Sherrill's Inn was built in Asheville, North Carolina between 1839 and 1850 for Bedford Sherrill. It was located on the Hickory Nut Turnpike, which connected Rutherfordton to Asheville. The inn hosted former U.S. President Millard Fillmore in 1858 and Tennessee Governor Andrew Johnson in 1859. The inn was operated by the Sherrill family until 1908 and later became the home of James McClure Clarke and his family.

James McClure Clarke was born in Manchester, Vermont on June 12, 1917. He moved to Asheville, North Carolina with his family when he was a child. Clarke graduated from Princeton University in 1939 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. After his discharge, he returned to North Carolina and worked as a dairy farmer and orchardist. Clarke served as the Chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Education (1969-1976) before being elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1977. He held this position until 1980 and was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1981. Clarke became involved in national politics when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served in the 98th (1983-1984), 100th (1987-1988), and 101st (1989-1990) Congresses. He was not reelected after his final term and returned to Fairview, North Carolina, where he died on April 13, 1999.