| 125 | Family Section | 125 |
William and Mary were the parents of three children. They were Roy, William H. Jr., and Bertha.
William H. died on January 30, 1933. Mary died on February 2, 1935.
CLIFT :
There is no doubt that Nathaniel R. Clift was one of the outstanding citizens in the history of our community. He was active in many local organizations. He was interested in the local schools and the local government.
Nathaniel R. Clift was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 4, 1849. He came to our community in 1867. Fidelia Edgett was born in Syracuse, New York, on March 1, 1855. She came to our community with her brothers and sisters in 1872. Nathaniel and Fidelia were married on May 10, 1874.
Nathaniel was active in the establishment of the country schools before Zearing was founded. Later he served as the president of the school board for a number of years.
When Zearing was founded, Nathaniel entered the implement and grain business. Later he became a banker. He owned the private Farmers Bank in 1888.
Ray Clift told us that his father was awarded a gold watch for writing the most express money orders in the Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota district. The popular medium of exchange at that time was express money orders. Ray has the watch.
Nathaniel served as mayor and councilman of Zearing for many years. The family was active in church work. Nathaniel was a Sunday School superintendent for twenty-two years.
Nathaniel and Fidelia were the parents of six children. They were Guy E., Sidney, Lyle, Ray, Mabel, and Bertha. Two of the children are living in 1956. They are Bertha of Aledo, Illinois, and Ray of Alden, Iowa. Ray is the president of the Alden State Bank.
Fidelia died on April 7, 1930. Nathaniel died on March 18, 1927. Guy E. Clift, coroner, Polk county, Iowa, died on March 19, 1927, one day after his father's death.
Cloonen :
The Cloonen family was a prominent farm family in our community. The family lived for many years on a farm northwest of Zearing.
We do not have much information about David Cloonen. He married Alice Welsh at Brimfield, Illinois, on October 10, 1877. Alice was born on December 23, 1854, at Maquon, Illinois. They moved to our community in 1909.
David and Alice were the parents of five children. They were Catherine, Agatha, A. D., Marie, and Anastasia.