STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 94
December 10, 1854, Bird Claywell was born. He is the eldest son of the nine children of William J. and Permelia (Peak) Claywell. His father is known to a majority of the people in this county and was one of the first progressive farmers of the county to stand out for a better grade of cattle and hogs. For years he devoted a great deal of attention to shorhorn cattle and Poland-China swine. His mother was Miss Permelia Peak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bird Peak, who were among the earliest pioneers of the county. Mrs. Peak still resides in Winchester. Our subject was reared upon a farm in section one, 13-13, and diligently applied himself to the duties connected therewith. His education was not neglected and when he attained his majority he was well fitted to grapple with the perplexing problems of life.
December 28, 1876, he was married to Miss Malissa Hamilton, who was born in Virginia, March 10, 1854. Five children have come of this union. They are: Annie Belle, born October 17, 1877; William Jasper, born March 25, 1880; Permelia, born January 17, 1883; Charlie, born August 18, 1885, and Earl, born April 18, 1892. There has been one death in the family, that of a son, William Jasper, who died August 27, 1881.
For the first two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Claywell made their home with his grandfather, Bird Peak, and then bought the James Shull farm and have since resided there. On May 23, 1895, Mr. Claywell, has wife and daughter, Annie, were baptized and received into fellowship in the Baptist church. His son, Charlie, was later taken into the same church.
Mr. Claywell has served the people as school treasurer for two terms. He was first elected when he was twenty-one years of age and served until his marriage in 1876. In 1896 he was again elected and served two years. Bird Claywell possesses much of the kindly feeling given to his father and may be likened as having been "a lad after the old man's heart." It is certain that he is endowed with many of the noble traits which have so marked his father's course in life, and in his benevolence, kindness and charity is following closely in his footsteps. The example set before him was fitting and proper and in conforming his life to it he has acted wisely and well.