Sarah McClure

Sarah McClure was born about 1841, in Conway County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Stephen McClure and Sarah Smith.

In 1849, Sarah's father acquired 160 acres of land near Quitman, in Conway County. He moved his family from the Greenbrier area where they had lived for several years. The 1850 Conway County census, Benton Township, Quitman Post Office, shows Sarah, age nine, living with her parents.

Sarah married Christopher C. Shipley on September 18, 1858, in Conway County. The marriage was performed by James M. Scarlett, a Methodist Protestant minister, and is recorded in Conway County Marriage Book 1, page 159. Christopher Shipley was born December 1835, in Tennessee, the son of James Harvey Shipley and Nancy (last name unknown). (Note: James Harvey Shipley later married Mary Elen (Scarlett) McClure, widow of Sarah's brother, Valentine McClure, who died in the Civil War.)

The 1860 Van Buren County, Arkansas census, Cadron Township, shows Christopher, 22, a farmer, and Sarah, 19. They were living next door to Christopher's parents.

Christopher served as a private in Co. H; 36 Confederate Ark. Infantry during the Civil War.

The 1870 Van Buren County census, Cadron Township, shows C. C., 30; Sarah, 28; Rachael E., 4; Mary Ann, 3 and Jesse M., 1 year old. They were living near Christopher's parents.

The 1880 Van Buren County census, Cadron Township, shows Christopher, 43, born in Georgia; Sarah, 40; Rachel, 19; Margaret, 18; Jesse M., 11 and Eugenia A., 2 years old.

Sarah McClure Shipley died between 1880 and 1900. Part of Sarah's family moved to Bell County, Texas during the mid 1880's. We do not know if Sarah died in Arkansas or in Texas.

The 1900 Bell County, Texas census, Precinct No. 4, shows Christopher, 64, born December 1835, in Virginia, a widower, living with his daughter Rachel and her family. Also living with the family was Christopher's youngest daughter, Jennie, age 22, born July 1877.

Christopher and Sarah's daughter Rachel died between 1900 and 1910, in Bell County, Texas.

The 1910 Bell County, Texas census, Precinct 4, shows Christopher, 72, still living with his son-in-law, Henry Helbert and his family.

Christopher died between 1910 and 1920, in Bell County, Texas.

Children of Christopher Shipley and Sarah McClure