Joseph W. McClurg

Joseph Washington McClurg ( born February 22, 1818 St. Louis County, Missouri, † December 2, 1900 in London, Missouri ) was an American politician and from 1869 to 1871 the 19th Governor of Missouri. This state he represented also in the U.S. House of Representatives -

Early years

McClurg visited the Academy in Xenia Ohio and then also in Ohio the Oxford College. While he was working as a teacher in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, he studied the way Jura. Finally, he moved to Columbus, Texas, where he was admitted to the bar. There he also began to practice. In 1840 he received an appointment as clerk at the District Court in Columbus.

Political rise

In 1841 McClurg returned to Missouri. There he was engaged in trade; in 1837 he was sheriff in St. Louis County. In 1850 he followed the gold rush for two years and went to California. He then returned to Missouri, where he supplied as a dealer by driving settlers with goods. Politically McClurg was an opponent of slavery and joined the new Republican Party. In the years 1861-1863 he was a member of the pro-Union legislature of Missouri. At the same time he was a colonel in the Union army until he was in 1863 elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. There he remained 1863-1868. Colonel as he has set up a volunteer regiment in the Civil War. On November 3, 1868, he was elected governor of his state: With 56.7 percent of the vote he won against Democrat John S. Phelps.

Governor of Missouri

Joseph McClurg took up his new post on January 12, 1869. During his tenure, an immigration committee was established in Missouri. Two new schools were built and the state constitution amended so that the term of office of Governors has been reduced from four to two years. At that time both a State School of Mines and an agricultural school emerged. In the year 1870, McClurg applied unsuccessfully for reelection. Therefore, he had to resign from his post on January 4, 1871.

After the end of his tenure, McClurg drew largely withdrew from politics. He devoted himself to his own business interests, including now also included steamboats and lead mines. Between 1890 and 1894 he was employed by the Land Authority in Springfield. Joseph McClurg died in December 1900. He was married to Mary Johnson, with whom he had eight children.