Charles P. Clemens (Clarke County)
State House: 1874-1875
Born: c. 1842 in Darke County, OH
Death: November 29, 1895 in Dayton, OH
Sawmill engineer referred to as “Rev.” Served with Company A of the 45th U.S. Colored Infantry. Member of the Committees on Public Education, Federal Relations, Railroads, and Public Works. Referred to as Reverend and led the house in prayer on more than one occasion.
Clemens was born in a community of free people in Darke County, OH, to parents Layton Clemens and Mary Wright. Listed on the 1850 and 1860 census with his parents. There is an Ohio birth record for a Daniel Webster Rickman (1872-1942), son of Charles Clemens and Hannah Rickman. There are no more records of Clemens being involved with Hannah or Daniel. Clemens was living with his father and siblings on the 1870 and 1880 census and died at a home for disabled soldiers in 1895.
According to this passing reference in the WPA history of Oktibbeha County, Clemens also lived there for a short time: “[T]hey received an intelligent colored man for their pastor and teacher in the person of Dr. C. P. Clemens, of Ohio.”
Links:
Memorial on Find A Grave
Historic farmstead of Clemens’ grandparents, James & Sophia Clemens
