My Genealogy Hound

WALTER ESPY CLENDENEN, postmaster, Turtle Creek, is a native of Fayette county born Feb. 2, 1848. His parents, James and Ann Jane (McMichael) Clendenen, were of Scotch and Irish descent, and the former now resides in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, aged eighty-six. The latter died in 1870. William, father of James, settled on a farm at Mendon, Westmoreland county. James was a carpenter and mill wright, and built many mills “from the woods.” He had seven children, six of whom are living, viz.: Mary Jane (Myers), W. E. Elizabeth (Shaffer), Ann H. (Patterson), Joseph H. and Florence L. (Rahl). Both the sons reside here. Maggie, the youngest child, died when three years old. Walter E. was reared in Mount Pleasant, and attended the public school there. He assisted his father at carpenter-work, and when eighteen years old began blacksmithing. This occupied him until his appointment as postmaster, in January, 1885. In 1873 he began business for himself in Braddock, and two years later came to Turtle Creek. He still owns a shop and two dwellings on the Wilkins side of the village. Being a very strong man, he was a famous horse-shoer, and once, in Oil City, carried five hundred pounds of iron on his back, as a test. In 1873 Mr. Clendenen married Lydia M. McGuire, a native of Derry township, Westmoreland county. Her parents, John and Eliza Jane McGuire, were born in Unity township, Westmoreland county, of Irish parentage. Mr. Clendenen has always been a democrat. His children are Harry James, Albert Marshall and Frank Roy. The family are associated with the Presbyterian Church.