Jesse Clanin
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Clanin
On section two of Sims Township, three quarters of a mile east and three miles north of the town of Swayzee, is located the rural home of Jesse Clanin, one of the prosperous men of Grant County. With almost one hundred and twenty acres of fine soil of Sims Township at this command, Mr. Clanin has never failed to make a good living for his family, is well provided for future needs, and along with security in material circumstances possesses the high esteem of the citizens who have known him through youth and manhood in the community where he has spent all his life.
Jesse Clanin was born on the same section of Sims Township where he now resides, November 23, 1860. His parents were substantial and highly respected people, Reuben and Jane (Townsend) Clanin. The father was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and the mother in Wayne County, Indiana, in which latter locality they were married, and soon afterward moved to grant County and located in Sims Township in 1859. There they spent the rest of their lives in quiet activities of country life. The mother died in 1875, and the father in 1898, the latter having been born in 1814, and being eighty-four years of age when death came to him. He was a member of the Universalist Church. The father had fourteen children, seven of whom are living in 1913. By his first marriage seven children were born and the same number by his second union, and of the latter marriage four are living at this time, Jesse; Susan, wife of Stephen Carmichael; Thirza, wife of Charles Harold; and Thompson, of Sweetser.
Jesse Clanin grew up on the old farm, and while a boy attended the local schools. On September 25, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary B. Hall, who was bon in the state of Illinois, but has resided in Grant County since early girlhood. They have four children: Arthur, a graduate of the common schools and the business college and Normal College, is private secretary for Sterling R. Holt, at Indianapolis; Frank, a graduate of the common schools and the high school at Swayzee, is a school teacher; Earl is a graduate of the common and high schools and the Marion Business College, and is a farmer near Gas City; Anna T., was graduated from both the grammar and high schools and lives at home.
Mr. Clanin has had membership in the F. M. B. A. In politics he is a Democrat, but the campaign of 1912 voted the Progressive ticket. For several years he served as constable of Sims Township. He has led a life of quiet industry, and is one of the substantial men in his community. He bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in 1907, and has made many improvements thereon. Prior to this time for twenty-five years he lived on his fifty acre farm in section eleven, Sims Township, but sold that farm when he bought his present homestead.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner