Rumina (Ayres) McClure (abt. 1838 - 1919)

Born about 1838 in Ohio, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of John McClure — married 14 Oct 1858 in Wyandot, Ohio, United States

Died 20 Jan 1919 at about age 81 in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Rumina Ellen Ayres was born about 1838 in Ohio. She was the daughter of David Ayres and Abigail (Rice) Ayres. At the time of the 1850 Census, the family was living in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio. Her father worked there as a merchant.^[1] Her mother passed away when she was young, and her father remarried to Octavia Sutherland on 09 Apr 1850.^[2]

She married John McClure on 14 Oct 1858 in Wyandot County, Ohio.^[3] Together they had the following children:^[4]

1. Amy McClure (1860 - 1867)
2. Ayres McClure (b. 1862)
3. John McClure, Jr. (b. 1872)

At the time of the 1860 Census, they were living in Kalida, Putnam County, Ohio. Her husband was working as a printer.^[5]

Her husband joined the 57th Ohio Infantry Regiment on 27 Sep 1861, rising to the rank of Major. He was discharged on 21 Dec 1864, at the expiration of his term of service. Her brother, David Ayres, served in the same regiment.^[6]

Following the war, the family relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas. Her husband briefly operated a confiscated cotton plantation near Swan Lake in Arkansas County. He also briefly worked as an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, before being elected as a delegate to the 1868 Arkansas Constitutional Convention. Shortly thereafter, her husband was elected an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1868.^[7][8]

At the time of the 1870 census, the family continued to live in Little Rock. Her husband was a lawyer and Judge in the Arkansas Supreme Court.^[9] He was appointed Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1871 by General Powell Clayton, then the Reconstruction Governor of Arkansas.^[10][8] He resigned as chief justice on 30 Oct 1874, upon the adoption of the new state constitution.^[7]

In the early 1890s her husband was appointed as a supervisor of elections. Newspapers often referred to him as Poker Jack McClure, and complained of federal interference in Arkansas elections.^[11]

At the time of the 1900 census, the family was living at 321 Third Street in Little Rock, Arkansas with their two children, Ayres (38) and John Jr. (28), as well as two servants. Her husband was working as a lawyer.^[4]

At the time of the 1910 census, she was living in the same home with her husband, their 48 year old son Ayres, and two servants. Her husband continued to practice law.^[12]

Her husband passed away on 07 Jul 1915. He was buried at Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.^[13]

She passed away on 20 Jan 1919 at her home in Little Rock.^[14] She was buried at Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850." FamilySearch. Fri Sep 15 21:11:35 UTC 2023. Entry for David Ayres and Octavia R Ayres, 1850.
2. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016." FamilySearch. 29 September 2021. David Ayres and Octavia R. Sutherland, 1850.
3. ↑ "Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958." FamilySearch. 25 March 2020. Rumina Ayres in entry for John Mc Clure, 1858.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1900." FamilySearch. 9 March 2022. John McClure, 1900.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860." FamilySearch.
6. ↑ Ohio Roster Commission. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War on the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Compiled Under the Direction of the Roster Commission. Vol. 5. Akron, OH: Werner Co., 1886-1895. pp 129-130.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Reconstruction Day Chief Justice Dead: Judge John McClure, One-Time Swan Lake Planter, Made Chief Justice by Clayton." Pine Bluff Daily Graphic. Pine Bluff, AR. 10 Jul 1915.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} L. Scott Stafford. The Arkansas Supreme Court and the Aftermath of the Civil War. Vol. 23. Little Rock, AR: University of Arkansas, 2001. pp 362, 364-366.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1870." FamilySearch. 28 May 2021. John McClure, 1870.
10. ↑ "Reconstruction Judge is Dead: 'Poker Jack' McClure, Aged 81 Years, Was Once Chief Justice Arkansas Supreme Court." Paragould Soliphone." Paragould, AR. 16 Jul 1915.
11. ↑ "A Talk with Col. Fishback: He Makes a Few Remarks About McClure and His Force Bill." The Forrest City Times. Forrest City, AR. 04 Nov 1892.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1910." FamilySearch. Accessed 26 February 2023. John McClure, Little Rock Ward 7, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 131, sheet 13A, family 285, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 62; FHL microfilm 1,374,075.
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images accessed 26 February 2023, memorial page for Judge John “Poker Jack” McClure (4 May 1834–7 Jul 1915), Find A Grave: Memorial #3139115, citing Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Terri & Mark (contributor 46494310).
14. ↑ "Mrs. John McClure, Sr." Obituary. Arkansas Democrat. Little Rock, AR. 20 Jan 1919.
15. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images accessed 21 September 2023, memorial page for Rumina E Ayres McClure (22 Apr 1838–29 Jan 1919), Find A Grave: Memorial #115192929, citing Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by jwb (contributor 47891638).