Levi  McClure

MCCLURE, Jr., LEVI (1837~1914) Levi McClure, Jr., Confederate veteran, was born in Arkansas, possibly Hempstead County, in March of 1837, to Levi and Elizabeth (Archer) McClure. The second of two children, Levi, Jr. and his older brother, William, moved to the Republic of Texas with the family, circa 1841. In that same year, Levi, Sr. received a land grant in Medina County, but does not appear to have held onto the land for very long, as he later moved to the community of Black Jack Springs, in Fayette County.

After moving to Fayette County, Levi, Sr. and Elizabeth had, at least, two more children, a daughter, Martha, who was born in 1845, and a son, Albert, who was born in 1849. After the birth of Albert, Elizabeth died and Levi, Sr. married Denis Harrison Gage and had a daughter, Alvarina, who was born in 1852.

By 1860, Levi, Jr., was working as a laborer in Black Jack Springs until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Confederate Army. On April 15, 1862, he was mustered into Company E of the 11th Battalion of the Texas Volunteers, which was also known as Spaight's Battalion. The men served within the Department of Texas until the spring of 1864, when they were merged into the 21st Texas Infantry Regiment. With this regiment, Levi served with Company B in the Trans-Mississippi Department. This regiment was stationed at Sabine Pass, but was later moved to Louisiana. However, before the Confederate surrender in June of 1865, the regiment returned to Texas and disbanded and was taken in custody as Confederate sympathizers. Levi, who, according to information provided by family members, had attained the rank of a 2nd lieutenant, was released from prison in July of 1865.

Much of Levi's life after the Civil War is currently unknown. Though it is believed that he returned to Fayette County, where worked as a farmer and married a woman by the name of A. Nickelburg. Apparently after her death, Levi moved to Austin to live with his step-sister, Alvarina North, and her husband, William. He appears to have stayed there until he was admitted into the Texas Confederate Home on July 4, 1900.

Claiming blindness as a disability, Levi lived at the Home until his death on October 22, 1914. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery that same day. Also buried in the State Cemetery is Levi's sister, Martha McClure Stagner King Russell Coleman. She was married to Confederate veteran, Henry Coleman, and is buried in Confederate Field, Section 2, Row W, Plot 36.

Information taken from: materials provided by descendant, Vickie O'Bannon; Compiled Military Service Record; National Park Service Website, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/; 1850, 1860, 1880, 1900 and 1910 U.S. Censuses; Confederate Home Roster and Death Certificate #21380.