John Clement

CLEMENT, BROCKELSLY, CRAMPTON, SMITH

Posted By: Phyllis Peterson (email)
Date: 3/10/2002 at 00:27:55

From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton County, Iowa 1886

John Clement. The subject of the personal history was born in Lincolnshire, England, June 1, 1836, and is the son of Thomas and Amelia (Brockelsly) Clement. He was but ten years of age when his father died, and he made his home with his mother for two or three years, then went out into to the world to earn his own living. Although young in years, he possessed a shrewdness and good judgment that many far his senior lack. Obtaining employment, he worked at farming for one year, receiving 4 pounds per anum. After that his wages were increased, and he finally earned 9 pounds yearly.

In 1855 he emigrated to America, setting sail from Hull, April 8, and landing New York after thirty-four days of voyage across the mighty deep. He came to Clinton County, traveling on the railroad as far as Rock Island, which was the western terminus of the road at that time. His brother, who lived at Elvira at that time, met him at Davenport, and he began work for him soon after, at which he continued for about one year. After that he worked five of six years, saving his earnings, and at the close of that time purchased land, eighty acres, in Center Township. He was unmarried when he bought this place, and rented his farm to one capable of working it suitably, continuing his labors for others. In 1868, he, having previously sold his first purchase, bought the southwest quarter of section 13, in what is now Eden Township. One year later he settled there and lived four years, then rented a farm in De Witt Township for six years. He bought in the meantime the southeast quarter of section 13, adjoining his other farm, and moved to the place in 1881. Besides his second purchase, he had previously bought ninety-five acres of land on section 18, in township 81, range 5, so that he is now the possessor of 415 acres of land, all in Eden Township. The farm which he occupies at the present time is furnished with good farm buildings, finished and improved with all modern conveniences, and he is engaged in the raising of grain and stock. He is considered a marked success in his chosen filed of industry, and may be rated among our most progressive and practical farmers resident in Eden Township, and included within the borders of Clinton County.

Mr. Clement was united in marriage March 8, 1863, with Mary J., daughter of William and Mary (Smith) Crampton. She is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and came to America in 1859. She and her husband are the parents of ten children, all but one living at the present time, and who bear the following names: Thomas, Lizzie, Ida, Will, Nora, Carrie, Flora, John, and Charlie. May, the third child, died at the age of four years.

Mr. Clement is Republican in politics, is quick and logical in his opinions, and votes the straight ticket. Mrs. Clement belongs to the Congregational Church and is an earnest laborer in that organization. Their home is situated on section 13, Eden Township, and is reckoned as one of the most pleasant and attractive places in the county; and constituting no small element in the pride the owner entertains in the work of his hands is the feeling that he has won all by his own unaided efforts. Mr. Clement feels himself a self-made man, and it is somewhat to his credit to know that, although he borrowed the money to pay his passage to American and landed in Clinton County $70 in debt, he today "looks the whole world in the face and owes no man."