MONROE COUNTY, GA - BIOGRAPHIES   William P. Clements

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'MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA", Historical and Biographical Sketches, by S. Emmett Lucas, Jr., PUBLISHED IN 1896.

Typed by Donna Wall


WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, merchant and postmaster, Brent, Monroe
Co., Ga., son of Wesley and Jane (Smith) Clements, was born
in Muscogee county, Ga., March 19, 1855. His grandfather,
Davis Smith, one of the earliest settlers of the county \,
was the son of Dixon and Elizabeth Smith, and was born in
Washington county, Ga., in 1793. Early in life he engaged in
merchandising in Dublin, Laurens Co., in which he was very
successful. During this period Mr. Smith married Mrs.
Elizabeth Jordan, and , in 1820, moved to Forsyth. Son
afterward he acquired possession of the 400-acre tract of
land on which William P. Clemments now lives, between five
and six miles southwest of Forsyth. In 1825 he moved and
settled upon it, and established a planting and mercantile
interest which laid the foundation of a fortune. He carried
on his business, and was a central figure in the community
for a lifetime. He became one of the largest land and slave-
owners in that locality, and attained to a strong and wide
influence. At one time he owned 2,000 acres of land, and
when emancipation was proclaimed he had some hundred slaves.
He was elected colonel of militia, then regarded a
distinction, and being a strong whig partisan and politician
was elected several times to represent the county in the
general assembly.

He was a Missionary Baptist, and began early in his
Christian life to speak in public, and for the greater part
of his lifetime was a local preacher of that denomination,
Col Smith died in 1867, and his wife in 1868. They reared
nine children: Miranda, widow of Orlando Holland, Monroe
county; Mary, deceased; T. T., retired merchant, living at
the old homestead; Davis, Habersham county, ga; Elizabeth
and John D., both deceased; James, Macon, Ga.,; Judson,
killed in the last battle of the war, at West Point, Ga.;
Jane, married to Wesley Clemments, who was killed while in
the Confederate service. By Wesley Clements she had three
children: William P., the subject of this sketch; Thomas, in
railway service, Athens, Ga., and Lizzie, wife of J. E.
Chambliss, Macon, Ga., After the war Mrs. Clements married
Thomas Y. Brent, formerly of Louisville, Ky. But now a
merchant, Macon, Ga. By this last marriage she has two
children: Taylor Y., plant, Monroe county, and J. I.,
merchant, Macon, Ga., William P. Clements was reared on a
farm, in the community of which he is now a member. At the
age of nineteen he embarked in the mercantile business, for
which he has shown such remarkable aptitude, and in which he
has been so successful. Besides the store he has large
planting interest. Through his instrumentality the
postoffice of Brent was established, of which was made
postmaster. The firm is Brent & Clements, and carries a
stock of $3,000, but Mr. Clements has the sole control and
responsibility. The management of these three interest-
plantation, store and postoffice - requires good business
capacity, energy, close attention and up-to-date
information, and all those Mr. Clements gives and displays.
He evidently inherits the superior business sagacity and
judicious enterprise of his grandfather Davis, combined with
hustling activity, else he would prove unequal to his work.
Politically Mr. Clements has always been devoted to the
democracy, and feels that he is yet, so far as Jeffersonian
principles are concerned. He ardently favors the reform
embodied in the platform of the people’s party, and is
giving his influence to its success. Mr. Clements was
married Oct. 28, 1885, to Miss Sallie, daughter of Mrs.
Julia D. Thweatt, of Forsyth. She was born in Columbus, and
by her name will be recognized as a member of an old and
very prominent family. Fourt children have been born to
thenm: John Brent, deceased; Julia Thweatt, Jennie Brent and
Marie Keto. Mr. Clements and his wife are active,
enthusiastic Methodist; and he takes great interest in all
church work, especially the Sunday school, of which he has
been superintendent four years.