The McClure memorial consists of a large obelisk surrounded by smaller stones. Interments include those of:

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Abdiel McClure, (1816 – 1887) and his spouse, Anne "Annie" Wiles (Risher) McClure, (1818 – 1895);

 

Their children:

1. Sarah Risher (McClure) Taylor, (1839 – 1922);

2. Matthew L. McClure, (1841 – 1912) and his spouse, Hannah S. (Read) McClure, (1842 – 1919);

3. Martha Denny McClure, (1844 – 1927);

4. Daniel Risher McClure, (1846 – 1938) and his spouse, Mary Ellen (Gleadall) McClure, (1847 – 1905), along with their infant son, (1877);

5. William Edgar McClure, (1849 – 1853);

6. Susan Elizabeth McClure, (1854 – 1862);

7. Otto Munson McClure, (1857 – 1863)

8. Jennie (Ramsey) McClure, (1855 – 1879), wife of John Henry McClure (son of Abdiel and Annie McClure, buried elsewhere), and their son, Joseph Ramsey McClure, (1879 – 1889).

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Abdiel McClure

The McClure family history begins after John McClure, Sr., born 1723,(buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery, West Mifflin), moved to the greater Pittsburgh area in the 1760s from Carslisle, PA. Having inherited much land and a manor house from his father who had purchased nearly 6,500 acres from the Penn family, John became a well-known and successful Pittsburgh merchant. He received a contract to supply Fort Pitt through government favor, and managed the abandoned Fort McIntosh located in Beaver, PA. Through his supply line, he amassed a fortune through trading with local Native Americans. For $262, he purchased nearly 330 acres of land, called "Amity," which is now what we know as the entire borough of Homestead, the steel works area, and a portion of the borough of Munhall. When John was killed in 1811 allegedly by the Native Americans he had traded with, his land was willed in succession from his son, John M. McClure (buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery, West Mifflin), to his grandson, Abdiel McClure. Abdiel is credited with the creation of the Homestead area, by dividing and parceling his land into 60x120 foot lots. His business, the Homestead Bank and Life Insurance company, was responsible for marketing and selling the lots to those looking to escape the polluted downtown areas and create a peaceful suburban community.

 

Among the parcel that he kept for himself, he built a lumber planing mill which he ran until his death, and wisely set apart building lots for churches and schools. Of note, the land currently housing the Homestead United Presbyterian Church on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Ann Street, was donated by Abdiel, a charter member of the Church. In 1880, the 113 acre area, along with an additional 100 acres of land purchased from the West family by the Bank, was formally incorporated as the borough of Homestead, named after the McClure "homestead" of over 100 years. Another tract of land was purchased in 1881 by Andrew Kolman, who went on to build the Pittsburgh Bessemer Steel Works. This mill was the beginnings of the steel boom that Homestead would be noted for by the turn of the century.

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According to his entry in the 1889 History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Abdiel was "a man of unusual ability. His influence was felt in religious and business matters, and he was universally loved and respected. In political circles he was recognized as an upright, honest gentleman. He was a republican, and held the office of county recorded from 1863 to 1866. In the latter part of his life he identified with temperance reform and was an earnest worker and supported of that cause. After his term of office as recorded expired, he farmed the "Homestead," and also became interested in a wholesale business in Pittsburgh...His life was an example worthy of emulation. He was a quiet and thoughtful man, of a just and peaceful disposition, honest and equitable in the extreme. He was justice of the peace a number of times, and he was often chosen to settle estates. He was an earnest Christian and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church." Abdiel married Anne Wiles Risher, born 14 Dec 1818, and had eight children.

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Matthew L. McClure

Matthew was a son of Abdiel and Anne McClure. The 1889 History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, writes that Matthew was "born at Homestead, Dec. 24, 1841, where he received his education and learned the trade of carpenter. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 14th P. C., and served with his regiment under Gens. Hunter, Averill and Sheridan in the Army of Western Virginia. At the close of the war, he returned home, and was clerk for his father in the county recorder's office; then engaged in the lumber business in Pittsburgh." He married Sarah S. Read of Union City, PA, on September 13, 1866, and had two children, Abdiel R. and Florence L. McClure. He served as a councilman and assessor of Homestead. According to his 1912 obituary, he had been a member of the Alexander Hays Post No. 3 G. A. R. and of the Union Veteran Legion.

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Daniel R. McClure

Daniel was a son of Abdiel and Anne McClure. The 1889 History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania writes that Daniel was "born at Homestead, Oct. 17, 1846; is a graduate of Duff's College. He also attended the Penn Institute. He was a deputy county recorder two years. After traveling for his health he accepted the position of bookkepper for the old Fort Pitt Bank. He ranks among the leading business-men of Homestead, has taken an active interest in anything that is of benefit to that town, and has been councilman four years. Mr. McClure is a director of the First National Bank, and president of the Homestead Building & Loan association." He married Mary Ellen Gleadall on February 22, 1876, and had three children, Daniel R., Mary G., and Robert M. McClure. He died on 23 Aug 1938 in Los Angeles, CA, following a month-long illness.

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The McClure's namesake roadway, McClure Street, connects E. 6th Avenue to 22nd Avenue in Homestead. Amity street, which connects E. Waterfront Drive to E. 12th Avenue, is the namesake of the Amity area purchased by John McClure, Sr.

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Information sources:​

• Barkes, Kevin. “Cemetery Bares Famous Names, History.” 5 Dec. 1973, pp. 7–7.

• Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889, Part 2, p. 279-280, 577)

• Leftwich, Mariruth. “Smithsonian Learning Lab Resource: Chapter 1: Plans for a New Community.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access, 10 Jul. 2017, https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/XLjFBfsXExXLw5Yh#r/153798

• Meinert, Norman J. “HOMESTEAD CEMETERY 2257 Main Street Homestead, PA 15120 (412) 461-1818.” Homestead Cemetery, Homestead, PA, 5 Dec. 2012, sites.rootsweb.com/~njm1/08Homestead.html.

• Rishel, Joseph F. "Founding Families of Pittsburgh: The Evolution of a Regional Elite 1760-1910. University of Pittsburgh Press. 1990.

• Vojtko, Margaret Mary. “In Memoriam Homestead Cemetery - 1896-1986.” The Valley Mirror, 8 Jan. 1987, pp. 8–12.