SIXTH GENERATION

94. Joseph Louis Clawson Sr. was born on Jun 29 1908 in Calvin, Ok.
He received a letter on Nov 2 1926 in Shreveport, LA.
from a Zelda Fay Caroll at 615 So. Echo Street, Holdenville, OK Addressed to Joe in Shreveport, LA. The letter is written on Hughes County Tribune letterhead.
Reads as follows:
"Dear Joe, Honey I got you very short note and was glad to hear from you and very sorry to hear of all your trouble and Joe you know now that you can't be too careful, do you not? I have my divorce and my name back and I think my troubles are over for a while, I hope so anyway. Joe, why havn't you been writing to us and letting us know all about your troubles. You must come to see us and you let me know when you can come about Christmas? I will help you pay your way here and back so you can be with us X-mas if you will come. Dad is feeling better now his health is about the same tho. he had some teeth pulled. Well dear, it's time for me to get ready to go to work and thought I would drop you a few lines to let you know I got your sweet but short letter. Hurry and answer this so we can find out whether you will come Christmas or not. Uncle Bob is here. He works in the oil field. We have an oakland towing car now and you could sure drive. Dad would be proud of his son uncle Roy is so proud of Homer. Send me a picture Joe, so I can see if you look natural. We all send our love. Be a good boy, come soon. Love Zelda, Box 109."
He received a letter on Dec 16 1926 in Holdenville, OK.
Joe received a letter from his mother Rosie. The letter was on letterhead as follows: The Kansas City Southern Railway Company / Texarkana & Fort Smith Railway Company.
The letter states:
"Dear Jodie, Yours need and I don't want you to go to the oil fields - you cant stand the outdoor work this time of the year. You're not used to that cold anyway. Come on back home Jodie. you can find something here, I'm sure. Were going to have a very "tame" Christmas. Alma is here but going home tonight and you see I'll have hard time with you and her both gone. I will mail your package about Wednesday of next week. Must I send it c/o the Tribune? Nope they still say "Bootch" looks like you. Honest Joe, don't you think you better come home? O.B. says you can't stand that "roughnecking". I'll send transportation if you need it. It is cold here today. Had some sleet night before last and the milk froze on the porch this morning. Guess it will warm up in a day or two, it always does. Write me right away so I'll know where to send the pkg. Got the $10.00 O.K. Lovingly, Ma."
He served in the military on Feb 4 1927 in Enlisting in the U.S. Navy. enlisting on that date. He resided 622 East 117 Street on Nov 27 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. Information taken from SS application He served in the military on May 7 1942 in Battle of Coral Sea. He served in the military on Jun 4 1942 in Battle of Midway. He resided 937 N.E. 117th Street on Oct 23 1945 in Miami, Florida. Information taken off Navy letter from James Forrestal He received a letter on Oct 23 1945 in Miami, Florida. Peggy has a document with letterhead reading "The Secretary of the Navy - Washington" signed by James Forrestal and reads as follows:

My dear Mr. Clawson: I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the Navy's pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart. It brought our land-based airpower within bombing range of the enemy and set our ground armies on the beachheads of final victory. It performed the multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you into civilian life. Good luck! He recevied a citation on Dec 18 1945 in USS Hornet.
Peggy has a document with letterhead "Commander Submarine Force - United States Pacific Fleet, signed by a C. A. Lockwood, Jr., Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy, which reads as follows:

The Commander Submarine Force, United States Pacific Fleet, takes pleasure in commending JOSEPH LOUIS CLAWSON, CHIEF PRINTER, UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE for services as set forth in the following citation:

"For meritorious conduct in the performance of his duties in the U.S.S. BUSHNELL from July 1943 to September 1945. With great industry, conscientiousness and intense devotion to duty, he organized and placed in operation the printing shop used on board his ship. His exceptional performance of duty contributed materially to the successful prosecution of the submarine warfare in the Pacific area. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to all with whom he served, and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
He was elected as Worshipful Master of Meridian Lodge of Shriners on Nov 26 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. This information is taken from a Western Union telegram that was sent to Joe at 1440 Woodward Avenu, Lakewood, Ohio He resided 1440 Woodward Avenue on Jun 18 1960 in Lakewood, Ohio. This information is written on his delayed birth certificate. This is where he lived when he applied for it on Jun 18th 1960. He retired in 1967 in Cleveland, Ohio. In a newspaper clipping with a picture of Joe and Esther, it reads as follows:
"Joseph L. Clawson retired on a rainy day after 22 years as a Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) printer. He and his wife are hoping for mroe pleasant weather in Miami, Fla, where they will go to live. Clawson first worked at The Plain Dealer from 1936 to 1940. He returned here as a printer in 1949. In World War II he served aboard the USS Hornet as a chief petty officer. At a meeting of Plain Dealer printers yesetrday, Clawson was presented with a purse by Milton Anthony, day chapel chairman." He was awarded on Apr 27 1971 in Unknown. International Typographical Union - 40 years of membership. He died on Feb 5 1997 in Yorba Linda, CA. Joe had a heart attack while drinking his morning orange juice. George came home to find him down, and he later died in the hospital. He was buried on Feb 11 1997 in Riverside National Cemetary. In note from George (Joe's son)
Friday service. Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church. Mason's were there. George spoke one hour. 30 people were there, mostly donna's family and neighbors. Donna White (daughter of Joy Louise) came and Kelly, her daughter also came. They live close. Burial today at Riverside Cemetery by March Air Force Base, 30 to 40 miles from Yorba Linda, a Veterans cemetery. Smidge and Charlie sent flowers, and will put on grave. Grandpa was buried with his Mason's apron, as he wished. Two men came from the Mason's; a past master and a current master, and they said a few words.

Had a stroke Tuesday. Had eaten breakfast, probably around 10:00 a.m. Probably had a sudden jolt of pain and he went to sleep. He died at 3:40 Wed. morning. He was a Pressman. Joe worked for several newspapers including the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Key West Citizen, Miami Herald, Honolulu Star Bulliten, San Fransisco Examiner, Fort Worth Start, Telegram, Shreeveport Times, St. Louise post Dispatch, Columbus Dispatch, and Akron Deacon Journal and Times. He had Social Security Number 272-05-5765. Issued 11/27/1936 in Ohio. Peggy has copy of his original SS application. See Residence for address at the time. He served in the military. About October 9th 1941 he was transferred on to the USS Hornet.
In an undated newspaper clipping with a picture of Joe and Esther it reads:
"Joseph L. Clawson retired on a rainy day yesterday after 22 years as a Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) printer. He and his wife are hoping for more pleasant weather in Miami, Fla., where they will go to live. Clawson first worked at The Plain Dealer from 1936 to 1960. He returned here as a printer in 1949. In World War II he served aboard the USS Hornet as a chief petty officer. At a meeting of Plain Dealer printers yesterday, Clawson was presented with a purse by Milton Anthony, day chapel chairman. "



MYSTERY: Peggy has, in her possession a letter to Joe from Zelda Fay Caroll in Holdenville, OK dated Nov 2, 1926. In the letter she is asking Joe to come home, and sounds like she could be his sister. Peggy asked Joy Louise if she knew of this person, and she said she did not. Perhaps Don Dean remarried, after he and Rosie divorced, and had another daughter, of which Joy Louise would have no knowledge of.

He was married to Esther Bell Hawkins - Darrow (daughter of George Gaddis Hawkins and Ammiline Celestine "Emma" Walker) on Jun 28 1931 in Shreveport, LA. Esther Bell Hawkins - Darrow was born on Aug 8 1908 in Shreveport, LA. She was Dames of Malta - Queen in 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was Eastern Star - High priestes of Lady's Oriental Shrine in 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. She died on Jan 14 1986 in Orlando, FL. Esther Bell died at approximately 8:00 a.m. on January 14, 1986. About five years before she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a radicle mastectomy for the removal of her right breast. In November of 1985 she had to have her right arm amputated due to the spreading of the cancer. I (Peggy) went to see her the weekend of January 5th because dad told me she was not going to be with us much longer. She was at home, as she did not want to pass away in a hospital. They had her on morphine for the pain. There were several times a day though, that she was wide awake. When I saw her we were able to talk, and she was just as perky as always, but lying in bed. She joked and laughed and even ate a McDonalds hamburger and fries. She was a real fighter!

No one will miss her more than her husband Joe. They had celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and were just as much in love the day she died, as they were when they married.

She was cremated and her ashes were buried in front of their home on West Brook Drive in Orlando Florida right between her two favorite magnolia trees. See photo. She was cremated on Jan 17 1986 in Orlando, FL. She resided 5530 Westbrook Drive in Orlando, FL. Joseph Louis Clawson Sr. and Esther Bell Hawkins - Darrow had the following children:

+113 i. Joseph Louis Clawson Jr..
+114 ii. George Clawson.

He was married to Helen Hammon on Nov 22 1986 in Orlando, FL. After his first wife Esther died, Joe could not stand living alone. He met Helen in a church bible study and asked her to marry him. She was happy to do so and she moved in with him after they married. They continued to have bible studies in their home. Helen fell and broke her hip, and Joe could not live alone, as he was getting up in years. The nursing home where Helen was staying had an assisted living facility attached to it, and while Helen was going to be rehabilitating for a lengthy time, Helen's daughter talked Joe into moving into the facility permanently. Peggy, his granddaughter drove from Miami to Orlando to help him pack his things and move. His son George was to come and help him sell some of his furniture.

Joe hated living there. He was so unhappy. George offered to move him out to California with him. Joe accepted. Helen would not leave Florida, so Joe left without her, and moved to Yorba Linda, CA with George, leaving Helen behind. He died a few short years after moving to California.