Person:Martha Steele (24)

Obituaries of Martha (Steele) McClure

From "Renfrew Record Newspaper", Alva Ok. March 17, 1911:

Mrs. Martha McClure, mother of J.B. McClure of this city, died at her home in West Morgantown, West Virginia, March 2, aged 101 years, four months, and eight days.

From "West Morgantown Dominion Record:

Mrs. Martha McClure, widow of John W. McClure, who passed to the great beyond many years ago, died at the home of her grandson, Oliver McClure, of West Morgantown, at ten minutes past twelve o'clock, Thursday morning, March 2, 1911, because of the weakness incident to great age. Yesterday morning she sat in her chair for a time, though she was very feeble. She had a strong antipathy for her bed and refuse to take rest until the last. The funeral arrangements have not yet been completed. The body will be laid away in the cemetery at Rock Forge.

Martha Steel was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1809. Her father, John Steel, was born in the valley of Virginia, in 1769 and died in 1861. Her mother, Mary Hemphill, was born in Ireland in 1772, each aged about 92 years when they died. Her husband, John McClure was born in 1812, and they were married May 24,1835, in Greene County PA. They lived happily together until his death March 14, 1874 and she never remarried.

Mrs. McClure and others of the party, left Alva, Oklahoma, Wednesday morning and arrived in Morgantown, Friday evening, shortly after six o'clock, traveling almost constantly for two nights and three days. They went to St. Louis on the Sante Fe road, thence to Cincinnati on the Wabash, and from that point came to Morgantown on the B & O. Mrs McClure stood the tiresome journey apparently as well as any of the younger members of the party. She declared that she was not tired upon her arrival here yesterday evening and declined to take any rest until bed time last night. Until nine years ago, Mrs. McClure had never ridden on a railroad train. Since that time she has made the journey between Alva and Morgantown, six times, traveling in all nearly 12,000 miles.

She is survived by a daughter Mary, sons James B. of Alva Ok, William of Morgantown, Eleven grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren. One son, Oliver, died some years ago and whose widow lived with her.