Poor Farm Superintendent

George McKinley Claycomb arrived in this world on November 24, 1845, in Monroe City Knox County Indiana. He was a twin to Elias, Jr both sons of Elias Claycomb Sr., son of Revolutionary War veteran Frederick Claycomb.  Their father, Elias Sr died October 1845, a month before the twins were born, setting the tone for a life that would rarely follow the easy path.  Their mother, Elizabeth Couchman, died when the twins were only 14 months of age. The other siblings were separated and raised in different homes, but the twins stayed together.   

The 1850 Lawrence County Illinois census shows the twins, age 4, living with their uncle and aunt, Benjamin and Mary Ann Couchman in Lawrence County. The Couchman’s raised the boys until they were old enough to be on their own.

George married Mary L Binnier on September 13, 1868, in Lawrence County. The 1870 Christy Twp Lawrence County census shows George 24 and his wife Mary, 23, farming. They have a one-month-old son, William.  George’s twin Elias is living with them.  

By 1880 George was managing Lawrence County’s poor farm, a combination nursing home, orphans’ home, and place for the destitute. Everyone depended on the County for food, clothing, and medical care. George Claycomb was superintendent along with his wife Mary. They were in their thirties.  In addition to the Claycomb’s two children, the residents included Edward White (rheumatism) 64, Daniel Dilon (rheumatism) 41, Henry Jones (widowed) (paralyzed)  91,  Patrick Judge 55, Charles Armor 7, John Martin 4, Marrion Martin 2, John Judson 5, Mary Judson 11 months, Ellen Judson (widowed) 39, Anna Farnes (paralyzed) 29, Belle Norris 6, Laura Steiner 11, Alice Steiner 9, Arilde 18, William W Scott 18, and Martha E Martin (widowed)(listed as domestic servant) 37. Except for the Claycomb children, the others did not attend school, and most residents could not read or write. Edward White, Daniel Dillon, and Patrick Judge had been born in Ireland; the others mostly in Illinois and Indiana.   George earned a salary while Mary was paid for making and mending clothing.  Keeping track of everyone under one roof must have been practically an Olympic event.

The 1900 Lawrence twp. census lists George and his wife Mary L, and George’s twin Elias once again living together. Elias was widowed and Mary told the census taker she had had two children and happily they were both alive. The County Board accepted bids each year for the job of superintendent. The records show that George was managing the farm in 1914 and 1915. His contract stated that he would feed the inmates, haul all coal used at the farm and build all the inside fences.  His compensation was fixed at 45 cents per day for each inmate at home. 

In 1916 the county commissioner investigated the matter of lighting the building with electricity but found the proposition too expensive.  George was the keeper again that year and he made a statement to the board regarding one of the inmates, Sam Buchanan.  It seemed that Buchanan was abusive, profane and altogether an undesirable inmate.  His conduct required the sheriff be called and Buchanan be confined in jail.

When oil was discovered in the county, George and Mary pivoted yet again, operating a boarding house on Gray Street in Bridgeport in 1910.  Most of the eight boarders worked in the oil field as drillers and tool dressers with the exception of one who was a butcher and one who was a house carpenter but as for the rest, the census taker marked ‘unable to provide information’ as to where they were born or even their age. It was the wild oil- boom era with a huge influx of population, most working in oil related occupations around the clock, and apparently even the census takers weren’t prepared.  

After Mary died, George headed south for the winter to Shreveport Louisiana where he was listed on the 1920 census as widowed, aged 73, living with his son William and his family. William was a foreman on a dredge Boat and George’s grandsons, 16, 14, and 11 were messenger boys for Western Union with George no doubt trying to manage the comings and goings.  Retirement for George seemed to be optional.

By 1930 George was living with his other son and his wife in a farming community of East Carrell County Louisiana.  He apparently spent only winters in a warmer climate because his death certificate stated that he had lived in Bridgeport his entire life suggesting that in everyone’s mind, home was home no matter where George happened to be sleeping.   

 George died October 9, 1933, aged 87 years, 10 months and 14 days at the home of his son on East Chestnut Street in Bridgeport. Cause of death was general disability and heart blockage.  The newspaper reported that he had been in failing health for some weeks and suffered a paralytic stroke prior to his death. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, aka White House Cemetery near Bridgeport.