Thomas Clarendon McClure, for over a quarter of a century a leader in St Cloud affairs, was born in Waldo, Maine, March 17, 1827, son of Thomas and Betsy Armour McClure. The father, Thomas, fought in the War of 1812; the grandfather, James McClure Jr. was a captain in the Revolutionary war; and the great grandfather James McClure came from the north of Ireland and settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire. As a boy and youth, Thomas Clarendon McClure worked on the home farm, attended school for a while, and taught school. In 1853 he went to Millbury, in Worcester county, Mass., and engaged in the leather business. It was in 1857 that he made his first visit to the Northwest. After looking about, he located in St. Cloud. It was here that he became identified in 1857 with Henry C Waite, an attorney. Mr McClure had received some knowledge of law in the East and the two young men started in business together doing a little law work but for the most part dealing in land and land warrants. In 1859, the young men started a small private bank, the oldest bank in Stearns county, in a room over a store. In 1860, when Mr McClure became register of the United States land office, Mr Waite took over the bank. In 1864, when Mr Waite succeeded Mr McClure in the land office, Mr McClure went back to the bank, a line of activity in which he was more or less interested for the remainder of his life. In 1866, Mr McClure engaged in the milling and lumber business at Sauk Centre. For a time Alexander Moore was his partner. At the time of his death, Mr McClure was still engaged in the wholesale lumber trade in partnership with NP Clarke under the firm name of Clarke & McClure. The company had yards and factories at St Cloud and Minneapolis and yards at Manitoba as well as a sawmill two miles from Perham in Otter Tail county. With his milling, lumbering, and banking, he was also a farmer having thousands of acres of farm lands in Stearns county as well as much unimproved land throughout Northern Minnesota. He was elected to the legislature of 1858, but the session was never held. Mr McClure died August 14, 1881. This brief sketch gives but a meagre idea of what Mr McClure meant to the city and state. Shrewd in business, upright in character, a loyal friend and prominent citizen, he left an impress on the life of the community that has not yet been eradicated. Farseeing, untiring, he represented the best type of the successful capitalist of the early days. At the time of his death, the newspapers were filled with appreciations of his life work and character. In December, 1859, Clara S Clark became his wife. She was a native of Worcester, Mass., but at the time of her marriage was living in St Cloud. Mr and Mrs McClure had six children; Clara L (deceased), Clarendon P (deceased), Thomas S, Caroline M, Alice C, and John Otis (deceased). Clarendon P was drowned while surf bathing in California in 1907. He married Jean O Hayward and they had two children: Clara L (deceased) and Delphine G. Thomas S married Ada Snow and lives in Minneapolis. Caroline married Warren H Freeman, a son of Daniel H Freeman. Mr and Mrs Freeman live in the McClure homestead, a picturesque mansion overlooking the Mississippi and surrounded with spacious park like grounds. Alice C married Delroy Getchell and they have one son, Bayard McClure. They live in Medford, Oregon. John Otis McClure died in 1910 at Medford, Oregon.
