Ephraim Smith Claybourn
Seventh Child of William Divine Claybourn
8 February 1851 - 1909

Ephraim S. Claybourn (1851-1909)

Ephraim Smith Claybourn (known as "Doc") was born on 8 February 1851 in Dix, Illinois. On 20 August 1870 he married Ms. Mary Jane (Harvey) Dudley (1847 - 1930). Mary Jane had a daughter, Ella, prior to her marriage to Ephraim, presumably with another man [Ella was born in 1866 or 1867. Ella married James Bell McMillin and the couple lived in Decatur, Illinois. There they had two children, Byron McMillin and Jack McMillin. Byron McMillin (of Decatur, Ill.) died 7 May 1947 and served as a Lieutenant in the Air Force in World War I. Byron had one child named Jack H. McMillian who lived in Oklahoma City, Okla. Ella and James' second child was Jack McMillin, who also served in World War I, and who had a son named Jack B. McMillin that resided in Oklahoma City, Okla.]. Ephraim and Mary Jane move to Urbana, Illinois in about 1875 and to Champaign, Illinois in about 1884. Ephraim began working for the government as an engineer in 1891, working on the Missouri River. In 1892 he was transferred to the Mississippi River and stationed on the U.S. Dredge Fleet at Memphis, Tenn., first as chief engineer of a twenty inch centrifugal dredge. In this capacity he conducted several important tests of engines, boilers, fuels, etc., under different conditions, speeds, etc., and with the dredges using different types of pumping equipment. The results and deductions arrived at were published by F.B. Maltby, then Superintendent of Drudging, in the "Engineering News" about 1902.

Uncle "Doc" was advanced to Master of Dredges and later to Master Mechanic in which capacity he built and operated the extensive shops necessary to keep up the dredging plant which at that time included eight of the largest dredges afloat, five large stern-wheel tow-boats, four smaller survey boats, three or four other large tenders and numerous smaller craft such as pile drivers, air compressors, barges for many purposes and a sectional floating drydock which was built on the spot.

In 1905 the U.S. government sought engineers for work on the Isthmian Canal construction, and since Ephraim was considered one of the best in the nation, he was transferred there to the Panal Canal with the position of superintendent of all floating equipment of the government property on the Canal Zone. His nephew Verner M. Claybourn wrote, "Ephraim Smith Claybourn was a fine machinist and a most efficient steam engineer." According to an Official Register published in 1907 by the United States Civil Service Commission, Ephraim was paid $3,000.00 per year. In 2008 dollars, that would equal to roughly $68,500.00.

When he went to Panama, he designed and constructed the Cristobal drydock shops and rebuilt the "Old French" dock to accomodate vessels of 300 foot length and about 25 foot draft. He was carried on the rolls there as Superintendent and had full charge of about 500 men. He supervised the construction of many types of machines for the different phases of that mammoth job, including the building outright of several dredges and the rehabilitation of a variety of "Old French" machinery that was adapted to the American methods of performance.

Reflecting back on Ephraim's life, his nephew Verner noted, "I worked under him and with him for about ten years and have had ample opportunity to observe executives, both on these jobs and elsewhere, and say, unqualifiedly, he was the most efficient and at the same time the most popular executive I ever knew."

Ephraim worked on the canal for about three years, but while there he fell from a vessel in dock to the concrete floor and broke his hip, the shock also affecting his heart so that he finally resigned. Eventually he died in 1909. The Champaiign (Illinois) News reported the following in an article headlined, "E.S. Claybourn Hurt in Panama - Died in Champaign - Was Born at Dix"

Ephraim Smith Claybourn died at his home in Champaign Sunday. Mr. Claybourn was born near Dix, Jefferson County (Ill.), February 8, 1851. He was the father of seven children, four of whom, with his widow, survive.

Mr. Claybourn was married on August 20, 1870, to Mary J. Dudley. They came to Urbana 34 years ago and to Champaign 25 years ago. Mr. Claybourn died in the house to which they moved from Urbana at 410 W. White St. The cause of his death was a rupture of the heart, caused by an accident which happened August 15, 1906, while he was superintendent of floating equipment on the Isthmian Canal.

Mr. Claybourn had an interesting life. He entered the service of the government in 1891 as an engineer on the Missouri River. In 1892 he was transferred to the Mississippi River as chief engineer, which position he held until 1905, when he was again transferred to the more important work of the government, and in a position where the government assembled its best engineers, on the Isthmian Canal construction, where he was again promoted to the position of superintendent of all floating equipment of the government property on the Canal Zone. He was recognized as a man of more than ordinary executive ability and had excellent control of the men under him and by them was regarded as a most excellent friend, as is shown by the many inquiries as to his condition while he was here sick. Mr. Claybourn had been practically disqualified from performing his duties almost ever since his injuries.

As "Doc" Claybourn he was more familiarly known to many persons. In fact many of his most intimate acquaintences never knew any other name. The funeral was held at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon from the residence with the Odd Fellows in attendance. Rev. E.B. Rogers officiated.

Pedigree Chart

						Joshua Claybourn (Clibborn) 1758 - 1799
				Ephraim Claybourn 1788 - 1850
						Sarah
		William Divine Claybourn 1819 - 1896
				Mary "Polly" Browning 1792 - 1874
						Sally Browning
Emphraim Smith Claybourn 1851 - 1909
				Reuben Hawker b. 1794
		Frances Alla Hawker 1820 - 1863
				Nancy Hawker b. 1796

Descendants

Ephraim Smith Claybourn and Mary Jane had seven children:

1. Agnes and Charles Claybourn (front) with their five sons (from left to right): Willis (Bill), Charles Todd, Edwin S., Dunbar, and Robert

   Charles Claybourn was born 6 April 1873 and married Ms. Agnes Dunbar. He worked for a farm implement company and once lived at 518 New Yrok Ave., Peoria, Ill. Charles died on 1 November 1950. He and Agnes had five children:

   1. Willis Franklin Claybourn (called "Bill") was born 22 Oct. 1895 and had no children. He served in World War I and died on 11 April 1964.

   2. Dunbar Claybourn (called "Ding") was born 24 June 1901. He married Dorothy Dunbar but had no children. As with his brother Willis, Dunbar served in World War I. He died on 10 October 1962.

   3. Charles Todd Claybourn was born 17 April 1899. He married Catherine Schneider and died in February of 1976. Charles and Catherine had two children:
      1. Jack C. Claybourn was born on 12 June 1926 in Peoria, Illinois. He was a World War II Marine Corps veteran. Jack married and later divorced, but had no children. He worked for Illinois and last worked as a self-employed carpenter. Jack died on 9 April 2003 at his residence and is buried in Swan Lake Cemetery.
      2. Joyce Marie Claybourn Stutsman was born on 22 January 1930 and died in September of 1973. She married Allen C. Stutsman of Spring Bay Road, East Peoria, Illinoi. They had three daughers:
         1. Deborah Stutsman
         2. Donna Stutsman
         3. Rebecca Stutsman ("Becky") was a world champion skeet shooter.

   4. Robert Claybourn was born on 8 January 1907 and married Florence Harris [Most information regarding Robert Claybourn and his descendants is derived from Robert's niece "Dee," who corresponded with Joshua A. Claybourn in July of 2009.]. They had one daughter, Ellen. Florence had been married previously and had a son, John Harris, by that previous marriage. Robert died in October of 1972 and is buried in Fresno, California.

   5. Edwin ("Eddie") S. Claybourn was born 4 March 1911 in East St. Louis, Illinois [Most information regarding Eddie Claybourn and his descendants is derived from Eddie's daughter "Dee," who corresponded with Joshua A. Claybourn in July of 2009.]. Eddie's father (Charles) wanted to name Eddie "Ephraim" after Eddie's grandfather by the same name, but allegedly Charles' wife Agnes did not care for the name, so they compromised with the name of Edwin. Eddie worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Illinois from 1939 until 1973. He started out working in the shop as a time study man. He wanted to better himself, so in the 1950's he attended Bradley University taking engineering courses. He graduated from Bradley in 1958 and then proceeded to get a job in management in the planning dept at Caterpillar as an engineer, traveling all over the U.S. in this capacity. Eddie was also a Mason. He married (1st) to Julia Doubet. They had one child:
      1. Patricia Claybourn was born on 14 July 1934 and died in September of 1998.
      Eddie married (2nd) to Irene Mitchell in 1938. Irene was born on 30 July 1920 and hailed from Galesburg, Illinois. Eddie worked as a Caterpillar, Inc. engineer and retired in 1973. They lived and died in Peoria, Illinois, with Irene dying on 4 July 1971 and Eddie following in death on 15 April 2000. Eddie and Irene had one child:
      2. Delores ("Dee") Claybourn Wills married Jack Dwaine Wills on 16 August 1960 and divorced him on 18 March 1982. Dee was employed by Peoria County as a supervisor in the criminal division of the Circuit Clerk's office. She and Jack had three children:
         1. Kathie Dee Wills was born on 16 Feb. 1961. Kathie married Gary VanVoorhis in Peoria, Illinois in March of 1987, and the couple later divorced in 2000. They had one child, Jessica Van Voorhis, who was born on 3 April 1989. Kathie remained in Peoria, Illinois and owned her own business.
         2. Michael Wills was born on 20 July 1962 in Peoria Illinois. Michael lives in Hudson, Florida and works as a carpenter. He has 3 children: a son, Michael Adkins Wills, born on 26 August 1982, and twin girls, Erica Wills and Rachelle Wills, born 7 August 1993.
         3. Scott Dwaine Wills was born on 29 June 1963. He married Lisa Comstock in 1989. They had one son, Matthew Wills, born on 23 January 1990. This family lives in Hudson, Florida. Scott is a construction forman.
         4. Christopher Edwin Wills was born 6 September 1968. He served in the U.S. Army in Iraq. He suffered a serious back injury while in Iraq which required extensive surgery. He was sent back to the U.S. for the surgery and then was medically discharged from the army in April of 2008 due to his injuries. Christopher married Stephanie Petit in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. They had one son, Adam Wills, born on 20 January 1998. Chris and Stephanie were divorced in 2002. Chris currently lives in New Port Richey, Florida.

2. Maude Claybourn lived between 1877-1904. She married but had no children.

3. Daisy Claybourn was born in 1879 and died before the age of eighteen in 1896. She did not marry.

4. Grace Myrtle Claybourn was born on 28 March 1882. She was the Chief State Officer of the Pythian Sisters. She married Earnest Thomas Hubbard. He served in World War I and worked for the post office. They lived at 35 E. Green St. in Champaign, Ill. and did not have children. Thomas died on 5 March 1953, and Grace died on 6 Dec. 1957.

5. Helen Claybourn was born on 5 April 1888. She married on 8 June 1910 to Jamie L. Olmstead, formerly of E. Moline, Ill. They lived at 35 E. Green St. in Champaign, Ill. and had no children.

6. Harriet Claybourn: nothing more is known about Harriet other than her name.

7. Elizabeth Claybourn: nothing more is known about Elizabeth other than her name.