Judge Harold Murray McClure
Professional Baseball Player, Judge.
Beers history further records:
"HAROLD M. McCLURE, of Lewisburg, Union county, who has held the office of President Judge of the Seventeenth District since 1891, is one of the youngest judges in the State, but his acute and well-disciplined mind places him among the best of our able judiciary, and his decisions are marked by sound logic and a thorough knowledge of precedents.
Judge McClure is a native of Union county. He was born in Lewisburg, August 8, 1859, but his boyhood was mainly spent in Northumberland, and he attended the public schools of that town.
In 1871 he returned to Lewisburg and took a course in Bucknell University, graduating in 1877 with the degree of A. B., to which he added, in 1880, the Master's degree.
Always an ardent participant in athletic sports while a student at the University, his unusual skill as a ball player attracted the attention of the managers of professional teams, and brought to him tempting offers to accept engagements. At this time an inviting salary was of great consideration, promising the means of aiding him in his law studies. He entered the professional ranks with John M. Ward, playing with the Athletics of Philadelphia, the Binghamton, Syracuse, Rochester, and Boston clubs. He was at the time regarded as one of the best catchers and most accurate throwers in the country, always remaining cool and deliberate in the most exciting games.
After traveling over a large part of the United States, including the Pacific coast, he left the field and commenced his preliminary course of reading at Sunbury, Penn., and in June, 1S81, was admitted to the Bar. He at once began the practice of law at Sunbury, three years being spent with his preceptor, before he opened an office of his own.
His abilities commanded recognition from the first, and in 1891, as has been said, he was elected President Judge, a post which he fills efficiently. The admiration gained by his mental ability is augmented by .his high character as a man of pure life and correct ideals, and his popularity is not limited to any class.
The contest preceding his election to the Bench was in many respects a most remarkable one. Called from Northumberland county, in another district, to fill a place on the Republican ticket made vacant by the withdrawal of a candidate, facing discouragement on all sides from the active politicians, and an almost unanimous partisan press, both Democratic and Republican, due to the belief that the task was a hopeless one.
Judge McClure entered the field, placing his sole reliance upon his faith in the people who said they wanted a candidate. The result demonstrated how skillfully he managed his campaign, and how well his confidence had been placed.
After a contest that has become part of the political history of Central Pennsylvania, he defeated his opponent and reversed a Democratic majority in the judicial district of 2, 199, received by Judge Bucher ten years before, to a majority of 406 for himself. The faith the people had in Judge McClure, as recorded at the polls in this memorable contest, has been vindicated in the most satisfactory and gratifying manner. They have found in him a dignified and upright man, though
modest and affable, while his able and impartial decisions and prompt dispatch of business meets and exceeds the expectations of those most ardent in their advocacy of his election.
Judge McClure married Anna Margaret Focht, the sister of Congressman B.K. Focht. They had two children, James Focht McClure, & Margaret who married Howard Coelkler Fisher.
He was elected to the bench in 1891 and served for twenty years.
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