From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 367-368.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOHN McLURE, SR.

Among the most prominent families of Wheeling is the McLure family.  
John McLure, Sr., came to Wheeling from Washington county, Penn., of 
which state he was a native, in 1806, and purchased considerable 
property, and also engaged in the mercantile business.  He became the 
president of the Old North Western bank, of Virginia, the first bank 
to be organized in Wheeling.  He was also extensively engaged in 
manufacturing, and was a whig member of the Virginia legislature.  
The McLure House, the most prominent hotel in the state, was erected 
by him.  In this day, John McLure, was one of the leading citizens of 
Wheeling, his death occurred in 1874, in his ninety-first year.  
Abdel McLure, father of the above, was born in Pennsylvania, and came 
to Wheeling in 1806.  His children were:  Andrew, John, Robert and 
James, Anna (Carr), Jane and Mary (Wilson), all deceased.  Andrew 
McLure was a contractor and merchant, he died in 1840, having reached 
his eighty-first year.  John McLure, Jr., the principal of this 
biography, was born in Butler county, Penn., January 22, 1816, the 
son of Andrew, above mentioned.  Mr. McLure came to Wheeling when but 
four months old, and has since made his residence here, and has 
always cat his influence on the side of morality and improvement.  
When sixteen years of age he began an apprenticeship at the engine 
building, and was thus engaged during the years of 1833-34-35.  After 
completing his apprenticeship he became an engineer on the Ohio 
river, and soon began to acquire an interest in river navigation.  In 
1840 Mr. McLure became captain of a boat, and continued in this 
capacity until the close of the war.  He has built between eighteen 
and twenty boats which have plied at different times on the river.  
After leaving the river Capt. McLure turned his attention to real 
estate, and in 1873, became the owner of the McLure House, and also 
owns considerable property on Market street and in various portions 
of the city, and is largely interested in different enterprises in 
the Ohio valley and at Taylor, Texas.  In 1841, Elizabeth Campbell, 
of Wheeling, became his wife.  This estimable woman passed to her 
reward in 1881, leaving eight children to mourn their irreparable 
loss.  The children are:  Thomas, of Taylor, Texas; Harry W., 
proprietor of the McLure House; McBurnie, assistant secretary of the  
Fire & Marine Insurance company; John Jr., living with his parents; 
Pintie J., wife of Curran Mendal, of Texas; Juliet, and Bettie, of 
Wheeling.  Capt. McLure married for the second wife Eliza Jane Cecil.   
Mrs. McLure was born in Wheeling, in 1833.  The family are members of 
the Episcopal church, and is recognized as one of the oldest and best 
families in the state.  Capt. McLure is a republican.


(Linda Fluharty)