John Clendenen, 1860-1933; History of Cass County Michigan pages 692-694
John Clendenen, who is engaged in farming in Silver Creek township, ownes and operates one hundred and ninety-five acres if land, and in connestion with the tilling og the soil carries on stock raising. He was born in the township where he yet resided, his natal day being December 22, 1860. His father, Oscar Clendenen, was a native of Virginia, born December 20, 1829, and came to Michigan as one of the early settlers of Cass county, arriving in 1848. He settled in Silver Creek township, where he carried on general farming and there his death occurred March 7, 1870, when he was about forty years of age. He was well known in the community, held a number of local offices and took and active and helpful part in the work of general improvement and development. In early manhood he wedded Miss Harriet Swisher, who was born February 28, 1839, in Ohio, in which state her girlhood days were passed. She camr with her parents to Michigan and is still living in this state. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: John, of this review; Frank; and Florence, who was born October 7, 1870, and died November 3, 1900.
John Clendenen was reared upon the old homesteas farm and was educated in the district schools. He has lived all of his life in Silver Creek township and remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which important event in hos life was celebrated in 1883, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma Oyler, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Robinson) Oyler. The father, who was born December 25, 1827, died September 22, 1888, and the mother, born October 14, 1826, died March 3, 1886. Mrs Clendenen was born in Pokagon township, Cass county, and spent her girlhood days in her parents' home. Mr. Clendenen took his bride to the old farm homestead, where his entire life had been passed. He has always given his attention to general agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of one hundred and ninety-five acres of rich and productive land, on which he carries on general farming and also raises stock. Everything about his place is kept in good condition. The fields are well tilled, the buildings are in good repair and he uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. As a business man he is progressive and enterprising and his well directed labors are bringing him gratifying success.
Mr. Clendenen has always been deeply interested in matters pertaining to the general welfare and his fellow townsmen recognizing his loyalty to American institutions and his interest in local welfare have called him to various public offices. He served as clerk of his township for two years, was a treasurer for two years and highway commissioner two years. He was also justice of the peace for many years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, so that he "won golden opinions from all sortd of people." In 1905 he was elected supervisior of his township, which position, which postion he is now filling and in this office as in all of the other he is found as a faithful and capable official.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clendenen have been born five children, of whom four are noe libing, Neil, the third child, being deceased. He was born November 1, 1890, and died September22, 1892. The others who still survive are Bessie, Lulu, Earl and Thelma. In his political views Mr. Clendenen is a Democrat, deeply interested in the success and welfare of his party. Fraternally he is connected with the Master Workers and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church in Silver Creek township. He takes and active and helpful part in church work and is one of the church trustees. His entire life has been passed in this county and that he has ever merited the support and regard of his fellowmen is indicated by the fact that many of his staunchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from his boyhood days down to the present time.
John F. Clendenen, 1860-1933; Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties Michigan
page 398
John F. Clendenen. Many of the best known farmers and residents of Cass County have been born and reared within its confines. In them we find men of energy and enterprise, who in the trite parlance of the present day might appropriately be called "hustlers," and who are bound to become wealthy and influential citizens as the years go by. John F. Clendenen was born on the farm where he now lives, December 22, 1861, and, although young in years, is old in experience. He is a man whom nature seems to have intended for a farmer, for, owing to his desire to keep out of the beaten path, and to his adoption of new and improved methods, together with industry and good judgment, he had met with more than the average degree of success in pursuing his calling.
The parents of our subject, Oscar and Harriet (Swisher) Clendenen, were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and his grandparents, Robert and Amanda (Hinchman) Clendenen, were natives also of the Old Dominion, where they resided many years. At an early date the grandparents emigrated to Michigan and settled in Cass County, where the closing scenes of their lives were passed, Oscar Clendenen was born December 20, 1829, and was quite young when he came to Michigan with his parents. All his scholastic training was received in the district schools, and his time was spent, when out of school, in assisting to improve the home place. He was married in Cass County, Mich., to Miss Harriet Swisher, daughter of John Swisher, and shortly afterward purchased eighty acres of the farm upon which our subject is now living. To this he added from time to time until he became the owner of one hundred and fifty-five acres, all improved and under a good state of cultivation. On this farm his death occurred in March, 1870. He was a hard-working industrious man, and one who was universally respected. In politics, he was a Democrat, and held a number of official offices. His widow was married the second time, to William Ketchum, and now resides in Dowagiac.
Of the three children born to his parents, our subject is first in order of birth. Frank, the second child married Miss Lena Flanigan. The other child was named Florence. John F. received a good practical education in the district schools of Silver Creek Township, and remained with his mother until grown. In December, 1884, he married Miss Emma Oyler, a native if this county, and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Robinson) Oyler, who were early pioneers of Cass County. To this union were born four children, ad follows: Bessie; Lula; Niel, who died at the age of two years; and Earl. In Politics, Mr. Clendenen is a Democrat, and has held a number of local offices. He was Township Clerk for two years, Highway Commissioner one year, and in 1893 he was elected the second time as Township Treasurer. He is a public-spirited young man, and one of the best farmers in his section.
was the daughter of William Issac Clendenen {b. 1832 VA, d. 1912 Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI} and Margaret {Burke} Clendenen {b. 1835 d. 1907 Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI}.
She was the granddaughter of Robert A. Clendenen {b. 1802 VA, d. 1851, Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI} and Amanda {Hinchman} Clendenen, {b. 1809, VA, d. 1886 Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI}
Sarah Jane Clendenen was b. 1861 Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI, d. 1949 Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI. She had one brother Wilbur Clendenen b. 1868, d. 1942, also in Silver Creek Township Neither Sarah or Wilbur ever married and they spent their entire lives on the family farm {my family has always referred to it as the "Clendenen Homestead"} in the same location where Robert A. & Amanda Clendenen originally settled when they moved from Virginia to Michigan in 1848. {I don't know if it was the original land, or her father bought adjoining land, but I do believe it was the same area in Silver Creek Township.} Sarah was the last member of the Clendenen family to live on that farm and when she died, it was sold.
It appears that Sarah did not travel very much, but she was an avid collector of the memorabilia sent to her by those family members who did travel or who had moved on to other states. I suspect that most of these photos are of family members belonging to distant branches, therefore I will include a list of the names that they could possibly be connected to as well as the names of the people in the photos that we were able to identify from Sarah's albums in hopes that others can make a connection.
Children of Robert A. & Amanda {Hinchman} Clendenen Oscar F. Clendenen, b. 1829, {my 2nd great grandfather} {died in Cass Co. MI} William Issac Clendenen b. 1832 {died in Cass Co. MI} Van Buren Clendenen b. 1835 {died in MI} John Floyd Clendenen b. 1837{died in LaSalle, Ill.} Andrew Irwin {Irving} b. 1841{died in Maywood, Ill.} George Washington Clendenen b. 1844 {died in Fulton, Ill.} They also had 3 daughters, Mary Ann, Martha Ann & Sarah Jane {b. 1849} but all 3 daughters died in the fall of 1851, along with their father, so none of the photos would be connected to them}.
Harriet SWISHER b. 1839,{wife of Oscar F. Clendenen b. 1829}
Frank Leslie CLENDENEN b. 1864, {son of Oscar, married Lena FLANIGAN b. 1871} They owned CLENDENEN DANCE ACADEMY {haven't found where that was located yet} and lived in Davenport, Scott Co. Iowa in 1900. Several of the photos seem to be of people in plays that he produced.{?} Frank & Lena were parents of 3 children, Fontaine, Lionel, & Carma {?}. They also wrote 4 books on dance that are now on the Internet {1900-1918} and Sarah had a lot of contact from him and his children, so some of this may be from them.
Harry Byron NOBLE {husband of Florence Clendenen, b. 1869, dau. of Oscar. She died in Fulton, Ill.}
Emma Jane OYLER, b. 1861, {wife of John Floid Clendenen b. 1860, of Silver Creek Township Cass Co. MI} She was the daughter of Daniel C. OYLER b. 1827, and Catherine Jane ROBINSON b. 1828,{dau of Mitchell Robinson & Mariah Caldwell}.
Elsie Belle LEE {wife of Earl O. Clendenen, s/o John Floid Clendenen}. Elsie was the daughter of Herbert Ashton LEE & Rosella BARNUM. {Rosella was the daughter of John Barnum & Nancy Lugene LARABEE, of Decatur, Van Buren Co., MI}
Sarah had photos going all the way back to Robert A. & Amanda Clendenen {b. 1802 & 1809} on my father's side, {my 3rd great grandparents} and John Barnum {b. 1842} and Daniel & Catherine Oyler {b. 1827 & 1828}{my 2nd great grandparents} on my grandmother's side, so these photos could be of anyone connected to the family since then. We have several photos with names that we did not recognize, but after research, I was able to find that they were indeed connected to our family, so it is most likely that these remaining photos are of family members, and not just "random" photos that she acquired. The majority of the photos were of the Clendenen's, Lee's, Barnum's & Oyler's, so it is most likely that the unidentified photos are connected to those branches.
Submitted by Cathy O'Hare