David Lewis Clewell was born 20 Aug 1873 in Belle Plaine, Sumner County, Kansas; the sixth of nine children born to Alexander David "A.D." and Caroline E. (Hartman) Clewell.
David's family left New Jersey for Iowa where his father worked as a cabinet and casket maker. Sister 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.
David's family left New Jersey for Iowa where his father worked as a cabinet and casket maker. Sister 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.
David Lewis Clewell was born 20 Aug 1873 in Belle Plaine, Sumner County, Kansas; the sixth of nine children born to Alexander David "A.D." and Caroline E. (Hartman) Clewell.
David's family left New Jersey for Iowa where his father worked as a cabinet and casket maker. Sister 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.
David's family left New Jersey for Iowa where his father worked as a cabinet and casket maker. Sister 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.
Gravesite Details
The Clewell Memorial is shared by father A.D., mother Caroline, and siblings John D., David L., and Laura E.
