| Newspaper | Cassville Republican |
|---|---|
| Date | May 28, 1896 |
| Headline | John A. McCluer Life Sketch |
| Text | John A. McCluer: The subject of this sketch was born Nov 15, 1816, near Paris, Richland Co., Ohio. His parents were of German and Irish descent. His father was born about 1790 in Rockbridge Co., Va., his mother in Pennsylvania. His early youth was an eventful one. At the time, the county was inhabited to a great extent by Indians and wild beasts, such as deer, turkeys, bears, etc. Here is where he attempted his first school; here he developed tact that afterwards proved him efficiently as a teacher - not particularly as a learned scholar, but as a judge by human nature, the key, as he says, to success in the school room. About this time his father moved to near Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, where the logs still lay in the streets as they were felled by the ax. Here he learned the Indian art of dressing deer skins, which at that time they were obliged to wear as shoes and clothing. He also learned the art of making the old fashioned lye hominy, which was the staff of life when the water mills were not 'running'. Here he attended the first Sunday school and saw the first wedding. As an incident of the wedding, his father ordered him to drive home a neighbor's cows and return if not too late. On getting there he learned that his school teacher was to be married that night and naturally concluded it was too late to return. At the age of nine years, he commenced the profession of ox driving and became to adept at the business. As an anecdote he relates this, which happened at his father's: A Mr. Carr, a neighbor, who was an eastern man assisting on the farm and a dear lover of pig meat, doubling his ability to eat raccoon meat saw a raccoon that his father had killed lying on the door step late in the evening. Another neighbor had sent a piece of fresh pig meat, which Mr. Carr did not know of a portion of which was cooked for breakfast. Coming in as breakfast was ready next morning, he took his meat with others. All understood the situation but himself. He was asked to leave a bit of the coon and the invitation accepted. He cut off a bit and began chewing. The longer he chewed the bigger it got. He arose from the table and threw it out the door saying he could not go that. After a hearty laugh by all, he sat down and ate a hearty breakfast from the same dish. The year he was twelve years old his father moved to near Lexington, Richland Co., Ohio, and spent the winter, he going to school and beginning the study of Murray's Primary Grammar, memorizing and reciting all that the teacher required and the reviewing at the close. Although he was successful in his memorizing and recitations in grammar, he claims, he did not understand his rudiments showing that a child can commit to memory and recite and at the same time not understand the study. In his 18th year his father moved to Belleville, Ohio. His father being in poor health, the labor of the farm devoted to a great extent, on him. Although young, he was equal to the occasion. He remembers well the great meteoric shower or called that day, "falling of the stars." while they apparently fell, they vanished before reaching the earth. He was at the grandmother's when this occurred, being on a trip to the lake in market. On returning the ox team, dressed in an old jeans round-about, despicable with the mud, ox driver style, he saw standing in the door, Miss Clarinda Nase for the first time, who, as future events proved, became his wife. In the spring of 1837, his father again sold out, preparatory to moving to Missouri. This even hastened the union with Miss Nase, which took place Oct 22, 1837, near Gallon, Ohio, and on the 24th day of the same month, they started for Missouri. Nov 24, they stopped to winter in Perry Co., Ills. Here an event occurred which changed the program. His father being a pronounced anti-slavery man, decided not to go to Missouri as Mr. Lovejoy, a prominent anti-slavery editor, was murdered in Alton, Ills., for his anti-slavery sentiment, by a mob from Missouri. In August 1838, his father moved to Jackson Co. Ills. Here, in the same month, an event occurred that changed the destines of the whole family, the death of his mother. In the fall of 1839 his father took three of the children and went back to Ohio, leaving James J. and George Z. with John A. to buffet with the hardships and privations of a frontier life without relatives or near neighbors to rely upon for any help. Here John A. cleared up a large farm and raised a family of twelve children, eleven of whom lived to be grown and married, and by his sterling qualities as a husband and neighbor formed a character which proved him to be one of the best citizens, he often being called the peace maker. Here in 1841, he taught his first school, at the earnest request of his neighbors, boarding five of the scholars free in order to make up the school. He taught school in a cabin with only one small window. The seats were puncheon with wooden pins for legs. Nine of the pupils were in their A. B. C. 's. In those days schools were taught by subscription. The law allowed the trustees to examine the teachers. He relates this incident: The trustees had met at the school house to examine the teacher, who had just begun his term. On entering he house the teacher said: "Gentleman, I am at your service." After waiting a few moments he again said, "Gentlemen, I am at your service." When one of them said: "Let us retire to that log." After all were seated the teacher again said: "I am at your service." When one said" "Stand up." He did so. "Turn around." When he did. The trustee then said: "As you can outrun, out jump or whip any scholar in this district you are therefore qualified to teach this school." He continued to teach at intervals, until he thought others were better qualified. He never took an active part in polices until the war of the rebellion, when he took a strong stand for the union, enlisting in the Union Army August 1862, in Co. D. 81 Ills. Inf. and was discharged for disability December 1864. He has been a member of the G. A. R. since 1883. In April, 1843, he and his wife untied with the Missionary Baptist Church and traveled along as church members without censure or reproof until his companion's death, June 16, 1893, she being 75 years, 6 months, and 7 days old. An uncommon incident is that he and his wife lived together happily for 56 years, and his brother James J., attended his wedding and also his golden wedding and they attended James' wedding and golden wedding. During this time he was engaged in Sunday School work, organizing and encouraging Sunday schools up to the time of his ordination as a minister, which occurred in 1875. He served as pastor of the Pleasant Hill church in Jackson Co., Ills., until 1882 when he and his wife moved to Cherokee Co., Kan. Soon after they united with the Missionary Baptist at Centre, in that county, where he now belongs. His companion died in Barry County and is buried at Mineral Spring, near which place he has several children. He is a man of more than ordinary strength and energy for one of his age, blessed with a numerous progeny and it is with pleasure that he recites the fact that they all respect him and are all willing and ready to do what they can to make the pathway of life as pleasant as possible for him in his declining years. He has ten children living, fifty-one grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. |
| Resource | State Historical Society of MO Microfilm |
| Submitted by | Donna Cooper |
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