San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. JENNIE (SPROTT) CLEMENTS
Pre-eminent among the most
interesting factors in the history of romantic California must be rated the
lives of such genuine and worthy pioneers as the late Thomas Clements, who
passed away in 1893, and his estimable companion who so admirably sustains his
standards in the old Clements home, in whose honor the town of Clements was
named. Thomas Clements was a well-known
and prominent citizen of San Joaquin County, where he took up his abode in
1872, settling upon the ranch which is yet occupied by his widow. He was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on the
Glenview Farm, December 18, 1837, his parents being John and Mary (Lester)
Clements, who were also natives of the north of Ireland. In the place of his nativity he was reared,
obtaining his education there in its public schools, and in 1857, when twenty
years of age, he migrated to America, making his way directly to California. For a number of years he resided in Amador
County, and remained there until his removal to San Joaquin County in 1872.
On April 15, 1868, Mr. Clements was
united in marriage to Miss Jennie Sprott, also a native of the north of
Ireland, her birthplace being Branbridge, County
Down, and her natal day being September 21, 1841. She is a daughter of Thomas and Jennie
Sprott, likewise natives of the north of Ireland. When a girl of six years she was brought to
New York City by a married sister, with whom she resided until after she
attained womanhood, leaving the east for California in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Clements were the parents of
seven children.
Thomas Clements always carried on
agricultural pursuits, and prospered in his undertakings, investing extensively
in fine lands. His Amador County ranch
contained 585 acres and is still in the possession of his estate. The property lies south of Ione and is used
for grazing land. The ranch at Clements
contains 1,400 acres of land under cultivation, and was the first to be planted
to hops in the northeast part of San Joaquin County; these Mr. Clements
prepared and sold to the San Francisco and eastern markets. He also engaged in diversified farming and
planted a fifteen-acre almond orchard.
The entire ranch is characterized by an air of neatness and thrift, indicative
of the spirit of the former owner, who justly ranked with the leading
agriculturists of central California.
In 1882 the village of Clements was
laid out and named in his honor, that being the year in which the railroad was
constructed through this part of the country.
He took a deep interest in the upbuilding and progress of the town and
was a friend to the cause of education, donating the brick with which the
two-story school building was constructed.
He was also the founder of the Presbyterian Church at Clements, attended
its services, and contributed liberally to its support. He also gave generously to churches of other
denominations, and in fact was a supporter of many measures which contributed
to the general good along material social, intellectual and moral lines. His political allegiance was given to the
Republican Party. Fraternally he was a
member of the Knights of Pythias and the Scotch-Irish Society of San
Francisco. Mrs. Clements still resides
upon the ranch, and has a fine home, the result of his husband’s industry and
enterprise. She is a member of the
Congregational Church at Lockeford, and counts her friends by the score in the
county, where she has made her home for the past fifty years.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1500-1501. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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