Issac Clopton, Sr. of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa

Issac Clopton was the son of David Clopton and Lavinia Cogdill. He was a direct descendant of William Clopton, Gentleman and Ann (Booth) Dennett Clopton and was born May 15, 1829 in Cass County Illinois where his parents were among the first settlers in that area. In 1844 his family moved to Harrison County Missouri, where, on November 29, 1850, Issac married Nancy Ann Salmon, the daughter of William and Mary Salmon. Born in Hardin County Ohio on March 22, 1829, where she lived until she was 18 years of age, and then, with her parents, moved to Harrison County. Her parents later moved to Davis County Missouri, where they remained until their deaths. Issac died at the age of 83, in July 1912, in Jefferson, Iowa. There is no further information on Nancy’s death.

They had at least twelve children: Clara Clopton, Robert Clopton, David A. Clopton, William Clopton, Mary Clopton Millit, Martha Clopton Lyon, Sabra Clopton Tyrell, Minnie Clopton Stevens, Issac Clopton, Jr., Marshall Clopton, Edmund D. Clopton, and Cynthia Clopton Vader.

Issac and Nancy Ann were highly esteemed pioneers of Green County Iowa, settling in Jackson Township in the spring of 1851. They witnessed the growth and development of the county from its earliest infancy as one of the twelve or fourteen families who first settled Greene County. The History of Greene County (pages 286-87), states, "Few men have done more to advance the interests of the county than has Mr. Clopton, and few have made more friends."

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Mr. and Mrs. Clopton commenced their life in Green County with no capital except strong willing hands and a determination to deserve success by honest industry and frugality. The first years were a constant struggle for the most common necessities of life. But reward came, and they are now possessed of ample means to support them in their declining years: and in the affections of their children, and in the respect and confidence of a wide circle of friends they are rich indeed.

Mr. Clopton owns 400 acres of excellent land, with two good dwelling houses. His residence is on section 13. His land is well adapted to stock raising and he devotes his attention to that industry. He has meadow, upland and timber, well watered by the North Coon River, making it one of the best farms in the county.

An excerpt from his obituary, which appeared in the Jefferson (Iowa) Bee, reads: "A man of intelligence and sound judgment, Mr. Clopton took a prominent part in all the doings of early days. He helped lay out the township and built its first school house. He served many years in many offices of responsibility and trust in the home neighborhood. He was a Republican of Republicans and a member of the Baptist Church. He lived a life of the most honorable and upright character, a friendly, neighborly, kindhearted citizen, who in his death is mourned by hundreds of friends of a lifetime."

Contributed by :

Isabel Lancaster (Clopton) Steiner,
Dean Howard Clopton,
and Suellen Clopton Blanton, bblanton@fast.net,
Based on A December 11, 1988 Article of The Clopton Family Newsletter