"Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon." Portland, Oregon: A. G. Walling, publisher, 1884. pg. 485. HON. VINCENT S. McCLURE Was born in Knox county, Indiana, August 30, 1815, where he grew to man's estate and resided on a farm, at the same time receiving the education afforded by the schools of that period. On November 13, 1834, he espoused in matrimony, Sarah Bruce, who died in Lane county, April 26, 1858. With his good lady Mr. McClure crossed the plains with ox-teams by way of Laramie, Fort Hall, etc., and at Malheur, diverting from the old road they -- four families, among whom were the brother of our subject James F. McClure, and the Bonds, Allen and William, both of this county -- essayed a new route over the Cascade mountains. Now hardships followed each other in rapid succession; such dangers that are incredible to those who live at home in luxury and ease. To such a straight were our party brought that they were compelled to sacrifice their cows in order to obtain food. Each recurring day saw their stock of groceries decrease -- the last animal was eaten without a pinch of salt, while the other necessaries but too surely faded away. At long last the happy day on which they crossed the summit of the Cascades came. They saw the shining Willamette coursing placidly through the lovely valley to which it gives its name; they followed its unerring course, ultimately found themselves on the beautiful prairie that has Eugene City for its center and Mr. McClure settled about eight miles west from that town. Here he took up a donation claim, made many improvements thereon and there dwelt until 1862. In the meantime, on October 16, 1859, he married Mrs. Sarah Scott Benson, and with her, in 1862, took up his residence on her property situated two miles and a half north from Eugene City, where he has since dwelt, still retaining, however, his own original claim. Mr. McClure's family consists of three children -- two girls and one boy. Mrs. McClure too, has had her share of pioneer experiences. The year 1849 found her at Salt Lake City, in one of those innumerable companies of argonauts bound to California in search of the golden fleece. That to which she belonged was under the captaincy of Jerome B. Geer, who, learning that the grass had been burned along the route, changed his plans and determined to push for Oregon, for which little known country they set out in the spring of 1851. The stay in Salt Lake was not without its excitements, for the Mormons, on hearing that Mr. M. H. Harlow, her brother -in-law, was from La Fayette county, Missouri, they took him prisoner threatening, not only to kill him but to slay all the men of the party, retaining the women and children. Happily they were dissuaded from perpetrating this inhuman crime and the immigrants permitted to proceed on their way. Arriving in Oregon in June, 1851, that year she took up her abode on the property where she now resides, happy in her family relations. Mr. McClure was elected to the legislature in 1862, serving for one term, and giving satisfaction to his constituents who still for him that regard which is the reward of honest integrity and uprightness. An excellent view of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. McClure will be found elsewhere in this work. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.