Biographical Sketch

Noel Clyde as a young boy.

Noel Clyde Claybourn was born on 28 April 1892, in Kinmundy, Illinois. He worked as an electrician on the Panama Canal Zone from 1908 to 1914, and then returned to Illinois upon the passing of his mother. Noel married Olive Margaret Potter (18 March 1893 - July 1977) on 29 June 1914 in Sullivan, Illinois. After his return to Illinois Noel was chief electrician for the Old Ben Coal Co. for several years, but worked mainly as a shop foreman and salesman for various automobile agencies in Benton, Illinois. Noel died on 12 March 1956 and Olive followed on 16 July 1977.

Pedigree Chart

						Ephraim Claybourn 1788 - 1850
				William Divine Claybourn 1819 - 1876
						Mary "Polly" Browning 1792 - 1874
		Reuben Cicero Claybourn 1854 - 1921
						Reuben Hawker b. 1794
				Frances Alla Hawker 1820 - 1863
						Nancy Hawker b. 1796
Noel Clyde Claybourn 1892 - 1956
				Rev. James Jackson Williams
		Mary Ann Eldorado Williams 1857 - 1914
				Sophronia Jane Bryant

Descendants

1. George Robert Claybourn ("Bob") was born 7 January 1917 in Benton, Illinois. He graduated from Benton High School where he was active in athletics, and then spent two years at the University of Illinois. George served in the Air Corps during World War II. The two primarily lived in Phoenix, Arizona with Bob working as a salesman. He married Joesphine Elizabeth Scarborough on 2 December 1948. She worked as a Schwaab-Perma Stamp agent in Tucson. The couple had two children, listed blow. Bob died on 24 September 1993 and is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

   1. Randall Bruce Claybourn was born 12 April 1950 in Benton, Illinois. He spent nine years in the Marine Corp's as a pilot, achieving the rank of Captain. Thereafter he worked as a corporate pilot. He maried Allyn Wheelwright and they adopted a son, Dylan Randell Claybourn (born 7 February 1985).

   2. Judith Ranee Claybourn was born 22 June 1951 in Benton, Illinois. She married Charles "Chick" Hart Willis. She worked as an official in the Mesa, Arizona school system in public relations. Judith and Chick had two children:
      1. Brady Hart Willis, born 21 January 1983
      2. Blaire Renee Willis, born 1 August 1984

2. Ruth Elizabeth Claybourn was born 12 July 1918 in Benton, Illinois. She graduated from Benton High School in 1936. Ruth was named "Miss Benton" in 1936 in a Personality and Beauty Contest and represented Benton in the contest at the State Fair in Springfield. She married Elmer Ellsworth "Chick" Johnson (born 12 June 1913) on 3 December 1939. Chick was an oil well driller and operated his own company. The couple had a 100 acre farm at Elberfeld, Indiana, near Evansville and raised pure bred horses and ponies as a hobby. Chick was active in the Shrine, and both were active in church and Sunday School, primarily through working with the youth group. Chick died in October of 1977 and, following his death, Ruth remarried on 23 June 1968. Chick and Ruth had four children:

   1. Janice Louise Johnson was born on 30 August 1940 in Benton, Illinois. He studied at the Rice Institute in Houston, Texas.

   2. Charles Robert Johnson was born on 26 May 1942 in Benton, Illinois. He attended one year of college and spent four years with the Marines. He married a woman named LaVerne on 27 July 1968 and moved to Storago, Tennessee.

   3. Pamela Jean Johnson was born on 3 July 1948 in Benton, Illinois. She worked as a teacher in Wichita, Kansas in 1977.

   4. Deborah Ann Johnson was born on 8 May 1951 in Benton, Illinois. She was living in Evansville, Indiana in 1971 and worked as a nurse.