Clesson Cemetery

This very small cemetery is located on the Southeast Quarter of Section 26, Elba Township. It is on Knox Road 2300 East about one quarter mile north of Knox Road 750 North and about 100 yards west of the road in a pasture. All of the names are on one monument, but there is a separate stone for Elizabeth Clesson with the same info as on the monument There is no access to it from the road and it is hard to see as both stones are knocked over, but there is a small group of trees around it. The property is currently (2004) owned by Donna McKinty.

NAME	PARENTS	BIRTH - DEATH
Joseph Clesson	Joseph & Mehitabel (Stebbins)	Sep 7, 1818 - Sep 10, 1888
Elizabeth (Humphrey) Clesson	Unknown	Apr 22, 1826 - Feb 1, 1853
Mehepsabeth H. (Carr) Clesson	John & Mary ? (Unknown)	Mar 27, 1815 - Jul 6, 1889
Joseph Henry Clesson	Joseph & Elizabeth (Humphrey)	Jan 26, 1853 - Jul 9, 1880
John Carr	Unknown	Jan 12, 1785 - Sep 12, 1863
Mary (Unknown) Carr	Unknown	May 6, 1784 - Feb 19, 1867
J. S. Carr	Unknown	Jan 25, 1820 - Mar 25, 1875

NOTES:

The dates of marriage for the first two wives of Joseph Clesson that are given in the biography do not match what is found in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index. The date of birth for his third wife is said to be February 22, 1815 in the biography, but the dates on her tombstone calculate to a birth date of March 27, 1815.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois
Chapman Bros.
1886 page 384

     Joseph Clesson, one of Knox County's respected citizens and well to do farmers, residing on section 26, Elba Township, was born in Deerfield, Mass., Sept. 7, 1818. Mr. Clesson is a son of Joseph and Mehitable (Stebbins) Clesson, natives of Massachusetts. The parents came to Shelby County, this State, away back in 1837, and there lived until their death. Their children were nine in number, and Joseph was the second in order of birth.
     Joseph Clesson came to this State with his parents and lived with them in Shelby County, until his removal to Peoria County. He resided in the latter county two years, when he moved here, and in the spring of 1855 made settlement in Elba Township, on the place where is at present residing. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he is at present the owner of 80 acres of good and productive land, on which he has erected a comfortable residence, and in the prosecution of his most independent of all callings is meeting with success.
     Mr. Clesson was married in Shelby County, this State, in 1839, to Miss Mary Humphrey. She bore him one child - Mary - who died when two years of age. Mr. Clessons wife died in this [Shelby] county, and in 1843 he formed a second martimonial alliance with Miss Elizabeth Humphrey, sister of his former wife, and a native of Ohio. Of the latter union, four children have been born, named Melvina J., Barbara A., Nancy E. and Joseph H.; the latter is deceased. Melvina is the wife of Samuel Patterson, a farmer of Elba Township; Barbara A. married Joseph J. Matthews, who is engaged in farming in Salem Township; Nancy became Mrs. Albertus S. Codding and resides in Victoria Township.
     Mrs. Clesson died in Peoria County, Feb. 1, 1853, and our subject was again married in Lowell, Mass., March 25, 1855, to Hepsia Carr, a native of Deering, N.H., and born Feb. 22, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Clesson have an adopted son - Melva W. Clesson. Our subject has held some of the minor offices of his county, and in politics is a Democrat. He and his wife are believers in the tenets of the Universalist Church.

MARRIAGES:

Joseph Clesson married Mary Humphrey on February 29, 1844 in Shelby County, Illinois.

Joseph Clesson married Mrs. Elizabeth (Humphrey) Miller on August 4, 1846 in Shelby County, Illinois.

Joseph Clesson married Mehepsabeth Carr on March 25, 1855 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Joseph H. Clesson married Ella Sipes on January 11, 1878 in Knox County, Illinois.

John Carr married Mary (UNKNOWN)