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Jasper M. Clevenger (1850-1924)

CLEVENGER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/23/2020 at 23:24:58

Jasper Marion Clevenger
(September 11, 1850 – July 25, 1924)

Pioneer Citizen Called By Death
J. M. Clevenger Dies Following Long Illness – Funeral Held at Osceola
Osceola Sentinel – Jasper M. Clevenger, one of the best known and most loved of Osceola citizens, died at his home in this city Friday evening, July 25, at the age of 73 years. Mr. Clevenger had been a resident of Osceola for about thirty years, having actively engaged in business during most of that time. It is probable that there are few figures in the United States who have a more picturesque past than had Mr. Clevenger. In the early frontier days he was one of the leading figures on the plains. His companions were Buffalo Bill and William Nye. He helped to found the towns of Buffalo and Laramie, Wyoming. A large number of the stories of frontier life on the plains have as a setting the ranch he owned or neighboring lands. Mr. Clevenger was born in Indiana, and while a child came to Iowa, traveling overland in a covered wagon with his father and mother and six brothers and sisters. They settled on the land now occupied by the city of Lacona. When but a lad he went to the far west and his early manhood was spent on the great plains of the west. By dint of hard work and good management he became a successful cattleman, grazing thousand of head on the plains. At one time nearly his entire herd was wiped out by a blizzard. Closely associated with him in his life was the great plainsman, Wm. Cody (Buffalo Bill) and Bill Nye, a well known humorous writer. They were close friends and neighbors in those early days and a story of their life is not complete without mention of “Jap” Clevenger.
At the termination of his career as a cattle man he came to Iowa and soon after located in this city where for a number of years he was successfully engaged in the livery business. Later, when the automobile took the horse from the roads, he owned and managed a harness shop where he could still be in a measure associated with horses, the companions of many long days on the lonely plains.
About a year ago he contracted the malady which finally caused his death and as his suffering became more acute withdrew from business. He was a kind husband and father, a friend of all and an enemy of no man. The rough life on the plains only served to make him a kinder gentleman and a more loyal citizen. His passing came as a distinct shock and a realization that Osceola and Clarke County had lost one of her best and most lovable men.
He leaves to mourn their loss his devoted wife; two sons, E. R. of Fresno, California and J. M. of Alameda, California; a sister, Mrs. Mary Thompson, of Sawtelle, California; one brother, John, of Wick, a step-son, of Hermosa Beach, California, one daughter, Sylvia, passed away two years ago. Funeral services were held at the home at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon. They were conducted by Rev. J. E. Lombard, while the services at the cemetery were directed by the Knights of Pythias, to which organization Mr. Clevenger had been a member for forty years. Burial was made at Maple Hill Cemetery. Those attending from a distance were his brother, John Clevenger and wife, Eugene Clevenger and wife, Cecil Clevenger and wife and Mr. and Mrs. McPherson and family of Warren County; Mrs. J. A. Peebles of Moberly, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Youngerman and daughter of Omaha, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Gates of Chariton, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Lamoree of Grand River; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lamoree of Weldon; Dr. and Mrs. C. A. Walker of Kellerton. [Copied from a scrapbook at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa.]


 

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