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Below is a family biography included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published by Weakley, Harraman & Co. in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JUDGE ABNER CLARKSON, of Vevay, was born in Piscataway Township, Middlesex Co., N. J., on the 6th day of February, 1784. He was married on the 18th day of February, 1804, to Miss Eliza Whitehead, who was born on the 30th day of March, 1786, and died on the 3d day of January, 1865. They had two children: Samuel W. and Eliza M. Clarkson. Samuel was born on the 14th day of February, 1805, and died on the 26th day of June, 1850. Eliza M. was born on the 9th day of April, 1812, and is still living, the widow of Perret Dufour. He removed to New Brunswick, N. J., after his marriage, and commenced merchandising. He removed to Rocky Hill and opened a store. He then removed to Six Mile Run, and there continued merchandising until the latter part of May, 1812, when he shipped his goods for the then far West, and in a few days after started with his wife and children. Samuel was the Dr. Samuel W. Clarkson who was a practicing physician in Vevay from 1827 until 1850. Arriving at Trenton, N. J., he first learned of the declaration of war against Great Britain, and as his goods were ahead of him he continued his Western trip; stopped about a week at Marietta, Ohio; continued his journey down the river to Cincinnati, Ohio; arriving there, he commenced the mercantile business. From there he sent a keel-boat down the river loaded with produce, in charge of a man named Smith, who sold out the boat and cargo and forgot to return any of the proceeds of the sale to Mr. Clarkson but sent the hands back to him to be paid for their services. Sometime in the fall of 1813 or spring of 1814, he removed to Madison, Ind., where he again commenced in the mercantile business. Soon after he entered into partnership with John and Nathaniel Hunt. Was elected and served as justice of the peace until the fall of 1817, when he removed to Vevay, Ind., again pursuing the same business there, and continued with “short intervals” in that business until 1873. After he came to Vevay he was elected and served as associate judge one term. He was appointed postmaster at Vevay by the Hon. Charles A.Wickliffe, Postmaster General under President Tyler, in 1843. He was removed in 1845, under Polk’s administration. He was in business in Vevay with Perret Dufour from 1834 to 1856, and with O. S. Waldo and Abner P. Dufour, until the spring of 1873. He died November 16, 1876.

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This family biography is one of 215 biographies included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published in 1885 by Weakley, Harraman & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Switzerland County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Switzerland County, Indiana family biographies here: Switzerland County, Indiana Biographies

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