Alexander David "A.D." Clewell was born 07 Aug 1829 at Schoeneck, Northampton County, Pennsylvania; one of ten children born to John Philip and Anna Maria (Roth) Clewell.

A.D. was united in marriage 16 Apr 1858 with Caroline E. Hartman, parents unknown. A.D. and Caroline were both members of the Moravian church in Pennsylvania.

A.D. and Caroline left the ancestral home near Nazarth, Pennsylvania and moved to Belvidere, New Jersey for a few years. The first four of their nine children were born in New Jersey: Emma L., George Philip, John D. and William H. Emma passed away at the age of 2 years in 1861 while in New Jersey. After the Civil War in which A.D. served in the 38th New Jersey Infantry, the family traveled to Iowa where A.D. worked as a cabinet and casket maker.

Daughter Caroline "Carrie" Elizabth was born in 1868 in Grace Hill, Iowa. Here the Clewell, Leforce, and Cambridge families formed a wagon train and began the trip to Kansas. They were joined, in route, by the G.C. Walton family.

Because Southern Kansas was still Indian Territory, they first went to Wichita where some 600 other settlers lived. Here they spent their first winter in Kansas at the old city building. George, the eldest son, attended a dugout school. In the middle of July the situation changed when the Osage ceded their land to the United States.

In the spring of 1870, hearing from cattle drivers stories of fertile farmland farther south, these four families moved on. A.D. homesteaded a farm two miles west and one north of what later became Belle Plaine, making them one of the first four families settling and remaining in Sumner County, and the first women and children to settle in the county. The deed to the farm was signed by President Grant and still remains in the name of family descendents.

During the construction of buildings on the Clewell farm the family lived in a dugout on the banks of the Ninnescah River one-half mile west. The Clewell farm included a large apple and cherry orchard including some pear, apricot, and crab apple trees, and a vineyard along with berry vines and currant bushes. A.D. built a cider press and a mill. He did custom grinding not only for his own livestock but also for many neighbors.

Four more children were born in Belle Plaine: David L., Laura E., Harry Ellsworth, and John Thomas. Three children were lost at an early age and were laid to rest in Belle Plaine Cemetery: John D. at age 8 years, David L. at 13 years, and Laura E. in infancy.

A.D. helped build the first Meeker school and the first M.E. Church in Belle Plaine. The church charter was taken out in June 1872 and his name appears as a director. He was also a charter member of the Oddfellow Lodge of Belle Plaine.

A.D. passed away 24 May 1902 at his home in Belle Plaine at the age of 69 years. He was laid to rest with his children in Belle Plaine Cemetery, Belle Plaine, Sumner, Kansas.

Sons and daughters of these hardy pioneers shared stories told by their parents and grandparents of the Indian scare, prairie fires of 1873, the grasshopper invasion when suddenly hordes of grasshoppers darkened the skies moving across the land destroying the crops of the fields, and stories of the drouth of 1874.
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DIED

A.D. Clewell son of J. P. Clewell and Mary A. Clewell, was born August 7, 1829 near Schoeneck, Northampton County, Pa., died at his home near Belle Plaine, Kansas, May 24, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 17 days.

The sixth among a family of nine children, he lived with his parents until the age of 15 when he began a term of apprenticeship, during which time he learned his trade as a Cabinet maker.

In April of the year 1858 at the age of 27 he was married to Miss Caroline Hartman, of this happy union were born nine children fie of whom are still living.

He enlisted in the service of his country at Trenton, in the 31st Regiment from N.J. in April 1864, returned from the Civil war July 1865.

In 1866 he moved to Iowa with his family where he lived until 1870 when he moved to Wichita, Kansas. In the same year he moved to his present home where he has lived until his death.

He leaves to mourn his loss a loving wife, five children, G.P. Clewell, W.H. Clewell, Mrs. C.E. Clester, John and Harry Clewell; two brothers, L.P. and T.G. Clewell; three sisters, Mrs. C.E. Neidlinger, Mrs. C.O. Stout, and Mrs. E.A. Kravsse, besides a host of friends.

The deceased was a man of strong convictions and sterling qualities and enjoyed the respect of all. Having resided here over thirty years his departure is the removal of one of the few old settlers of whom the present generation can justly be proud.

The funeral was held at the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. R.L. George, and was attended by a large concourse of sympathizing friends.

The Belle Plaine Defender (Belle Plaine, KS) 29 May 1902, Thu., Page 5