Clary, Franklin bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 459-460; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Franklin Clary. Fulton County is justly proud of her native born citizens, who are honorably bearing their share in sustaining her interests and extending her wealth. Among these is the subject of this biographical review, who is chiefly engaged in stock-raising in Deerfield Township, and is one of its most progressive and enlightened farmers.
The parents of our subject were among the pioneers of Fulton County, coming here in 1848. His father, Henry Clary, was born in Kentucky in 1824. His mother, Sarah E. (Davis) Clary, was born in that State in 1830. After coming here they located in Lewistown Township, where they lived about ten years. They then removed to Woodland Township, where the father died in 1868, thus depriving his community of a good citizen. The mother is still living there.
Mr. Clary was born in this county, February 17, 1856. He has four brothers and five sisters living. He was reared and educated in this county, obtaining his schooling in the district schools. He remained an inmate of the parental home till the age of twenty-three years, when he married Ida M. Hendee; their marriage taking place February 1, 1880. Mrs. Clary was born in Texas, March 19, 1858. She is the daughter of Josiah and Mary (Watkins) Hendee, natives respectively of Connecticut and Kentucky.
Our subject and his wife began their wedded life on land rented from William Craig. Mr. Clary farmed that place for two years, and at the end of that time bought eighty acres of land on section 10, Deerfield Township, where he has resided ever since. He has greatly improved his farm and added to its value, by tiling, building fences, barns, etc., and has here a fine looking place. His principal business is stock-raising, he having his farm well stocked and is doing a profitable business in that line.
As a young man of clear, well-balanced mind, with a good insight into business matters, and much capability, our subject is considered to be well adapted to public life, and last year was elected by his fellow citizens to a position on the County Board of Supervisors by a very large majority. He is an ardent Democrat in his political views and uses his influence to advance party interests. He is not a member of any church but is a liberal contributor to religious organizations, as his wife is a devoted member of the Christian Church. They have one of the coziest of homes and to them has come a little daughter, Mabel, born April 24, 1890.