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Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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C. C. Clendenin, merchant at Lebanon, Mo., and son of Ephraim R. and Pauline (Conway) Clendenin, was born in Randolph Co., Ill., March 25, 1847. The parents were both natives of Randolph County, Ill., the father born in or near Rockwood and the mother born at Old Kaskaskia. The maternal grandfather, Clement C. Conway, was born in Ireland, and immigrated to South Carolina at an early date. From there he moved to Kaskaskia, Ill. He was a hatter by trade, which occupation he followed the principal part of his life. He died on the Ohio River, in 1852, of cholera. The grandfather Clendenin died in Randolph County, Ill. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits for several years in Old Liberty, and was one of the first business men of that place. He resided on a farm the most of his time. The father of our subject lived and died in Randolph County, Ill. In his youth he learned the trade of ship carpenter, which he followed until 1862, when he enlisted in the late war, but the quota being full, he was appointed by Lincoln as enrolling officer for the Southern Illinois District, which position he was filling at the time of his death, which occurred September 20, 1864. The mother is still living, and resides in Walnut, Kas. They were the parents of seven children, four now living: Emma G., wife of James Miln, of Cairo; Colburn C., Charles M. and Adelle. Those deceased were named Sydney, Penelope and Clara. C. C. Clendenin was reared in Liberty (now Rockwood), Ill., where he received a common-school education. He worked on the farm until the death of his father, in 1864, when he served an apprenticeship at the trade of stone cutting, which he followed for twelve years, and worked in the meantime on some of the largest State buildings in Illinois. He assisted in building the Springfield State House, the Southern Illinois Insane Asylum, Normal University of Carbondale, and the penitentiary at Chester. He was contracting for about five years in Illinois. In 1879 he took the contract for all the stone work on St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Chester, Ill., the finest church building in the county. In 1881 he took the contract for the stone work for the Shiloh Hill College building, in Randolph County, Ill., and the insane asylum on the Randolph County farm. In September, 1881, he came to Lebanon, Mo., and here engaged in the monumental and tombstone business with a partner. This he carried on for two years, then sold out, and was elected constable for Lebanon Township, serving two years. In 1886 he engaged in his present business with L. J. Kaffenberger, and the firm is known as Kaffenberger & Co. Mr. Clendenin was married December 20, 1871, to Miss Maggie L. Gordon, of Jackson County, Ill. To them was born one child, Etta, whose birth occurred October 23, 1872. He is a member of the K. L., National Lodge of Combined Industries, and Sons of Veterans. He is a member of the city council, and president of the town board. Mr. Clendenin is a strong advocate of organized labor, and it was the labor element that elected him to the position of city alderman. He was a delegate to the national convention of the United Labor party that met at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15, 1888, which nominated Streeter and Cunningham for President and Vice-President.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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