CLEMENTS, HENRY D. (deceased). - The late Henry D. Clements was one of the most substantial and respected citizens of Mechanicsburg, where he lived retired from active life for several years. Mr. Clements was born in Kentucky, December 28, 1830, a son of John Clements, a native of Kentucky and a farmer. The parents were early settlers of Sangamon County, Ill., and located on a farm in Mechanicsburg Township, where the remainder of their lives was spent. The family has been identified with the best interests of Sangamon County ever since and many of its members have been interested in agricultural operations.

The boyhood of Henry D. Clements was spent on his father's farm and he was early trained to the occupation at which he spent all his active life. He received his education in Sangamon County and carried on farming on his own account in Mechanicsburg Township during the greater portion of his active life. Mr. Clements was married in Mechanicsburg, October 20, 1853, to Eliza Ann Shane, who was born April 14, 1835, and died July 23, 1871, and to this union nine children were born, of whom but two survive: Laura, wife of Robert Ely, of Mechanicsburg, and Alma, wife of John Hart, living on a farm west of Springfield. Mr. Clements married (second) June 30, 1875, in Springfield, Mrs. Martha (Baldwin) Hale, who was born in Indiana in 1845, daughter of William B. Baldwin. Her father came to Christian County, Ill., from Indiana, at an early day, and spent many years in farming there, then sold out and moved to Mechanicsburg, where he lived until a short time before his death, which occurred October 22, 1910, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rachel McVey, of Mt. Pulaski, Ill., where he had gone on a visit. He was then eighty-nine years of age. He and his wife had five daughters and one son, and but two of these children now survive, Mrs. Clements and Mrs. Rachel McVey.

The first marriage of Mrs. Clements was to William Hale and occurred in Mechanicsburg, in 1862. To this union four children were born, of whom three now survive, namely: Margaret, wife of Scott Grundon, of Cerro Gordo, Ill.; William S. who lives in Spaulding, Ill.; Nellie, wife of Edward Squires, of Divernon. There are eighteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren in the family.

Mr. Clements was a man of public spirit and interested in the welfare and progress of his community. He was a member of the Methodist Church and a Republican in politics. He had won many warm friends and was one of the best known men in his part of the county. His death occurred December 12, 1902. His widow owns a comfortable home in Mechanicsburg and other property in the vicinity. Mr. Clements was fairly successful in his business enterprises and endeavored to provide well for his family.