Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Clow, William M 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 9:29 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

WILLIAM M. CLOW owns an improved stock and dairy farm on section 14, Wheatland 
Township. Born on a farm, he selected agriculture as his life occupation; the 
success he has met proves he made no mistake. Under his father he acquired 
some knowledge of many details connected with cultivating the soil and raising 
stock. At the time of his marriage he started for himself, bought one hundred 
and fifteen acres of unimproved land, which he has since added to by the 
purchase of one hundred and twenty acres. He assisted in incorporating the 
creamery, which proved to be profitable. He has held the offices of township 
clerk, road commissioner and school director, and in politics is a Democrat.

The grandfather of our subject, Robert Clow, a native of Dumfrieshire, 
Scotland, brought his family to America in 1837. He and his family (six sons 
and two daughters) rented the old Shaker farm on Sodus Bay, N. Y., which they 
worked six years. In 1843 they came west via the Erie canal and the lakes to 
Chicago. Settling in Will County, he and his sons pre-empted and purchased 
some fourteen hundred and eighty acres. He resided on the place until his 
death in 1877, aged eighty-five years. His wife died in Scotland. They had six 
sons and four daughters. At the time the family came to America, Robert Clow, 
Jr., father of our subject, was eighteen years old. He accompanied his father 
to this county in 1844 and was identified with its farm and public interests 
all his life. In 1849, at the age of thirty-one, he married Miss Rosanna 
McMicken, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came to Illinois with her 
parents in 1843. Their home was the southeast quarter of section 15. He was a 
Republican in politics. He served one term in the Illinois legislature, two 
terms as circuit clerk of the county, and also as justice of the peace, 
township clerk and supervisor. He died September 15, 1888, and his wife in 
1895, at the home of her son, John B. They had eight children, five of whom 
are living, namely: William M.; Ellen J., wife of Charles H. Farquhar, of 
Chicago; Adam S., who farms his grandfather's homestead; John B., who has 
succeeded to the ownership of his father's place; and Rose, wife of H. H. 
Hyland, of Lamar, Mo.

The eldest child of his parents, our subject was  born December 18, 1850. His 
education was obtained in local schools and four terms at Aurora. In 1874 he 
married Eliza V. Cherry, of Kendall County, an estimable woman and consistent 
member of the Presbyterian Church. They have five children, namely: Ida G., 
deceased; Robert C., Annie L., Charles H. and Lena. The family stand high 
among the people of the township, and are respected in the best social 
circles, their intelligence and refinement bringing them many friends.


Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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