Oliver Clawson was born on August 18, 1823 in Ohio. It is beleived that he is possibly the son of Runey and Phebe Clawson.

Elizabeth (Montgomery) Clawson was born on November 25, 1823 in Kentucky. Her parents are unknown.

Oliver and Elizabeth were married on April 13, 1844 and are believed to have had the following eleven children:

1. Luther M. Clawson
b: Feb 16, 1845
d: Oct 14, 1875
m. Bathsheba 'Sheba' R. Stanford
b: Dec 20, 1851
d: Apr 11, 1923
m: Jan 27, 1875
The only known child of Luther and Sheba is:
1a. Laura Clawson b: 1875 d: 1934 m. Unknown
NOTE: Sheba was previously married to Luther's brother, James.

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2. Mahala A. Clawson

b: Oct 31, 1846
d. Unknown
m. John Fulkerson
b: 1842
m: Aug 14, 1866
The only child that survived to adulthood of Mahala and John is:
2a Alice Fulkerson b: Sep 11, 1870 d: 1914 m. George Harter Bissey b: Feb 21, 1867 d: 1950

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3. John B. Clawson
b. Dec 06, 1848
d. 1913
m. Laura E. Davis
b. Unknown
d. Unknown
m. Dec 28, 1876

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4. James W. Clawson
b: Mar 15, 1851
d: Jun 22, 1872
m. Bathsheba 'Sheba' R. Stanford
b: Dec 20, 1851
d: Apr 11, 1923
m: Oct 26, 1871
The only known child of James and Sheba is:
4a. Mary Emma Clawson b. Unknown d. Unknown m. John A. Bissey
NOTE: Sheba married James' brother, Luther, in 1875.

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5. Samuel Clawson
b. Jan 21, 1853
d. Apr 23, 1857
m. N/A

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6. Edward M. Clawson
b. Apr 17, 1855
d. May 03, 1856
m. N/A

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7. Albert Clawson

b. Jun 24, 1857
d. Jun 1902
m. Elizabeth Thompson in 1888
b. Unknown
d. Unknown
Known children of Albert and Elizabeth include:
Oliver Clawson b. Unknown d. Unknown m. Unknown
Ines Clawson b. Unknown d. Unknown m. Unknown

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8. Charles Clawson
b. Oct 07, 1859
d. Jun 03, 1945
m. Mary Gaylor
b. Unknown
d. Unknown
m. Mar 04, 1886

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9. Mary Clawson
b. Jul 03, 1862
d. Apr 14, 1863
m. N/A

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10. William R. Clawson
b. Jun 14, 1864
d. Dec 1947
m. Cora A. Vail
b. Unknown
d. Unknown
m. Oct 03, 1889

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11. Ellis H. Clawson

b: Nov 05, 1866
d: 1944
m. Bathsheba "Sheba" Bissey
b: 1869
d: 1933
m: Mar 09, 1893
Known children of Ellis and Sheba include:
11a. Lois Clawis Clawson b: Jan 26, 1896 d: Apr 29, 1964 m. Vernon Bunn Stanford
11b. Marion Don Clawson b: Feb 10, 1900 d: Dec 15, 1951 m. Ruey Golda Stanford

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Oliver and Elizabeth are found in the 1860 census for Butler County. Liberty township in Ohio and ten years later in Clay county Illinois, Stanford Township in the 1870 census. Both census show Oliver as a farmer and Elizabeth as "keeping house".

Oliver died on August 13, 1896 and Elizabeth died on March 21, 1902. Both Oliver and Elizabeth are believed to be buried next to their daughter Mahala in the Clay City Cemetery at Clay City, Illinois. While Mahala's tombstone still stands (as of October 26, 1998), Oliver and Elizabeth's tombstones no long exists.

Several old letters were recently found that are of great interest to anyone researching this Clawson family. Most of the letters are written by Alice Fulkerson who was Mahala (Clawson) Fulkerson's daughter. However, one letter was written by Oliver Clawson which is dated August 20, 1888 to his son William. These letters have been transcibed and can be read on the Alice Fulkerson letters page. While reading these letters, keep in mind that Mahala Fulkerson died when her daughter, Alice, was only four years old and that Alice went to live most of her younger life with her grandparents, Oliver and Elizabeth Clawson. Alice's father, John Fulkerson, apparently moved back to Indiana after Mahala's death.