Wesley Vance Claybourn
Eleventh Child of Reuben Cicero Claybourn
30 July 1898 - 27 July 1979

Biographical Sketch

Wesley Vance as a young boy.

Wesley Vance Claybourn ("Vance") was born on 30 July 1898, in Kinmundy, Illinois. He moved to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, when he was about nine years old and there he attended Franklin School, graduating in 1913. Vance attended high school for a while but did not graduate because he learned telegraphy and went to work as manager of Western Union in Pekin, Illinois. While in Pekin, Illinois he met Virona Maude "Vi" Champion and the two were married on 2 December 1916 there in Pekin. Vi was born on 4 July 1897 at Green Valley, Illinois to Andrew Champion and Virona Berry. Vance and Vi lived for a while at Sherman, Texas, and were in Joplin, Missouri during World War II. Later, during much of the 1960's, they lived in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Vance worked as Relay Telegrapher for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad from 1916 to January of 1921, and thereafter he worked for the St. Louis - San Francisco ("Frisco") Railway as Agent, Wire Chief, Train Dispatcher and Chief Dispatcher. "Vi" and Vance were both very civic minded and community spirited. Vance was a member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers since 1918; member of the American Federation of Labor; member of the Association of American Train Dispatchers since 1943 and Secretary-Treasurer from 1946-1949 and General Chairman from 1949-1953; member of the Fort Scott Rotary Club; member of the Masonic Lodge (1952) and Scottish Rite (1953); District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America (1953); Chairman of the Bourbon County Blood for Red Cross (1958-1959); member of the Bourbon County Agricultural Committee; Chairman of the Four H Council (1958); and Vice Chairman of the Springfield Region Area American Red Cross (1959).

"Vi" was equaly involved in her community. She was President of the PTA Council in Sherman, Texas (1930); President of the PTA at Crockett School (1931) and Jefferson School (1938), both in Sherman; Chairman of the Red Cross Gray Ladies in Camp Crowder, Missouri (1944-1948); Presient of the American War Dad's Auxiliary in Joplin, Missouri (1945); President of the Tri-State Rose Society (1947); Director of the League of Women Voters in Joplin (1948); President of the Order of Eastern Star Study Club in Fort Scott (1953); Secretary of the Federated Women's Clubs (1953); President of the Rotary Anns (1954); Vice-President of the Pierian Club in Fort Scott (1958). She was also active in the Presbyterian Church and enjoyed cut work and bridge as hobbies.

Vi and Vance were proud of their family - all four of their children were college graduates. Vance died on 27 July 1979 in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas. Vi followed in death many years later on 28 December 1989, also in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas.

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
Wesley Vance Claybourn 1898 - 1979
				Rev. James Jackson Williams
		Mary Ann Eldorado Williams 1857 - 1914
				Sophronia Jane Bryant

Descendants

1. Jack Junior Claybourn was born on 16 June 1917 in Wellington, Kansas. He earned a bachelor of arts degree at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and then enlisted in the military on 19 November 1941 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The following year (1942) he entered Officer's Candidate School and would go on to earn the rank of 2nd Lieutenant (1942), Captain (1945) and Major (1957). Jack served overseas on the Accra Gold Coast in Africa, and then in Ghana on January of 1943. Later that fall in September of 1943 he was assigned as Personnel Officer at La Guardia Field in New York. Jack was in the inactive service beginning on 12 January 1946 but was reactivated to Military Air Transport at Casa Blanca in June of 1951. He returned in September of 1953 and served as Personnel Officer at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. In 1957, however, he was the traffic representative of Navajo Truck Lines in Wichita, living in Derby, Kansas. Jack married on 10 October 1942 in New York City to Helen Mae Wallen (born 14 July 1920). This would have been just after Jack had enlisted in the military. Jack Junior died on 5 June 1983 of emphysema at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas. Thereafter his widow Helen lived in Kansas City, Missouri. The couple had three children:

   1. Janet Lee Claybourn was born 13 May 1948 in Wichita, Kansas, and married Larry Montgomery. The two lived in Denver, Colorado and later in Rapid City, South Dakota. Janet later married Dusty Johnson.

   2. Carla Marie Claybourn was born 5 January 1950 in Wichita, Kansas. She married Craig Prasher (born on 03 October 1948) and the two lived in Plano, Texas. They had two children:
      1. Christopher Andrew Prasher was born on 14 September 1976.
      2. Scott Warren Prasher was born on 15 November 1979.

   3. Charles Vance Claybourn was born 3 January 1952 in Casa Blanca, French Morocco [Joshua A. Claybourn corresponded in with Charles beginning in 2007.]. He married Joan Schmid and they had four children:
      1. Jarod John Claybourn was born on 11 October 1979. He played football at Paulsboro High School in New Jersey and at King's College in Wilkes-Barre [Carchidi, Sam. "Claybourn named Sterling grid coach." Philadelphia Inquirer April 2007.]. He starred at defensive back and divided quarterback at Paulsboro, helping the school set a state record for consecutive wins. At King's, he was a MAC academic all-star in 1999 as a quarterback and in 2001 as a wide receiver. Following college he was an assistant football coach at Sterling High School for five seasons before assuming the head coaching responsibilities in 2007. Jarod married Mary Michelle Dougherty and together they had one child:
         1. Caitlyn Theresa Claybourn was born on 23 April 2011.
      2. Brieanne Bray Claybourn was born on 04 September 1981. She married Stephen Boyd Thompson and has two children:
         1. Josiah Charles Thompson was born on 05 November 2007.
         2. Thatcher Stephen Thompson was born on 24 August 2010.
      3. Victoria ("Tori") Dawn Claybourn was born on 29 August 1985. She married Robert Joubert.
      4. Andrew Claybourn was born on 01 June 1986. He married Jessica Ann Peacock and has two children.
         1. Audrey Faith Claybourn was born on 14 March 2008.
         2. Lucas Aaron Claybourn was born on 03 February 2011.

2. Dr. Claybourn posing with some of his wood carvings.

   Norman Leigh Claybourn, M.D. was born 12 April 1920 in Pekin, Illinois. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Thereafter he entered the military service reserve as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1942 and later served as 1st Lieutenant. Two years later he earned an M.D. from the Kansas University School of Medicine (31 January 1944) and interned at the City Hospital in Akron, Ohio (1944). Norman was also on the active duty Medical Corps (1944) and achieved the rank of Captain on 16 August 1945. He served on the Hospital Ship "Charles A. Stafford" in the Atlantic and Pacific area and left the military on 13 December 1946. Norman married Louise Virginia Luffel (born 24 October 1920) on 4 July 1942 in Fort Scott, Kansas. During a 40-year medical career, Dr. Claybourn worked in Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Indiana and Illinois. He had worked as the Granite City Steel company doctor and as an emergency room physician at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Granite City. Later, he opened a private practice in Granite City. He retired at age 70. Dr. Claybourn was a member of the Shriners, the St. Charles Wood Carving Club and the Masonic Lodge. Norman died on 2 November 2005 of diabetic complications at Blanchette Place in St. Charles and is buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. He and Louise had three children:

   1. Judith Louise Claybourn was born 14 July 1944 in Akron, Ohio. She married Brian Keck (born on 07 Dec 1944) and they lived in Garland, Texas. Together they had two children:
      1. Jason Keck was born on 21 January 1970
      2. Ali Keck was born on 19 November 1971.

   2. Carol Anne Claybourn was born 23 October 1946 in Fort Scott, Kansas and married (1st) Steve Braughton. Later she married (2nd) David Baer (born on 22 December 1940) and lived in St. Charles.

   3. Marilyn Sue Claybourn was born 5 June 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas and married (1st) Fred Hawkins. She married (2nd) Joe Dolan (born on 23 March 1947). Marilyn and Joe had two children:
      1. Michael Dolan was born on 27 February 1976.
      2. William Dolan was born on 4 February 1977.

3. Betty Ellen Claybourn was born 18 July 1923 in Stephanville, Texas. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. Following graduation she taught science in Stiry City, Iowa, at Consolidated High School. In November of 1958 she moved into a new home designed by her in Ames and, a year later in 1959, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship for summer study. Betty married on 30 October 1943 to Alvin Theodore Goettsch (born 14 May 1921) in Atlantic, Iowa. He received his bachelor of science degree from Iowa State College and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. He served as 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery at Camp Dodge, Iowa (3 April 1943), was instructor in Field Artillery until January of 1945, was a Liaison Pilot at Sheppar Field in Texas (April 1945), and was 1st Lieutenant on 7 December 1945. Alvin separated from the military service on 11 April 1945. Thereafter he was a county agricultural agent and a regional supervisor over several counties for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1959 he joined Iowa State College as an Associate Professor. Alvin died on 20 April 1996 in Waterlou, Iowa and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Betty and Alvin had three children:

   1. Theodora Ann "Toi Ann" Goettsch was born on 10 October 1944 in Joplin, Missouri. She married Robert A. Christenson ("Bob"), who was born on 5 November. Bob graduated from law school and became an attorney. Toi and Bob had two children:
      1. Dirk Christensen were born on 25 October 1965.
      2. Erik Christensen was born on 04 November 1969.

   2. Stephen Louis Goettsch was born on 20 July 1947 in Red Oak, Iowa. He married Jane Rosenhauer (born on 19 Jan 1951).

   3. Wesley Jane Goettsch was born on 28 October 1952 in Ames, Iowa. She married Jim Valenta, who was born on 16 July 1951. Together they had three children:
      1. Taryn Valenta was born on 09 April 1982.
      2. Bradley Valenta was born on 19 March 1985 [Information on Bradley is largely based on personal correspondence between Bradley and Joshua A. Claybourn in 2010.].
      3. Bryce Valenta was born on 12 February 1988.

4. Billy James Claybourn was born on 8 September 1926, in Dublin, Texas [Information on Billy and his dscendants is largely based on personal correspondence between Billy and Joshua A. Claybourn in 2009.]. He graduated from high school in Fort Scott, Kansas, and served as a pre-aviation cadet from February - November of 1945. He earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering at the University of Missouri in 1948. He would go on to work as Special Products Engineer for "ethylene," which is used to make plastics. Later he would work as a process control engineer at the Field Research Laboratory for Magnolia Petroleum Company (now owned by Mobil Oil Company). The last portion of his career with Mobil Oil was spent in Dallas where he traveled extensively overseas on potential LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) projects. Bill retired in 1990 after 42 years of service. Bill married (1st) on 25 September 1954 to Thelma Ruth Maples (born 2 April 1929 in Victoria, Texas). in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the Texas College of Arts and Industries in 1950. Bill and Thelma had four children, listed below. Thelma died on 12 May 1998 in Irving, Dallas County, Texas and is buried in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, Irving, Texas. Billy married (2nd) Della Joan Smith on 31 Jul 2001 in Irving, Dallas County, Texas. Della was born on 01 Dec 1930 in Tonkawa, Kay County, Oklahoma. Joan is a graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in journalism in 1951. She retired in 1996 after an extensive career as a high school teacher of English and journalism.

   1. David Mark Claybourn was born 10 May 1955 in Falfurrias, Texas. He is a graduate of Southwest Texas University with a degree in journalism. He serves as the sports editor of the Herald Banner in Greenville, Texas.

   2. Susan Diane Claybourn, born 17 May 1956 in Alice, Texas. She married Bob Craig on 24 November 1979 in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas, but the coulple primarily lived in Nashville, Illinois. Bob was born on 24 March 1957. The couple first lived in Naperville, Illinois and relocated to Arlington, Texas where they currently reside. Bob works for Owens Corning and Susan currently works for a rebar company in Dallas. Both Bob and Susan are graduates of Texas Tech University. They have two children:
      1. Laura Craig was born on 08 November 1985. On 09 August 2008 she married Christopher Weaver (born in about 1985) in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. Laura and Chris are each graduates of Texas A & M University. Chris anticipated receiving his law degree in the spring of 2009 and Laura has been accepted to medical school in Fort Worth.
      2. Stephen Craig was born on 15 November 1988. Stephen attends Grinell University in Iowa and is studying Chinese.

   3. Cynthia Sheryl Claybourn was born on 24 June 1958 in Dallas, Texas. On 20 December 1980 she married Paul Walker in Fort Worth, Texas. Paul was born on 25 March 1956 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The two live just outside of Weatherford, Texas. Paul works for General Dynamics in Fort Worth and Cynthia teaches school at Brock, Texas. Together Paul and Cynthia had two children:
      1. Emily Walker was born on 14 June 1984.
      2. Jared Walker was born on 30 June 1987.

   4. Melanie Ann Claybourn was born 25 July 1962 in Falfurrias, Texas. Melanie graduated from Texas Tech University in December of 1984 and now works as a counselor in the Fort Worth school system. Melanie had a daughter, Madeline Claybourn, on 11 June 2000 in Fort Worth, Texas and died just a couple months later in August of 2000.