Clearwaters Biography
NATHAN CLEARWATERS
The biographical records of DeWitt County, Illinois would not be complete without the inclusion of the founding father of Farmer City, Nathan Clearwaters. Click on the image to view a larger picture.
Nathan’s father was Reuben Clearwaters, a native of North Carolina, who went to Tennessee during his early life. While in Tennessee Reuben married Jane Miller, who was born on the south branch of the Potomac in Virginia. Jane’s family also moved to Tennessee when she was quite young. In 1810 the couple, accompanied by their children, emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, where they spent the next ten years. The family moved around for the next few years living in Franklin, Monroe and Putnam Counties Indiana. By 1830 the family had removed to Vermilion County Illinois staying there about two years before moving to Buckle Grove, McLean County where Reuben bought a large tract of land and where he and Jane would spend the rest of their days, both living to advanced ages. Reuben also had early ties to DeWitt County, having owned at one time the Henry Huddleston, farm. Reuben and Jane’s children were, John, Nathan, Susan Westfall, Malinda Royston, Elizabeth Huddleston, Dr. Jacob Clearwaters, Mary Ann Campbell, Jane Kimbler and Dr. Reuben Clearwaters. Reuben and Jane Clearwaters are both buried in the old cemetery on the south side of Leroy, Illinois. Nathan served as administrator of his parents' large estate. All children and grandchildren of deceased children received a sizable amount of money.
Nathan Clearwater was born in Greene County, Tennessee, May 7, 1807 and accompanied his parents on their various moves during his boyhood and youth, receiving a fair education for those days. On August 7th 1828, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Danner, who was born in Harrison County, Indiana. Mary’s parents, John and Catherine (Zenor) Danner, were also pioneers of DeWitt County, where their deaths occurred. The Danner children, who mostly settled in the Farmer City area, were, Absalom, who married in 1837 to Lucretia Covey. This was the first wedding performed in Santa Anna Township. Allen B., John Z., Samuel, Rachel, David, William, Isaac, Catherine and Mary M.
Children of Nathan and Mary Danner Clearwaters were, Jane, who died at the age of six and was the first person buried at Farmer City, William L., who died at the age of eight, John Wesley, who died at twenty-two, Malinda, wife of J. Griffith, Absalom, a resident of Kansas, America, wife of M. E. Knight, Perlina R. who died at the age of twenty , Patton, who died at age ten, Reuben Allen, who died at age fifty and Patton W., a resident of Farmer City.
Nathan Clearwaters is remembered today in Farmer City by a large stone bearing his name standing on the edge of the city square. It was Nathan who helped to lay out the town of Farmer City Illinois in 1837.
Submitted by Nathalie C. Patton
Date: May 8, 1997