Clemmons Family History

Obit: William Thomas Clemmons

2008-05-24T21:47:00.000-05:00

William Thomas Clemmons was my Great-Uncle.

Obituary from the Wayne County Press �?? April 21st, 2008

William Thomas Clemmons, 77, Fairfield, Dies; Was City Mail Carrier

Tom Clemmons, 77, a well-known Fairfield man, died Saturday, April 19, 2008 at his home. He had been ill with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Mr. Clemmons had been a Fairfield city mail carrier for 25 years. After retirement he had worked at Wal-Mart.

Services Tuesday

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fairfield First Christian Church. Visitation is Monday from 6-8 p.m. (tonight) at Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home. Burial is in Maple Hill Cemetery.

He was born April 24, 1930 in Jefferson County, the son of Earl and Mary Alice Clemmons. He married Dolores Vest August 7, 1964. She survives.

He was a member of the Fairfield First Christian Church and had served as an Elder and Deacon. He served in the U.S. Army reserves.

Mr. Clemmons was a member and co-founder of the Fairfield Coin Club and served as auctioneer for 25 years. He had served as a Fairfield alderman and Jasper Grade School Board member.

Survivors

He and Dolores had one daughter, Gina (Tony) Thomason of Keenes. Mr. Clemmons had three children from a previous marriage; Debbie (Rick) Reese of Ohio, Rand (Laura) Clemmons of San Diego, Calif., Robert (Susan) Clemmons of Fairfield; four grandsons and two granddaughters; one brother Howard (Fairfield) and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Memorials may be made to the Fairfield First Christian Church

William Thomas Clemmons

2008-04-19T19:50:00.002-05:00

My dad called me today and told me that Uncle Tom died this morning. He was born April 24th, 1930. He went with me a few times to the Clemmons Family Reunion in Lebanon Tennessee and always had wonderful stories to tell me. The picture below was taken at the Clemmons Reunion in 2005. I will miss him greatly.

Jan 19th Update

2008-01-19T12:01:00.000-05:00

I have added the following publications to the database including images of the obituaries:

Wayne County Press:

Dec. 27th, 2007
Jan. 3rd, 2008
Jan. 7th, 2008
Jan. 10th, 2008
Jan. 14th, 2008

Wayne County, IL Obits update

2008-01-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

Since I have somewhat caught up on the Obit Index, I have started to go back and scan the obituaries and attach them so that they can be viewed. I have uploaded the December 2007 images. I am also going to work on a way to view the obituaries by year and month. Will probably be a week or so before I can get that accomplished.

More Updates

2007-12-27T16:49:00.000-05:00

I have added over 16,000 new records to our web site. I have added the Marriage Index for Wayne County 1793-1900. The searching and viewing of the data is much easier than it is on the Sec. Of States Web Site.

I also added the Wayne County Death Index 1916-1950. Again, the searching and viewing is much better than the SoS Web Site.

Where I am heading with this is providing everyone an easier way to search all records at the same time. I want to be able to type in Puckett in to the search box and have it show me all the Marriages, Deaths, Cemetery Entries, Obituaries, etc. all at the same time. One of the things that I hate about alot of the genealogy web site search engines, is that when you do a search, it doesn't show you the results. It shows you a link and about 128 lines of text that may or may not help me decide if that what I want to go look for.

Well, that is where i am heading anyways. At the moment, we have well over 20,000 records in our database. Hopefully in the coming year, we will be able to double that number.

Wayne County Press Obits

2007-12-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

I have added nearly 1,100 new obituaries to the index. We now have nearly 4,000 names in the index! All of 2007 is in the index (up through today).

Woodrow Wilson Baird

2007-12-26T10:31:00.000-05:00

This is a little over a month old but wanted to get it out on the blog. Woodrow was the son of Ridley Baird (1876-1957) and Mattie Pearl Clemmons (1882-1949). Mattie's father was Elam Alexander Clemmons (1843-1917), her grandfather was James Clemmons (1794), and her great grandfather was Samuel Thompson Clemmons (1751-1837). The obituary was from the The Post in Wilson County, Tennessee

Woodrow Baird, 88
LHS grad, member of Rocky Valley Baptst Church
MT. JULIET - Funeral services have been scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, November 15 at Bond Memorial Chapel for Mr. Baird, 88, of Mt. Juliet.

The son of the late Ridley and Pearl Clemmons Baird, he died died November 12, 2007.

Mr. Baird was a member of Rocky Valley Baptist Church and a proud graduate of Lebanon High School.

Visitation will be 12-8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. �?? 1 p.m. Thursday at Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet.

Services will be conducted by Chuck Groover and Joe Coleman officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include: daughters Austelle (Don) Smartt and Myra (John) Simms; grandchildren Kerry (Chad) Swallows, Lisa Simms, Jack Simms and Joshua Smartt.

Also surviving is: great-granddaughter Ellie Swallows; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Myra and Verner Bates; sisters-in-law Mamie Baird and Clara Baird as well as devoted caregiver Dorothy Carter.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Baird was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Eleanor Burnett Baird, brothers Alex, Clyde, Hugh and Richard Baird and sisters Sarah Smith, Lucy Alsup, Johnnie Kate Gourley and Alleen Smith.

Family members will serve as active pallbearers.

Flowers accepted or memorials may be made to Alive Hospice.

Bond Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Lack of Posts

2007-12-25T23:11:00.001-05:00

I apologize for the lack of posting. Working two jobs and the amount of hours that I have been working has taken any time I had away from blogging to genealogy research. I am finally on vacation now and plan on catching up over the next week or so.

NARA Raises Fees

2007-08-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is raising the fees for reproductions. I have been using them lately to get copies of the civil war pension files. So far I have ordered three pension files and will need to order a few more before October 1st. This is when the new fees will be imposed. Currently, they are $37.50 per file. After October 1st, it will start at $70 and for every page over 100, it will cost an additional 65 cents per page.

If you would like to read more about this, click here and you can see the pdf copy of the Federal Register

John Ray Clemmons in the news

2007-08-18T08:01:00.000-05:00

John Ray Clemmons was in the Dixson Herald Newspaper on August 13th, 2007. The article is about Bob Clement who is running for Mayor in Nashville and about who he seeks council from. John Clemmons is one of his trusted advisors. John Ray Clemmons is the son of John & Margaret Clemmons of Lebanon, TN. And he is the grandson of John Wilson Clemmons & Marilyn Christine Marler.

John Ray Clemmons

Clemmons is probably the youngest non-family member of Clement�??s inner circle. A former legislative assistant to Clement in the U.S. Congress and former political director of the Tennessee Democratic Party, the Lebanon native was 29 and just out of law school when Clement tapped him as campaign manager in April.

Clemmons was promoted to co-chairman of Clement�??s campaign the weekend after the general election. He said he is focused on the runoff but will probably stay close to Clement in some capacity, official or informal, if his boss is elected.

�??Once you�??re part of the Clement family, you�??re always part of the Clement family,�?? Clemmons said. �??Once you�??ve worked for him, you�??re always involved, whether formally or informally.�??

Clemmons is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City and the University of Memphis law school.

Clemmons Family Reunion

2007-06-29T18:44:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder to everyone about the Clemmons Family Reunion on July 7th in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Updates

2007-06-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

I am down in Wayne County, IL doing research. I have updated the cemetery records for Barnhill and Maple Hill. Have quit a bit more to update.

Time Line for Earl Clemmons

2007-05-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

I started to put together a time line for my great-grandfather Earl Clemmons. He moved around alot early in his life until he settled down in Wayne County, Illinois.

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Earl first appears on the U.S. Census in 1900 living in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee; District 141. Enumerated on June 18th, 1900. Page 117 A, Line 32

He next appears on the U.S. Census in 1910 living in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee; District 165 (Ward 3). Enumerated on May 3rd, 1910. Sheet 33 B, Line 58.

According to Harry Clemmons, Earl and his parents moved to Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois. This would have had to happen between 1910 and 1916. During this time, it is presumed that Earl meet Mary Alice Clifton.

After a short time in Mt. Vernon, Earl and his parents moved to Arkansas where they buy a piece of property.

On June 5th, 1917, Earl Clemmons sign's his World War I draft card. He was living in Lawrence County, Arkansas

On September 23rd, 1917, Earl is back up in Jefferson County, Illinois where he marries Mary Alice Clifton. It appears that they return to Arkansas.

Some where between 1917 and June 1918, the Clemmons familes moved to New Madrid County from Arkansas because Harry was born in Morehouse, New Madrid County, Missouri.

On May 25th, 1918, Earl was Inducted into the US Army at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

On December 7th, 1918, he was discharged from the Army at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. Reason for discharge was for Dependant Relatives. His first son, Harry was born in June 1918 just after he was inducted.

He appears on the U.S. Census in 1920 living in West Township, New Madrid County, Missouri; District 130. Enumerated on January 9th, 1920. Sheet 10 B, Line 75. This is near Morehouse City. It states that he is working at a Lumber Mill.

After 1924, the family moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Earl got a job helping to build a bridge over this Mississippi River. The bridge was dedicated in 1927 and then the family moved to Jefferson County. Earl moved up there looking for work and support from Mary's family.

He appears on the U.S. Census in 1930 living in Dodds Townshop, Jefferson County, Illinois; District 7. The census was enumerated on May 20th, 1930. Sheet 9 B, Line 85. Earls listed occupation was farming.

About 1932, they moved from Jefferson County to Barnhill, Illinois.

Earl Green Clemmons Obituary

2007-03-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

Earl Green Clemmons was my Great Grandfather. He was born March 10th, 1895 in Nashville, Tennessee. He died on May 28th, 1965 in Fairfield, Illinois. He died four years before I was born. Below is the obituary that appeared in the Wayne County Press.

Earl G. Clemmons Of Barnhill, Dies
---------------
Was Former Postmaster Of That
Community; Father of Harry
Clemmons
---------------

Earl G. Clemmons, 70, former Barnhill postmaster and retired Rex Filter employee, died at 4:30 Friday afternoon at Memorial Hospital.

His death was attributed to a heart condition and cancer. He had been in failing health the past two years.

Operated General Store

At one time Mr. Clemmons operated a general store at Barnhill, where he lived for many years. He was also a rural mail carrier in addition to serving as Barnhill postmaster. In still earlier days, he was a blacksmith.

Funeral services were held from the Dixon & Johnson Chapel Sunday afternoon, with Rev. Wesley Reed and Rev. Oakley Miller officiating. Interment was in Barnhill Cemetery.

Born In Tennessee

Earl G., son of William and Nancy McGuire Clemmons, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee., March 10th, 1895.

On September 23rd, 1917, he was married to Mary Alice Clifton, with six children born to this union. A son, Robert Ray, died at age 2, and a daughter, Edith Merle, died at age 16.

Mr. Clemmons was a member of the Barnhill Missionary Baptist Chuch; of the Springerton and Fairfield American Legion posts; and the Geff WWI Barracks No. 206 post. He served in World War I military service.

He was the last surviving member of the family of William and Nancy Clemmons.

The Survivors

Surviving are his widow, Mary Alice; three sons, Harry, of Barnhill; Howard and Tom of Fairfield; one daughter, Edna, wife of John Henry Moore, of Fairfield; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Clemmons Family Reunion

2007-03-31T14:50:00.000-05:00

The next Clemmons Family Reunion will be held on July 7th, 2007 in Lebanon Tennessee. I am getting ready to send out the notices and if anyone would like to be included on that list, please send me an email at clemmons42@gmail.com

WCP Obit Updates

2007-01-30T17:17:00.000-05:00

I have updated the Wayne County Press Obits. I have added 111 new obituaries. These are from November and December 2006 and January 2007 through January 22nd.

Wayne County Gen Web Updates

2006-10-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

I have updated the Obituary Database. I have put in about 225 obituaries from the Wayne County Press. These updates are from the newspapers from June through today.

New Obits added to the index

2006-06-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

I added 218 more obits to the index. I plan on adding 100-200 per week. I am also looking into ways of putting my pictures database online. I am scanning in the pictures that Thelma Landrum had (even though they will be scanned from photocopies). This will allow everyone to search for pictures by a persons name. Have to work out the logistics but will keep everyone informed.

Clemmons Family Reunion 2006

2006-06-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

We are less than a month away from the annual Clemmons Family Reunion down in Lebanon, TN.

Saturday, July 1st, 2006
From 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
at the
Jimmy Floyd Family Center, Multi-Purpose Room
Lebanon, TN
(off I-40 US 70 W Exit, keep right, follow Baddour Parkway
to Castle Heights Ave North
Turn Rught)

Last year we had over 75 people attending. This is a family affair. There are indoor and outdoor pools and other activities in which to participate. Bring your swim suits if you wish to swim.

I am putting together the 2006 Newsletter and if there is anything you wish to add, please let me know.

Champion Laboratories Moving Jobs Back From Mexico

2006-06-07T09:29:00.000-05:00

This is about a month old, but the Wayne County Press printed an article (5/4/06) about Champion Laboratories Moving 100 jobs back to West Salem, IL from Mexico. They would also be closing the plant in Mexico. This is good news for people looking for work down in southern Illinois. For those of you that don't know, my grandfather, Harry Clemmons, was one of the 4 original founders of Kleen Pak Manfuacturing (which is now Champion Labs).

When the four founding members got together, my grandfather was already doing this as a business. He and his brother, Howard, would go around to filling stations and take their old oil filters, take them back to the shop, clean out the cotten and then repack the filters and resell them. Harry and Howard started this business with only $14 back in 1948/49. In 1956, Harry went in with three others to form a new company. Harry's 25% contribution was the equipment and existing clientel. They moved the operation to West Salem. A few years later, they aquired Champion Labs.

Here is the short story from the Press:

100 Jobs - Champion Closing Mexico Plant, Moving to Albion
State Senator John O. Jones says there is some good news for southeastern Illinois as Champion Laboratories, Inc. plans to close its facility in Mexico and move those jobs to the Albion location.

Champion Laboratories, Inc. will close its Mexico plant on June 1. The move is expected to create about 100 new jobs at the Albion facility.

"Most of the time we read about how companies are moving jobs and opportunities to foreign countries," Jones said. "Herre, we have a company that is moving those jobs back to Illinois. We are talking about a substantial number of good-paying jobs coming to southeastern Illinois. After seeing so many companies leave this state, finally we have some good news."

Champion Laboratories, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers of automotive and heavy duty filters. The company has been in business for more than 50 years. Their filters can be found in heavy-duty trucks construction equiment, mining equiment, and marine and farm machinery.

New place to do genealogy.

2006-06-07T07:29:00.000-05:00

Carmel (in Indiana) is building a new 146,000 sq ft facility that they see as a "hub". This facility sits on the Monon Trail which is a long walking/biking path. Inside, it will have a family pool, a vortex pool, computer rooms, three full sized gyms, child care center, pottery for kids, and a genealogy room. It is suppose to be ready next spring. I need to find out who will be in charge of the genealogy section.

Wayne County Gen Web Updates

2006-06-06T12:41:00.000-05:00

Diana over at the Wayne County IL Roots Web site has updated thier Delayed Birth Index's.

"During the 1940s when the Social Security Administration started. Many court house did not have records so the 'Delay of Birth Certificate' began. In order for a person to get one, they had to have a relative sign and document that the person who he/she was and their date of birth. Besides the normal information on a Birth Certificate, sometimes it gives other helpful information for your research."

Wayne County IL Obituaries

2006-06-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a project for the past couple of months. The project is to compile an index of obituaries that are published in the Wayne County Press. You can search the obituaries by clicking on the link to the right or you can just click here. At the moment, I have about 1800 obituaries in the database and have several hundred more about ready to go in.

I got the idea to do the index when I visited the Anderson Public Library in Anderson, IN. They have a number of books that are just indexes to obituaries and I found them to be very, very helpful.

Death Certificates

2006-04-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

I have created a couple of pages for viewing Death Certificates. I got the idea from the Kentucky Vital Records Project and wanted to do something similar for Wayne County and the surrounding areas. Another reason is that it is becoming way to expensive to order these from the court houses. I just ordered a marriage certificate from Wayne County and they are asking for $12 per copy! I am hoping that this database will grow and be a resource for everyone. If anyone has any certificates that they would like to add, please send me a scanned image to: mclemmons@c3-software.com

Currently, there are only a few records. I have more to add once I am sure the bugs are out of it. You can get to it by clicking on the link to the right, or you can click here to get to the data.

Cemetery Listings

2006-04-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have been updating the web pages for the cemetery listings. I have converted over the format of the page so that it is consistent with the rest of the site. I am also going to be adding more cemetery information and linking of obituaries to the people that are in the cemetery.

I will also be adding a search tool so that you can search by last name for everyone that is in the cemetery listings. That will make it easier to find everyone with the same last name and to see all the cemeteries that they are listed in.

You can get to the listings by clicking on the link to the right called: Wayne County Cemeteries