Jacob Clemens
Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio
Citation & Digital Resources
1897
pg. 427-428,
also page 642 and 743, born in Bavaria on December 19, 1828 to Adam and Catherine Clemens, married Elizabeth Reisberger
Mrs. Elizabeth Reisberger Clemens
Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio
Citation & Digital Resources
1897
pg. 428,
born 1829, married Jacob Clemens
JACOB CLEMENS, [pages 427-428] a native of the palatinate of Rhenish Bavaria, was A J born on the 19th of December, 1828, being the son of Adam and Catherine Clemens, who were born in Germany, where they passed their entire lives, being people of intelligence, industry and honest worth. They became the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living. Two of the sons, Peter and Nicholas, were the first of the family to emigrate to America. They left their native land in the year 1846, and upon arriving in this country came westward to Ohio, locating in Defiance county, where they still reside, both being farmers. Two years later, in 1848, three other members of the family also came from the fatherland to try their fortunes in the United States. These three were Jacob, his brother Adam and his sister Caroline, who was then the wife of Peter Leonhardt. They landed in New York city on the. 30th of May. Another sister, Philopena, became the wife of John Schaun, whom she accompanied to Brazil in 1847. Elizabeth and Catherine never severed the ties which bound them to the old home, and both died in Germany.
Jacob Clemens secured his educational discipline in the excellent schools of his native land, and also prepared himself for the practical duties of life by devoting his attention for some time to work at the carpenter's trade, with which he had become quite familiar at the time of his emigration to America. Upon his arrival he came direct to Montgomery county, Ohio, and his first stay was at Hole's Creek, six miles south of Dayton, where he remained about two months. He then went to Miamisburg, in the same county, and there remained until 1849, when he came to Dayton, where he has ever since resided. After his arrival here he worked at his trade until 1866, when he engaged in general contracting. This line of enterprise held his attention for six years, and his careful business methods and capable management insured success to his efforts. His next business venture was the building of a planing mill, at the corner of Fifth and Mad River streets, and this industry he prosecuted with excellent results for twelve years, when he disposed of the business to Philip E. Gilbert, and thereupon retired from active exertion, content to enjoy the fruits of his past labors.
Mr. Clemens, in 1851, married Miss Elizabeth Reisberger, who, like himself, was born in the picturesque Rhine district of the province of Bavaria, the year of her birth having been 1829. Their home life has been one of great happiness and the marriage has been blessed by the birth of twelve children, all save four of whom are deceased. The four survivors are; Martin, now a resident of Cincinnati; Clara, the wife of Thomas Selz, of the Pearl laundry, in Dayton; Annie and Mary, twins, the former of whom is the wife of Joseph Schneble and the latter of Theodore Schneble, of Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Clemens have long been zealous and devoted members of Trinity Roman Catholic church, in which they have been communicants for many years.
Mr. Clemens has always taken a lively and public-spirited interest in the questions of the hour and in the political issues involved. He has been a stalwart supporter of the democratic party and a firm advocate of the essential principles which underlie its organization. In 1884 he was honored by the citizens of the county through election as a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery county infirmary, which office he retained for three years, giving to its duties that careful attention and unflagging interest which had ever been characteristic of his efforts in private business affairs. In 1891 he was a member of the decennial board of equalization of Dayton.
Mr. Clemens is a man of marked individuality, of pleasing address, and strong intellectual grasp, and his life has been so lived as to gain to him the merited reward of the respect and esteem of his fellow men. The city of his home has ever called forth his hearty interest, and he has done all in his power to further its progress and insure its stable prosperity. He well deserves consideration in this connection as one of the representative men of the city of Dayton.
Conover, Frank. Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio. Chicago: A. W. Bowen. 1897. Gen R 977.172 C753C.
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