Charles William McClure
Our dad, Charles William "Charley" McClure was born December 23, 1902, in either White or Cleburne County, Arkansas. He was the son of Dora Bannon "Dode" McClure and Eliza Julia Jones.
Charley's mother died when he was eleven years old. His father re-married a couple of years later. Charley and his siblings soon left home to live with neighbors and other family members.
Charley appears on the 1920 Van Buren County, Arkansas, census living in Culpepper Township with his sister Julie and her husband Major Jordon. He is listed as eighteen years of age. Also living with the Jordon family is Charley's eleven year old sister, Susie.
Charley married our mother, Velma Mae Branham, on April 11, 1928. Velma had just turned fourteen years old. Velma was born March 20, 1914, at Formosa, in Van Buren County. She was the daughter of James William Branham and Gertie Mae Adaline Gloden.
The 1930 Van Buren County census, Culpepper Township, shows Charley McClure, 27, married at 25, a farmer who rented his farm; Velma, 16, who married at 14; and their son Willie V., 2 months old. Living next door was Charley's sister and brother-in-law, Georgia and James Drake and family. Living nearby was his sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Elmer Smith.
All but the youngest of Charley and Velma's children were born and grew up at Formosa. Charley was a farmer, a sawmill worker, and worked on the WPA in Van Buren County for a time.
Charley moved his family to the Hannaford Community, west of Morrilton, in Conway County, Arkansas, about 1948. He farmed for a time in Conway County. Charley and Velma taught their children to work from an early age. The children grew up working in the cotton fields of Van Buren and Conway Counties. Velma worked for a time at the hospital in Conway County.
Charley died March 7, 1976 and is buried in McGhee Cemetery, near Adona, in Perry County, Arkansas. Velma died March 12, 1987 and is buried beside her husband.
Children of Charley McClure and Velma Branham
1. Gracie Lillian McClure, b. Feb 16, 1929, Formosa, Van Buren Co, AR; d. Feb 28, 1929, Formosa; buried Culpepper Cemetery in Van Buren Co.
2. Willie Virgil McClure, b. 1930, Van Buren Co, AR
3. Dorothy Lea McClure, b. Van Buren Co, AR
4. Charlene McClure, b. Van Buren Co, AR
5. Darrell Benjamin Franklin McClure, b. Van Buren Co, AR
6. Bobbie Dean McClure, b. 1941, Van Buren Co, AR
7. Jo Ann McClure, b. 1944, Van Buren Co, AR
8. D J McClure, b. 1946, Van Buren Co, AR
9. Roy Leonard McClure, b. 1948, Conway Co, AR
The music you are hearing is Grandfather's Clock.