Obituary of Tilman Curtis CLOW, Fayette County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sally J Wildasinn-Ward (This is a copy from a newspaper article on the death of Mr. Tilman Curtis Clow, April 16, 1952 at Altamont, IL printed April 24, 1952, Thursday by the Beecher City Journal.) Mr. Tilman Curtis Clow by H.H. Bailey Tilman Curtis Clow was born near Post Oak, a pioneer trading center, NW of Altamont, in Fayette County, April 24, 1862. He was the second son of Johnston Clow and Margaret Buzzard Clow. Mr. Clow’s earthly career ended on April 16, 1952. He would have been ninty on April 24th. Mr. Clow’s grandparents, Edward Clow and Hannah Smith Clow, came from Holmes County, Ohio to the Post Oak settlement in 1839, when Johnston Clow was only ten years of age. Here they bought a half section of unbroken land. Born during the dark days of the Civil War, school opportunities were limited but these opportunities were not neglected in the Clow family. In those days the home was an important factor in child training and in teaching the fundamental virtues of good living. The family moved to the Crum’s Chapel neighborhood after the Civil War on Jan. 12, 1886. Mr. Clow and Miss Sarah Catherine (spelled Catharine in the family Bible birth records) Blakely, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Blakely, were united in holy bonds of wedlock. Their home was established near Crum’s Chapel, where it remained until 1910, when Mr. and Mrs. Clow moved to Altamont. Eight children were born to this union, as follows; Pearl Clow, Stuttgart, Ark; Hary Clow, whose death occurred December 4, 1947; Mrs. Maud Smith, San Diego, Calif; Johnston Clow, Walla Walla, Wash; Mrs. Margaret Stroble, Detroit, Mich; William Quincy Clow, Los Angeles, Calif. (moved to Cloverdale, Cal. 1956) Louis Clow, Long Beach, Calif; Ralf Clow, Detroit, Mich. Mr. Clow was a successful farmer and stock man. He became a director of the First National Bank at the time of its organization. He had a keen sense of values and through fortunate circumstances became one of the leading oil producers of the Loudon Field. (He was primarily a lessor.) He also served as school trustee many years. He was a congenial man, in the home, among his friends and neighbors, and wherever he was known. Alert to the last, it was always a pleasure to meet him. He and Mrs. Clow were regular attendants at Crum’s Chapel, and later at Altamont. The present lighting system of the first Methodist Church was a gift from these two and now becomes a memorial for them. In addition to the children, there is a surviving brother, Daniel Clow; 17 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. And thus we note the passing of another prominent citizen, a man who knew this section of the country for more that 80 years, a man of legions of friends, a man of sterling character and worth. Note: This newspaper obit was found in the Tilman and Sarah (Blakely) Clow family Bible. Bible printed by The Bowen, Merril Co. of Indianapolis, Indiana. Published in 1882. The above obit was re- typed from the original newspaper obit by Donald K. Wildasinn, husband of Patricia Caroline (Clow) Wildasinn, who is the daughter of Louis Curtis Clow, son of Tilman Curtis Clow and his wife Sarah Catherine Blakely. Donald Wildasinn’s copy was re-typed by Sally J. Wildasinn-Ward, daughter of Donald and Patricia C. (Clow) Wildasinn, May 18, 2001. ***************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproducd in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ***************************************************************** Contributed by: Sally J Wildasinn-Ward