Farmer Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Fact 9 May 1885  Gainesville, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Document #7581: Issued 73.73 acres of land 
    Religion Members of the Congregational Church  [1
    Death Phoenix, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Finla had built the first ice-house in Elgin and for many years, was business manager of the Elgin Packing Company.
    Person ID I38287  Main Tree
    Last Modified 3 Jul 2012 

    Father Finla MCCLURE,   b. Abt 1773, Londonderry, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1860, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Hannah CARPENTER,   b. 1788, West Point, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage 1808  Elmira, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F05969  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Levantia PADELFORD,   b. 02 Mar 1829, Buffalo, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Aug 1859, Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 30 years) 
    Marriage 04 Jan 1849  Kane Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 9
    Children 
    +1. Charles Vincent MCCLURE,   b. 14 Oct 1849, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Mar 1932, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)
     2. L. Frederick MCCLURE,   b. 25 Sep 1851   d. 1852 (Age 0 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F05448  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Fannie K. WILDER,   b. abt. 1838, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 25 Nov 1861  Kane County, Illinos Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Children 
     1. Bertha B. MCCLURE,   b. abt. 1867, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F05970  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Jul 2012 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 17 Nov 1823 - Bath, Steuben County, New York Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 04 Jan 1849 - Kane Co., Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1850 - LIving in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1860 - LIving in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 25 Nov 1861 - Kane County, Illinos Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1870 - Living in Elgin, Kane Co., Illinos Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - 1870 - Farmer Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFact - Document #7581: Issued 73.73 acres of land - 9 May 1885 - Gainesville, Florida Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S01981] Commemorataive Portrait and Biographical Record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Illinois.

    2. [S01853] Autobiographies Of Fox Valley Pioneers by Elgin Genealogical Society.

    3. [S02869] Old Elgin Tales, dated May 6, 1970 by Hazel Belle Perry.

    4. [S02465] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900.

    5. [S00152] 1850 Census Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.

    6. [S4821] 1860 Census Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.

    7. [S00435] 1870 Census Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.

    8. [S4871] Ancestry.com: Florida Land Records.

    9. [S02461] Illinois Marriages to 1850.

    10. [S4822] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900.