Bio: Clair, Aaron Leslie & Elizabeth

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Claire, Albright, Henrikson, Zevnik, Borcher, Scharenbrock

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Aaron Leslie Clair, son of Preston and Mary G. Clair, was born July 25, 1866, near Lena, Illinois. He grew up on his father's farm, went to public school, then to Mt. Mor¬ris College where he became a professor. He then taught in Maryville Seminary in Missouri until 1892.

That same year he married Miss Elizabeth Albright. He then taught in Mt. Morris College in many capacities un¬til he resigned because of ill health and came to Willard in April 1907 with his wife Lizzie and four small children: Ada, Alma, Allan and Arnold. Their little brother Alva had passed away at the age of eighteen months. Upon ar¬riving they found only one family, the Slaughters, no depot, brush and cut-over timber and a couple of vacant log cabins which had been logging camps. They moved into one of fiem and proceeded to lay out a home in the wilderness, they accomplished this deed in a very short time. It was constructed of hand-sawed lumber. Mr. Clair had intended this house as a temporary home and plan¬ned to build another at a later date.

In 1908 they had a new baby, named Elizabeth. Mr. Clair had become a Brethren Minister which he was until his death. In the meantime with all the jobs he had going, he sold land for N. C. Foster, had a saw mill and in-between times he took many trips for his many enter¬prises.

While he was on one of these trips their home and everything in it burned to the ground. This was in 1910 and before the year was over they had a new and better home all built and complete.
Mr. Clair held Sunday Services in different homes and plans were made for a church building.

He was always busy with something. His energy and plans were cut short, for on March 23, 1911 he was in¬volved in an accident at the mill which resulted in his death. His wife was left with four small childlren plus a new two-week old baby. Allen had passed away at the age of 7 years.

All of the Clair children were left a scholarship to Mt. Morris College upon the father's death. Only Alma and Ada used the scholarships. Alma had become Mrs. Henrikson. She is now deceased. Ada married Anton Zevnik. She is now deceased. Mildred, now deceased, mar¬ried Glen Borcher. Arnold is now living in Greenwood and is the only surviving boy. Elizabeth, the only surviv¬ing girl is now Mrs. John Scharenbrock and lives in Willard on the home place.

Mrs. Clair had kept up the home, with farming a little, her chickens, some 'room and boarding' etc. until all the family was grown. Arnold stayed around and some renters lived there too. Mother Lizzie, as she was known, spent time with each of the children, first one and then the other until she passed away August 18, 1958 and was buried with her husband in Greenwood. Allan is also buried there. John and Elizabeth moved back to Willard in 1965 and have lived here since.

By: E. Scharenbrock