Anthony J. Clarity 1875-1942

CLARITY, SHEARER, MULLANEY, BROGHAMMER, LYDON, MERFELD, SULLIVAN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 11/16/2011 at 20:32:13

Judge Anthony J. Clarity, 68, who was born and raised in Ludlow township, passed away at a hospital in his home city, Freeport, Ill., a week ago Friday and funeral services were held on Monday of last week.

His parents were Anthony and Catherine Clarity, whose farm home was in the southwest part of Ludlow township where he grew to manhood. After attending business college in Waukon he finished his education in Illinois and upon being admitted to the bar of that state, commenced practice at Lena, a town near Freeport. Eventually he was elected county judge and held the record of being the youngest jurist in Illinois for he was but 27 years old. His abilities were recognized by former Gov. Frank Lowden, who in 1919 appointed him chief justice of the Illinois court of claims.

After moving to the sounty seat at Freeport he continued in the practice of law and became interested in civic affairs, serving as director in several banking institutions; in a manufacturing company and the chamber of commerce, and was so engaged at the time of his death.

Judge Clarity was united in marriage in 1920 with Irene Shearer of Freeport, who died nine years ago. He was the last of a family of seven children, his parents, three brothers and three sisters having preceded him in death. He is survived by eleven nieces and a nephew; two of his nieces, Mrs. T.W. Mullaney, Waukon and Mrs. Wm. J. Broghammer of Postville, were in Freeport during the closing days of his life. Other surviving nieces are Miss Honora Lydon, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Marguerite Merfeld and Mrs. Bernadine Sullivan of Washington, D.C.

~Postville Herald, April 22, 1942
~note: the Freeport Journal-Standard, April 11, 1942 had a longer and more detailed obituary for Judge Clarity; this obit gave his birth date as June 1875; date of death April 10, 1942 and burial place as in Lena, Illinois.