AMOS CLYMER FAMILY

Amos Clymer was born in Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio, on December 25, 1868, and passed away on December 19, 1964. Except for a few years in Fulton County, he spent his life in Henry County and Napoleon. He married Melva Anna Kocher (August 18, 1878-September 15, 1940) daughter of Peter and Mahala (Gerhrett) Kocher of Fairfield County, Ohio. They had three daughters, Fern (Mrs. Clifford E. Conine, deceased), Vernice and Vivian; one granddaughter, Keitha Conine (Mrs. Jayson Carver); and one great-granddaughter, Linda Carver (Mrs. Tim Engel).

Amos was the youngest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Huntwork) Clymer. His father, a farmer was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and passed away at the age of 91. In 1863, he enlisted with Company B, 38th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the remainder of the Civil War. Amos had nine brothers and sisters — George W., Henry, John, Sarah J., Rebecca, Mary A., Jonathon, Ellen, and Anna C. His eldest brother, George, managed the farm while his father was in service.

Amos Clymer with great granddaughter

His grandfather, Amassa (Massie) Clymer, was a native of Maryland and, at an early age, moved to Fairfield County, Ohio. Massie served during the War of 1812 from February 14, 1812 to August 6, 1814. In 1816, in Fairfield County, Ohio, he married Elizabeth Gunda, a native of Pennsylvania.

Amos learned the carpenter trade while working with Jonas Bollman. Later he went into business for himself, building barns and houses in the community. In 1916, he moved with his family from Liberty Township to 1212 Oakwood Avenue, Napoleon, so that his daughters could attend high school. He bought the building formerly known as the Warner Restaurant and Rooming House which served crewmen and workers of the D.T. and I. Railroad. Mr. Clymer remodeled it into an L shaped dwelling by cutting the building into two parts and moving the front portion to the south side of the rear.

After the Warner Restaurant was moved to the house across the street, Vernice and Vivian assisted by taking hot lunches in baskets to the crews of the passenger trains. The following day, the baskets were returned when another hot lunch was served.

Fern, Vernice, and Vivian received their early education at the Knapp School, a one room building in Liberty Township. There they were taught history and geography, in the first grade, prepositions in the third grade, and how to diagram sentences in the fourth. Although they usually walked to school, Old Sam, the family horse, was occasionally their means of transportation. After he was hitched to the buggy, he took them to school. Driverless he found his way back home. In the afternoon, Old Sam came to school, again without a driver, to pick up his young passengers.

The Clymer home was remodeled from the Warner Hotel (Napoleon, Ohio).

After graduation from Napoleon High School at the age of 16, Fern attended Defiance College and taught in Hancock and Henry Counties. Vernice and Vivian attended Defiance College and Bowling Green State University where they graduated in 1939. At present, they reside in the family home on Oakwood Avenue, and are active members of the Presbyterian Church, A.A.U.W., Retired Teacher's Associations, and community affairs. Both have traveled extensively throughout Continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Europe.

Submitted by: Vernice and Vivian Clymer