THOMAS PORTER CLAWSON, an agriculturist of Center township, Indiana county, was born April 16, 1861, son of Daniel and Anna E. (Moses) Clawson. The first of the name in Indiana county was Daniel Clawson, a native of Hollidaysburg, Blair Co., Pa., who settled in Blacklick township, on a farm of 160 acres, being one of the pioneers of that region. On this property he erected buildings and spent the remainder of his life in useful, peaceful pursuits, dying there; his remains were interred in Bethel graveyard in Center township. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Daniel Clawson married Margaret Hollis, of Blair county, and their children were: John; David; Ephraim, who located in Center township; Sally, who married John Clawson, of Center township; and William, who was killed by a horse in childhood.
David Clawson, son of Daniel, was born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., and came to Blacklick township with his parents. There he took up farming, and followed that calling all his life, spending his days upon his farm, where he died, his remains being buried in the Jacksonville Presbyterian cemetery. In politics he was a Republican. While residing in Blacklick he was married to Rebecca Ross, daughter of John Ross, also of Blacklick township, and their children were: Daniel; Margaret, Nancy and John, all three of whom died in childhood; David, who is still residing in Blacklick township; Porter, who was in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil war, and now resides in Cokeville, Pa.; Fergus; and Lucinda, who married Abraham Dingman.
Daniel Clawson, son of David, was born in Blacklick township, where he was educated, attending public school. He remained on the homestead until the summer of 1863, when he enlisted, in August, in Company K, 135th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, but was soon thereafter taken sick and confined in Harwood hospital, where he died in October, 1863. He was buried at Washington, D. C. Mr. Clawson was only thirty years old at the time of his untimely death. Politically he was a Republican. The Methodist Church held his membership, and he was a faithful adherent to its teachings. He married Annie E. Moses, of Bedford county, Pa., daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Blake) Moses, and the following children were born of this marriage: Hannah Jane, deceased, who married David Swoger; and Thomas Porter and Agnes, twins, the latter marrying George Moses and residing in Cleveland, Ohio. On June 26, 1872, Mrs. Clawson married (second) Porter Clawson, her brother-in-law, and they had two children: Nora, who married Stewart Wolford, of Cokeville; and Edward, who resides in Blacklick township.
Thomas Porter Clawson, son of Daniel, continued under his mother's protection until be was thirteen years old, when he went to live with his grandfather. There he learned farming from the beginning, and after he married he bought thirty-two acres of land, a portion of the homestead, and began agricultural pursuits for himself. Later on he bought the Rhea farm of 138 acres, and there spent eighteen years, in 1902 selling this property to the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal Company. He now owns the Lucas farm located near his old place.
In 1884 Mr. Clawson was married to Sarah A. Rhea, a daughter of Hugh Rhea, of Center township. They had one son, Arthur, who married Effie Kerr, by whom be has had two children: Miland and Wilbur, and lives in Jacksonville.
Mr. Clawson has always given the Republican ticket his
hearty support. As a member and trustee of the Jacksonville Methodist Church
he has been very useful, and for eleven years has been an enthusiastic Sunday
school teacher; for ten years he as been class leader and steward.
A man of abundant energy, Mr. Clawson has always carried through to successful
completion anything he set out to accomplish. Genial in disposition,
he has won friends, and retained them through long years because one of
his sober, industrious habits deserves all confidence and respect.