Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 29

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 29

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The education of Samuel H. Claspill was ac- quired in the country schools of Dearborn County, Ind., and he went to school In a log building, where the seats were made of hewed logs and their legs of wooden pins shaped by hand. After leaving school Mr. Clasplll worked for his uncle, Richard C. Mendenhali, in Mus- kingum County, Ohio, where he remained until he was seventeen years old, then went to Fair- field County, Ohio, and worked at the trade of gunsmith oue year, with his uncie, George W. Claspill. The young man then moved to Lan- caster, Ohio, where he learned the trade of shoe- quaker, which he has followed since, except for one year spent in gold mining in California. He made a trip to California overland, reach- ing there August 13, 1852, and leaving October 16, 1853. He then located in Moores Hill, Dear- born County, Ind., where he followed his trade until nuoving to Springfield, in 1858. He is a skilled workman and has been successful in business.

Mr. Clasplll was married In Dearborn County, Ind., December 9, 1847, to Rebecca E. Davis, born there August 17, 1829, daughter of Spen- cer and Elizabeth Davis. The parents were natives of Maryland and were early settlers of Indiana, and died there, the father in 1853 and the mother ten years later. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Claspill, namely : Lydia A .. widow of John W. Taylor, who was a re- tired farmer living in Dawson, Ill .; Margaret C. married Henry B. Davidson, a carriage- maker of Springfield ; Dora B., Mrs. Tery. lives In California, where she is conducting a hotel ; Ida M. married Albert Brown, a machinist in

the employ of the Illinois Watch Company. Mr. Claspill aud his wife have eight grandchil- dren, of whom two live In Springfield. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and served as Assistant Assessor iu Springfield lil 1870. He is a Republican in politics. He Is a member of the First Christian Church and fraternally is a member of the Masonle Order, which lie joined in 1854, being affiliated with Tyrian Lodge, No. 33; Chapter No. 1, R. A. M .; Council No. 2, and Ellwood Commandery No. 63, of Springfield. He has a large number of friends and is well known in the city, which has been his home for nearly haif a century.

CLAUS, Joseph (deceased), an industrious and useful citizen of Springfield, Ill., was for forty years prior to his death a boilermaker In the shops of the Wabash Railroad Company in Springfield. Mr. Claus learned his trade in the railroad sbops, having previously worked at blacksmithing. He was born near Strasbourg, Germany, March 12, 1828, son of George and Marie (Bauer) Claus, both natives of Germany, who spent their entire lives there. They had eleven children. Joseph Claus was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools. After leaving school he began learning the trade of blacksmith. He emigrated to America in 1854, landing in New York. He speut a few months in Utlca, N. Y., and about four months In Chicago, then located in Spring- field, his home until his death, September 19, 1908. He was a good workman and had the entire confidence of his employes. He had won many warm friends and his loss was genuinely mourned by all who knew him. He was de- voted to his family and always sollcitous for their welfare, and enjoyed the comforts of his home. He left a good record both as a nian and as a public-spirited citizen.

Mr. Claus was married in Springfield, Ill., in the first Catholic Church erected in the city, known as St. John's Church, to Catherine Min- terich, born at Tries on the Moselle, Germany, July 31, 1838, daughter of John and Mary Ann (Kenn) Minterich. Her father and mother came to America in 1854, landing in New York, where they lived one year, then removed to Springfield, where tliey spent thelr remaining lives, she dying in 1891 and he in 1896. They were members of St. John's Church. Four children (two sons and two daughters) were born to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, namely : Joseph, died December 21, 1908; Charles, died In Se- dalia, Mo., in 1891; Mary, lives in Sigel, Ill .; Catherine, in the employ of the Illinois Watch Company. One grandchild was born to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Joseph Herman, son of Joseph Claus. Mrs. Claus owns the comfortable fam- ily residence at 1628 South Eleventh Street, and other property in Springfield. She and her hus- band were members of the Sacred Heart Ro- man Catholic Church and he belonged to the St. Vincent Catholle Soclety. He was a Demo- crat in politics but never cared for office.

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CLAYTON, John Franklin .- The business of farmiug as now carried on by the intelligeut and up-to-date agriculturists is as different from the farming of several decades ago as could be imagined. The day of the work-hardened, horny-hauded farmer Is over. In these days we see the agriculturist who uses scientific methods, retired In time to spend the remaining years of his life iu the enjoyment of a well- earned competence. John Franklin Clayton, who is carrying on agricultural operatious on an excellent property of 176 acres in Sections 25 and 26, Ball Township, is oue of Sangamon County's scientific farmers, and in addition has the distinction of being a self-made inan. He was boru October 1, 1866, In Ball Townshlp, Sangamon County, Ill., a son of Marcus D. aud Susan Ann (Matthew) Clayton.

The Claytons are of English descent, the progenitors coming to Georgia with General Oglethorpe, hut later removal was made to Caldwell County, Ky., where Mr. Clayton's grandfather, Johu Shelton Clayton, was born August 2, 1802. The family came to Morgan County, Ill., in 1828, and an nucle of Mr. Clay- ton, Alexander Clayton, was born in Morgau County, Ill., September 16, 1829, but they later returned to Kentucky. Marcus D. Clayton was born March 16, 1834, in Caldwell County, Ky., and as an iufant was brought to Illinois by his parents in a prairie schooner, accompanied by hls two brothers and a sister, the family first stopping in Morgan County and in the follow- ing year (1835) locating in Sangamon County. He spent almost his entire life on a farm in Sangamon County, and is now living retired at Glenarm. He was married September 29, 1859, to Susan Ann Matthew, who was born August 29, 1843, in Sangamon County, aud ou September 29, 1909, they celebrated thelr Golden Wedding, numerous members of the family and old acquaintances to the number of three hun- dred being present.

Jolın Franklin Clayton was educated in the public schools of Ball Township and as a youth worked on the home farm, his father training him to carry out the work in the most scientific manner that had yet been introduced. He re- mained at home until he was married, teaching school in the wiuter and farming in the sum- mer. He then began farming for himself finally locating on his present farm, to which he has added until he owns 176 acres. This farm is on the exact spot once occupied by Squire Joseph Campbell. A tragedy is connected with it, for when the galant husband and father left home to fight against the Indians in the Black Hawk War, leaving his wife and three chil- dren behind, he little knew that a cruel fate awalted them. The busy mother was making soap, and while thus engaged, several roving Indians came to the little cabin and threw the three children into the bolling soap, which fear- ful act was witnessed hy a Mr. Pnlliam, one of the early settlers, as he was riding by on horse- back. Being alone, he was powerless to lend

assistance. The sword carried hy Mr. Campbell during this war is now owued by Mr. Clayton, in addition to a number of other relics of those early days. Mr. Clayton is compiling a geue- alogical record of his family, which promises to be very luteresting as well as valuable from a historic standpoint. Since coming into posses- sion of hls farm, Mr. Claytou has erected some good bulldings, bought improved machinery and raises blooded live stock. He is well known iu Ball Towuship, where for four years he served as Deputy County Clerk under Mr. S. M. Rog- ers, from 1889 to 1893. His politics are those of the Democratic party, and he fraternizes with the Moderu Woodmen of America. Re- ligiously he is connected with the Methodist Church.

After three years as a bachelor on his own farm, Mr. Clayton was married, April 7, 1897, one-half mile southwest of Zion Methodist Church, in Cotton Hill Township, Sangamon County, to Mary E. Dozier, who was born In this County, March 7, 1877, daughter of Thomas W. and Mary (Greenwalt) Dozler, the former born April 14, 1845, and the latter July 19, 1852. Mr. Dozier died December 2, 1910, and is buried at the cemetery of the Zion Methodist Church. He was a member of the Masonic or- der and his funeral was in charge of that fra- ternity, many Masons coming from surround- iug towns to attend. A Democrat, he served several terins as Supervisor of Cotton Hill Township. His widow is now reslding at No. 1814 South Seventh Street, Springfield. The . grandmother of Mrs. Clayton was a Miss Arm- strong. A member of this family. Abe Arm- strong, commanded a division under General Washington, participating in the battle of the Brandywine. He and General Washington had been surveyors together, and companions dur- ing hunting expeditions and both killed buf- falo, being Intimate friends.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Clayton are as follows: Esther, born September 3, 1898; Miriam, born February 22, 1901, died August 14, 1902; Thomas Edgar, born June 14, 1903, and May, born May 30, 1908. Mr. Clayton is one of Ball Township's good, reliable citizens, and is public-spirited to a high degree, always ald- ing in those movements which his judgment tells him will be of benefit to the community or to his fellow-townsmen. During his long resi- dence here he has made many acquaiutauces and his friends are legion.

CLEMENTS, Henry D. (deceased) .- The late Henry D. Clements was one of the most sub- stantlal and respected citizens of Mechaulcs- burg, where he lived retired from active life for several years. Mr. Clements was born in Kentucky, December 28. 1830, a son of John Clements, a native of Kentucky and a farmer. The parents were early settlers of Sangamon County, Ill., and located on a farm in Me- chanicsburg Township, where the remainder of their lives was spent. The family has been

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identified with the best interests of Sangamon County ever since and many of its members have been interested in agriculturai operations.

The boyhood of Henry D. Clements was spent on his father's farm and he was early trained to the occupation at which he spent ail his ac- tive iife. He received his education in Sanga- mon County and carried on farming on his own account in Mechanicsburg Township dur- ing the greater portion of his active iife. Mr. Clements was married in Mechanicsburg, Oc- tober 20, 1853, to Eliza Ann Shane, who was born April 14, 1835, and died July 23, 1871, and to this union nine children were born, of whom but two survive: Laura, wife of Robert Eiy, of Mechanicsburg, and Aima, wife of John Hart, living on a farm west of Springfield. Mr. Clements married (second) June 30, 1875, in Springfield, Mrs. Martha (Baidwin) Haie, who was born in Indiana in 1845, daughter of William B. Baldwin. Her father came to Chris- tian County, Iii., from Indiana, at an early day, and spent many years in farming there, then sold out and moved to Mechanicsburg, where he lived untii a short time before his death, which occurred October 22, 1910, at tbe home of his daughter, Mrs. Rachei McVey, of Mt. Pulaski, III., where he had gone on a visit. He was then eighty-nine years of age. He and his wife had five daughters and one son, and but two of these children now survive, Mrs. Clem- ents and Mrs. Rachel McVey.

The first marriage of Mrs. Ciements was to William Hale and occurred in Mechanicsburg, in 1862. To this union four children were born, of whom three now survive, namely : Margaret, wife of Scott Grundon, of Cerro Gordo, III .; William S., who lives in Spaulding, Ili .; Neilie, wife of Edward Squires, of Divernon. There are eighteen grandchildren and five great-grand- children in the family.

Mr. Ciements was a man of public spirit and interested in the weifare and progress of his community. He was a member of the Methodist Church and a Republican in politics., He had won many warm friends and was one of the best known men in his part of the county. His death occurred December 12, 1902. His widow owns a comfortable home in Mechanicsburg and other property in the vicinity. Mr. Ciements was fairly successful in his business enterprises and endeavored to provide weil for his family.

CLEMENTS. Zakery T., of Springfield, Ili., was born in Boone County, Ind., January 13, 1849, son of Denman J. and Ailce (Coonson) Ciements, tbe father born in 1812 and the mother in 1811, both natives of Kentucky. The parents of Den- man J. Clements were farmers and natives of Kentucky and he moved to Indiana from Ken- tucky as a young man. He carried on farming there thirty-seven years and in 1858 moved to Illinois, iocating on a farm in Macon County, where he died, in 1862. He was aiways success- fui in his operations and an abie farmer. His parents and those of his wife were natives of

Kentucky. Three sons of Denman J. Clements served in the Civil War, namely : David T., who was killed in the Battie of Chickamauga; Edwin T., lives on a farm in Macon County, where he has a famlly ; James M., served three years in the One Hundred Fifty-second Illinois Volunteers, afterward moved to Carthage, Mo., where he died. The two first mentioned served in the One Hundred Fifteenth Iilinois.

Zakery T. Clements spent his boyhood on a farm and early learned to work. He was edu- cated in Macon County and afterward engaged in farming, which he has carried on most of his iife, except the past cight years, when he has lived in Springfield. He accompanied his par- ents to Iilinois from Indiana and abont 1894 moved to Missouri, where he lived eight years, then came to Springfield. He is a member of Stuart Street Christian Church and is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He Is weil known as an honest, up- right citizen and has many friends.

Mr. Ciements was married, at Blue Mouud, Iil., July 22, 1882, to Miss Mary M. Abbott, who was born In Tayiorvilie, Iil., in . 1853, daughter. of Maj. Thomas and Mary (Brewer) Abbott. Major Abbott served in the Civil War under General Logan and was a prominent man in his community. Both he and his wife were natives of Illinois and of good pioneer stock. Six chii- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clements, namciy: Wiiiie, born at Biue Mound, Iii., in 1883, deceased; Steila, born at Blue Mound, in 1885. deceased; Dean, born in Taylorviiie, In 1902, deceased ; Lura .B., born in Missouri, Janu- ary 8, 1887, married Thomas York, lives in Springfield, and they have one child, Mary Es- telia ; Fiora G., born in Missouri, August 9, 1889, married Ernest La Rosae, of Springfield, and they have one child, Harry H .; Minnie A., unmarried, is in the employ of the Interstate Telegraph & Telephone Company, of Springfield.

CLENDENIN, Henry Wiison, editor-in-chief of the Illinois State Register and President of, and a large stockinoider in, the printing and publishing company, was born in Schellsburg, Bedford County. Pa., August 1, 1837. His fa- ther. Samuei Miller Clendenin, was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., his grandfather, Samuel Ciendenin, being cashier of a bank in Lancaster and an influential citizen of that town. Great-grandfather John Ciendenin and his son of the same name, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, serving under Washington, in some of the hardest fought contests of that strife. The Clendenln family emigrated from the North of Ireland and located in Pennsyi- vania. where the elder of the two Revolutionary soidlers was born in 1733.

Samuel M. Clendenin was a thoroughly edu- cated man, and when starting out in life chose teaching as a profession. Whlie pursuing the duties of his chosen calling at Bedford, Pa., he met Miss Elizabeth Henry, with whom he was

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united in marriage in 1836. The estimable lady was the daughter of George Henry, a well-to- do business man and promineut citizen of Bed- ford. Her paternal grandfather emigrated from Ireland about the close of the War of Inde- pendence. The family originally came from Scotland, tracing their lineage to the same stock that gave this country Patrick Henry, the eloquent Virginia patriot and statesinan. From Bedford, Samuel M. Clendenin and his wife removed to Schellsburg. in the saule county, and there the subject of this sketch was born. It will be noticed that Mr. Clen- denin's lineage is Scotch-Irish, a race noted for intelligence. integrity and energy. Both of his grandmothers. however, were of Germau de- scent, belonging to a race whose industry. hon- esty aud thrift have done much to make Ainer- ica what it is to-day. The paternal grand- inother bore the name of Mary Miller, while the maternal grandmother was known in her youth as Ellzabeth Heviner.

In 1839, while our subject was still a babe, his parents turned their faces westward, and crossing the mountains in wagons to Pittsburg, took a steamboat and proceeded down the Ohlo river and up the Mississippi, to Burlingtou, at that time a mere village in the then 'Territory of Iowa. Indians were plentiful and Mr. Clen- denin says he can well remember how, as a lit- tle boy, he learned some Indian words in order to deliver to them messages from his parents. For many years Samuel Clendenin taught school in Burlington, and also held tile offices of Justice of the Peace and Clerk of the Court, being a Democrat in politics. He afterward en- gaged iu mercantile pursuits, until in 1857, when he disposed of his property and removed to Barton County, Mo., where he engaged iu farming, dying in 1858.

The parental family Included five children, namely, Henry W., our subject ; George S., de- ceased ; John M., deceased; Margaret H., wife of Henry A. Newhouse, a retired farmer of Woodson County, Kan., and Mary A., who mar- ried Leonard Wells, of Yates Center, Kau., and who died in 1884. Our subject grew to man- hood in Burlingtou, Iowa. There were no pub- fic schools in that section during his early childhood, but the father being a teacher, the iad was carefully instructed and given the best education his father's means and the advan- tages of the place afforded. He received au academical education, and began the study of Latin under proficient teachers before he was nine years old, becoming familiar not only with Latin, but also with Greek, French and Span- ish. As a studeut Mr. Clendenin was industri- ous and rapidly advanced in all his studies. His tastes were literary, and he was an omuivorous reader. So fond of books was he, that before he was eighteen he had collected a library em- bracing many of the standard works of history, poetry and fiction, purchased with his own earn- ings. He was early attracted to journalism as a profession, and before he was fifteen years

old persuaded his father to let him leave school. He secured the position of "devil" in the office of the Burlington Hawkeye, then a tri-weekly paper, and remained in that office over four years, mastering the art preservative in all its branches, doing also, from time to time, some literary work on the paper.

Graduating from the Hawkeye in 1857, when twenty years of age, Mr. Clendenin turned his face eastward, and instead of going with his parents to Missouri, went to Philadelphia where he followed his calling both as a practical prin- ter, and also in editing matter for publication. HIe came West again in 1858, and found employ- ment in Peoria, Iil., where he worked on the daily Transcript as foreman and telegraph edi- tor, and also in other offices. After a couple of years, he returned to Philadelphia and was employed there in April, 1861, when the Civil War began. He enlisted as a private soldier, in the Twentieth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served with that regiment from April, 1861, until the latter part of August of the same year when he was mustered out, receiving an honorable discharge. His regiment was · en- gaged in the Potomac and Shenandoah Valleys and was a portion of the time under the con- mand of Gen. George B. Mcclellan. Mr. Clen- denin saw and participated in some fighting, but was fortunate in never receiving a scratch. The military spirit since Revolutionary days has been manifest in the family, some of whom served with distinction in the War of 1812. John M. Clendeniu, our subject's uncle, was a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and an officer in the regular army until his death. He served in the Black Hawk and Florida wars. A cousin, David R. Clendenin, who was a Colonel of an Illinois regimeut during the late Civil War, was afterward a Colonel of cavalry in the regular army. He died at Gales- burg, Ill., a few years ago.

As soon as he was mustered out of the army, Mr. Clendenin returned to Illinois, his mother having removed with her family from Missouri to Rock Island County, this state. Again tak- ing up journalistic work, he occupied various practical and editorial positions in Illinois and other states. He had charge of the Burling- ton (Iowa) Gazette for about one year, and of the Metamora (Ill.) Sentinei for about the same length of time, supporting and voting for his old commander, George B. McClellan, at Metamora while in charge of the Sentinel. In 1865, Mr. Clendenin located in Keokuk, Iowa, where he resided for the next sixteen years. The first eleven years of his residence in Keo- kuk, he was employed as foreman, or superin- tendent, of book and job printing offices, ten years as superintendent of the book and job department of the Daily Gate City. While in this capacity, he also did considerable repor- torial and literary work. In 1876, he formed a partnership with George Smith and Thomas Rees, associates in the Gate City office, aud under the firmn name of Smith, Clendenin and

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Rees, they purchased the Constitution, the Democratic daily and weekly newspaper at Keokuk, which they published for five years. Mr. Clendenin occupied the position of editor- in-chief of the Constitution, and conducted it with great ability, skill and snecess.

Shortly after his location In Keokuk, Mr. Clendenin persnaded his mother to make her home with him, which she continned to do until her death in January, 1890, while on a visit to her daughter in Kansas. She had then reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. His sister, Margaret, also lived with him and he gave her the benefit of a good education. During his residence there, he occupied various positions in social, religious and business ac- tivities. He was for some time President of the Yonng Men's Christian Association and one of its most active promoters. He was an ac- tive Odd Fellow, having passed all the Chairs in the ' Subordinate Lodge and Encampment, and served as a representative in the Grand Lodge of the State. He was a delegate to and Vice-President of the Democratic State Con- vention at Marshalltown in 1877, and also rep- resented Lee County in the Democratic State Convention at Cedar Rapids in 1878, Conncil Bluffs in 1879, and Burlington in 1880, and ex- erted a large influence in local and State politics.

It was in 1876, that Mr. Clendenin met Miss Mary Elizabeth Morey, of Monmouth, Ill. This acquaintance ripened into an attachment, and they were married October 23, 1877, at the residence of the bride's parents in Monmouth. Miss Morey was a charming and accomplished young lady, the daughter of Daniel Hazard and Mary H. P. (Chamberlain) Morey, and was born January 22, 1854, at Kirkwood, Mo., where her parents were then residing. Her grand- father, Hazard Morey, purchased seven thousand acres of land in Ohio, whither he removed when his son, the father of Mrs. Clendenin, was only a hoy. Daniel Morey was a native of New York, hnt was reared on a farm in Ohio, and was one of sixteen children, who have since been scattered all over the country. Daniel Morey removed from Ohio to Illinois and afterward to St. Louis, where he married Miss Mary H. P. Chamberlain, of Jacksonville, Ill., who was then teaching school in St. Louis. The Chamberlain family were from Salem, Mass., whence Timothy Chamberlain, the father of Mrs. Morey, removed to New York, from there to Virginia and finally to Illinois, where he located in Jacksonville. He was a contrac- tor and builder of stone work and among other structures, erected Monticello Female Semin- ary, which stood for many years, but was de- stroyed by fire November 4, 1888. He after- ward purchased a farm near Jacksonville and devoted his time to agriculture. On the ma- ternal side, Miss Morey was of French, Eng- lish and Scotch lineage, and came of an old Massachusetts family, being descended from the Denis, Devereux, Grant and Chamberlain families. Several of her ancestors were Revo-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 29

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774