BIOGRAPHIES:

Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois
Chapman Bros.
1886
     Joseph Clesson, one of Knox County's respected citizens and well to do farmers, residing on section 26, Elba Township, was born in Deerfield, Mass., Sept. 7, 1818. Mr. Clesson is a son of Joseph and Mehitable (Stebbins) Clesson, natives of Massachusetts. The parents came to Shelby County, this State, away back in 1837, and there lived until their death. Their children were nine in number, and Joseph was the second in order of birth.
     Joseph Clesson came to this State with his parents and lived with them in Shelby County, until his removal to Peoria County. He resided in the latter county two years, when he moved here, and in the spring of 1855 made settlement in Elba Township, on the place where is at present residing. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he is at present the owner of 80 acres of good and productive land, on which he has erected a comfortable residence, and in the prosecution of his most independent of all callings is meeting with success.
     Mr. Clesson was married in Shelby County, this State, in 1839, to Miss Mary Humphrey. She bore him one child - Mary - who died when two years of age. Mr. Clesson's wife died in this [Shelby] county, and in 1843 he formed a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Elizabeth Humphrey, sister of his former wife, and a native of Ohio. Of the latter union, four children have been born, named Melvina J., Barbara A., Nancy E. and Joseph H.; the latter is deceased. Melvina is the wife of Samuel Patterson, a farmer of Elba Township; Barbara A. married Joseph J. Matthews, who is engaged in farming in Salem Township; Nancy became Mrs. Albertus S. Codding and resides in Victoria Township.
     Mrs. Clesson died in Peoria County, Feb. 1, 1853, and our subject was again married in Lowell, Mass., March 25, 1855, to ***Hepsia Carr, a native of Deering, N. H., and born Feb. 22, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Clesson have an adopted son - Melva W. Clesson. Our subject has held some of the minor offices of his county, and in politics is a Democrat. He and his wife are believers in the tenets of the Universalist Church.