John C[hambers]. McCLURG, recorder of Ringgold County, Iowa, is a native of Carroll County, Indiana, born November 22, 1840, a son of A. J. and Isabel (CHAMBERS) McCLURG, his father a native of Cumberland County, Tennessee, and his mother of Ohio, a daughter of John CHAMBERS. His father was one of the first grand-jurors of Ringgold County, Iowa. The parents moved to Monroe County, Iowa, where the mother died, in the spring of 1855, and the father subsequently moved to Ringgold County and located on a farm in Washington Township, where he died in 1879.

The family consisted of four children, John C. being the eldest son. When thirteen years old he was afflicted with bone erysipelas, which destroyed the bone in the upper part of his right arm, leaving about four inches entirely boneless. When seventeen years old he began working on a farm, and followed that vocation until 1882, when he was elected to his present office and moved to Mt. Ayr, assuming the duties of his office January 1, 1883. He was re-elected to the same office in 1884, having proved himself a reliable and efficient public servant. He has served seven years as justice of the peace of Riley Township.

October 22, 1864, Mr. McCLURG was married to Mary J., eldest daughter of Abraham and Lucinda JOHNSON. They have a family of seven children - one son and six daughters.

Mr. McCLURG is a member of Mt. Ayr Lodge, No. 169, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

NOTE: John's father Andrew Jackson McCLURG was born in Blout County, Tennessee, and died on March 8, 1879, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, with interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery near Mount Ayr. Andrew married Isabella M. CHAMBERS on September 8, 1835, Carroll County, Indiana. Andrew married 2nd on December 27, 1859, Monroe County, Iowa, to Susan ANDREW. Susan was born in 1816, and died in 1877, with interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery near Mount Ayr, Iowa. John C.'s grandfather John McCLURG, born June 27, 1776, Chanceford Township, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Mary "Polly" McCLURG, and died in 1848 in Carroll County, Indiana. John C.'s grandmother Hannah (BELL) McCLURG was born in 1777, Augusta, Rockingham County, Virginia, the daughter of Lawrence and Rebecca (YOCUM) BELL. Hannah and John McCLURG were married in Rockingham County, Virginia on March 18, 1799.

John Chambers McCLURG died April 4, 1891, from pneumonia at the age of 50 years. Mary Jane (JOHNSON) McCLURG was born December 30, 1840, the daughter of Abraham JOHNSON (1818-1890) and Lucinda (WOODS) JOHNSON (1819-1897). Mary Jane died July 3, 1896, aged 55 years. John and Mary were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. John and Mary were the parents of seven children, all born in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

1) Mildred Ann McCLURG, born 26 Oct 1864, Mount Ayr IA; died 12 Mar 1944, Union Co. IA, aged 79
    married 25 Feb 1884, Mount Ayr IA Joseph M. KEEFER, died 29 Apr 1897
    Mildred and Joseph interred at Harmony Cemetery near Shannon City, IA
    Child: Arthur Earl KEEFER, born 12 Apr 1885, Mount Ayr IA; died 28 Jun 1958, Creston IA
              interment Grove Chapel Cemetery, Kent IA
    Child: Homer LeRoy KEEFER, born 30 Aug 1888, Mount Ayr IA; died 14 Aug 1920, Union Co. IA
              interment Harmony Cemetery near Shannon City
    Child: Nina M. KEEFER, born 16 May 1890, Mount Ayr IA; died 07 Apr 1979, San Mateo CA
    Child: James Blaine KEEFER, born 30 Mar 1892, Mount Ayr IA; died 21 Dec 1971, Council Bluffs IA
              interment Graceland Cemetery, Creston IA
    Child: Josephine (KEEFER) CRAGO, born 05 May 1895, Union Co. IA; died 05 Oct 1981, Creston IA
    Child: Arch Lee KEEFER, born 11 Jul 1897, Union Co. IA; died 11 Dec 1951, Ontario CA

2) Cora McCLURG, born Feb 1868, Ringgold Co. IA; died age 60 in 1928, Clear Lake IA
    married 28 Dec 1892, Mount Ayr IA Albert SHROYER (1856-1941)
    Child: Clarence L. SHROYER, born 12 Feb 1893, Des Moines IA; died 01 Arp 1967, Vancouver WA
    Child: Lois Aprilla (SHROYER) THOMPSON JUHL
              born 21 Jun 1895, Des Moines IA; died 10 Feb 1960, Mason City IA
    Child: Clara L. (SHROYER) ALITZ
              born 24 Feb 1898, Des Moines IA; died 01 May 1953, Mason City IA
    Child: Harold C. SHROYER, born 31 Oct 1899, Des Moines IA; died 26 Apr 1986, Mason City IA
              interment Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City

3) Jennie May McCLURG, born 11 Feb 1869, Mount Ayr IA; died 25 May 1941, Mount Ayr IA
    married 31 Aug 1892, Creston IA Conrad HETZEL
    Child: Mary Irene (HETZEL) BRIDIE, born 30 Jul 1895, Mount Ayr IA; died 06 Nov 1966, Clarinda IA
    Child: Charles Albert HETZEL, born 14 Apr 1899, Creston IA; died 25 Feb 1981, Mount Ayr IA
    Child: Hary Dale HETZEL, born 05 Aug 1901, Creston IA; died 03 Jan 1980, Mount Ayr IA

4) Ida Alice McCLURG, born 31 Oct 1870, Mount Ayr IA; died 26 Apr 1954, Dodge City KS
    married 02 Aug 1903, Omaha NE John Demeatreus ELLIOTT (16 Jan 1849, IL - 24 Dec 1922, KS)
    Ida and John interred at Highland Cemetery, Ashland, Clark Co. KS
    Child: Alonzo Walter ELLIOTT, born 15 Dec 1890, Mount Ayr IA; died 06 Jun 1975, Oklahoma City
    Child: Leota Marguerite (ELLIOTT) BLAKELEY
              born 08 Oct 1896, Decorah IA; died 24 Dec 1982, Ashland KS
    Child: Demeatreus John ELLIOTT
              born 29 Jun 1905, Willard OK; died 16 Feb 1980, Hutchinson KS)
    Child: Amanda Mae (ELLIOTT) BROWN BAILEY
              born 12 Jul 1908, Buffalo OK; died 09 Nov 1979, CO

5) Lucinda McCLURG, born 05 Sep 1872, Mount Ayr IA; died 18 Nov 1961, Minneapolis MN
    married 07 Apr 1898, Des Moines IA Charles William SKINNER, born 1866, IA; died after 1930
    Child: Mary Margaret (SKINNER) HOYT
              born 15 Oct 1900, Des Moines IA; died 24 Dec 1984, Minneapolis MN

6) Charles Albert McCLURG, born 03 Jun 1876, Mount Ayr IA; died 01 Oct 1943, Mount Ayr IA
    interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold Co. IA

7) Florence "Ethel" McCLURG, born 22 Feb 1879, Mount Ayr IA; died 19 Jul 1926, Des Moines IA
    married 11 Dec 1895 Alonzo John RICHART, born 04 Apr 1871; died 11 Feb 1950
    Child: Florence Lucille (RICHART) DAVIS, born 05 Jul 1899; died 08 Nov 1919
    Child: Lawrence RICHART, born 25 Dec 1901; died 23 Jan 1925

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, p. 391, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z