Biography

"James McClurg was bom [born] in Ireland, and, when a youth, removed with 
his family to America. His father took an active part in the famed Irish Re- 
bellion which culminated about the year 1797 or 1798, the object of which 
was deliverance from Irish grievances. The failure of this object is said to 
have been the cause of their removal to this country. They first settled in 
Philadelphia, whence they removed to Pittsburgh, where the father and son 
became extensively engaged in the iron foundry and furnace business. In 
1810, (?) James McClurg came to Westfield; and after the war of 1812 broke 
out, he returned to Pittsburgh and made cannon for the government at his 
iron works. These cannon, it is believed, were the first ever made in this 
country. After the war, he returned to Westfield, where he spent the remain- 
der of his life. He opened a small store, it is said, before he returned to 
Pittsburgh, which, some say, was the first in the town ; which, however, is 
doubted by others. He was afterwards, for many years, a merchant in West- 
field. He erected on or near the corner of what is now the common, a build- 
ing used by him a long time for a store. This is thought to have been the 
first frame building in the town. Mr. McClurg, Judge Campbell, and Geo. 
Hall, built the "Westfield Mill" in the village, where the old mill had stood. 
The Westfield House block and the McClurg brick block on South Portage 
street were built by him. He purchased what was known as the Eason farm, 
and divided it into village lots, which now form an important part of the vil- 
lage. While thus investing money in real estate, he contributed to the growth 
and prosperity of the town. In an obituary notice it is said: "Business was 
his ruling ambition ; and he was quick to see and avail himself of remunera- 
tive enterprises. He took a lively interest in public affairs and public men, 
and frequently mentioned the fact of his having seen President Washington 
in Philadelphia, in his boyhood days. His religious convictions were of the 
Presbyterian order; and he was as exact in his observance of the sabbath as 
he was methodical in his business transactions." He died May 26, 1872, 
aged 87 years."