Who was McClung Avenue named for? A true Huntsvillian would know
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One of the most beautiful places in Huntsville is Maple Hill Cemetery, the state’s largest cemetery, and oldest one still in use. More than 80,000 people are buried there, and as loved ones visit the grave sites at the landmark, chances are they came there via McClung Avenue.
Since I travel McClung Avenue often, I have wondered who the road is named for, and I was not surprised to find that the road’s namesake, James White McClung, is buried right there at Maple Hill.
Who was James White McClung?
McClung Avenue is actually the first street in Huntsville to be named for a Huntsville resident.
James White McClung was originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. This is where he spent his childhood and teenage years, and he attended The University of Tennessee (at that time known as Blount College) before getting a law degree at the University of North Carolina in 1816.
This is where hi Huntsville legacy begins. McClung moved to Huntsville in 1819, and entered the political realm, being elected to the state legislature in 1822.
He served six terms in the state legislature before his 1844 election to the State Senate. He also made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1841.
One of the stand-out pieces of lore regarding McClung was that he was involved in a duel on the courthouse square in Huntsville with Andrew Wills, who was the editor for the local newspaper, the Huntsville Democrat.
According to historian John Nilsson, Wills made a habit of attacking McClung’s law partner, Clement Comer Clay, in the newspaper over Clay’s support of the Bank of the United States.
When the feud reached its boiling point, Wills and McClung exchanged shots on the courthouse square, with Wills being fatally shot by McClung in the process. McClung was acquitted by a jury (he was represented in court by Clay).
McClung was married three times and had 14 children.
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