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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ANDREW CLYDE, proprietor of the Clyde Hotel, at Percy, is a man widely known in this community and he has the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. We therefore feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to our readers and gladly gives it a place in this volume. A native of Scotland, he was born at New Battle, near Edinburgh, on the 28th of July, 1851. His parents, Andrew and Jessie (Rathby) Clyde, were also natives of Scotland. The father was a butcher and cattle dealer in his native land and carried on that business for a number of years, but is now living a retired life. The mother also survives, and has reached a ripe old age.

In his native land Andrew Clyde attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he began working with his brother Hugh, a cattle dealer, with whom he continued for two years. In 1869 he sailed for America. He was then a young man of eighteen years and had resolved to seek a home and fortune beyond the Atlantic, for he believed that better opportunities and privileges were afforded in the New World than in the older countries of Europe. He first went to Mississippi, where an elder brother, George, lived upon a plantation, and there remained for one year.

Not liking the country, however, Mr. Clyde started northward, to St. Louis, Mo., and after spending a number of years in the west, he came to southern Illinois. Here he turned his attention to coal mining, which he followed for a number of years. In the latter part of the year 1888 he embarked in the retail liquor business at Sparta, where he remained for some time, and then came to Percy, Ill., where he entered the hotel business. To this work he now devotes his energies, being proprietor of the Clyde Hotel, which is widely and favorably known throughout southern Illinois and Missouri. From the traveling public he receives a liberal patronage, for he carefully looks after the interests and comfort of his guests.

In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Clyde and Miss Hattie, daughter of Thomas B. and Margaret Edwards, of Beaucoup, Washington County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde are prominent and well known people of the community and have many friends in this neighborhood. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, but is not now identified with any religious organization. Socially he is a member of Peebles Kilwinning Lodge No. 24, of Peebles, Scotland, and is a Master Mason. In support of party principles he is a pronounced Republican, but in local elections where no issue is before the people he supports the man whom he thinks best qualified to discharge the duties of the office, regardless of party affiliations.

In former years Mr. Clyde was an enthusiastic sportsman and made frequent excursions with gun and dog in quest of game. In 1878 he was awarded a fine gold medal, the prize offered the best trap shot at the Belleville (Ill.) contest. In his business career he has met with success, as the result of his own well directed efforts. His determination to seek a home in America has proved a fortunate one.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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