Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois
Originally published 1885
Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 322 and 325

George W. Clendenen, M. D., Fulton, is a native of Boone Co., Va. (Now West Virginia), and was born Dec. 4, 1844. His parents were Robert A. and Amanda (Hinchman) Clendenen. George W. came to Cass Co., Mich., with his parents in childhood, and when six years of age his father died, leaving his family in indigent circumstances.

The subject of our sketch was left to shift for himself at an early age. He began by working our summers to earn money to pay his way through school in the winters. He attended the union school of Niles, Mich., till he fitted himself to enter the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, which he did, and passed examination in the literary department and entered upon the classic course. He then became a school-teacher, to provide means of support while he should be engaged in the study of medicine, he having determined to adopt that profession as his calling. He began to read medicine in 1872, with his brother, Dr. Floyd Clendenen, of Dowagiac, Mich., now of LaSalle, Ill. He soon afterward became a traveling salesman for a wooden-ware establishment. Carrying medical books on the various branches with him in his travels, he read and studied them as he could find opportunity. He came to Fulton in 1874, and has since made this his home. He continued on the road till 1876, since which time he has devoted himself to the study and practice of medicine. He took a regular course of lectures at the Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, of Chicago, from which he received his degree of M. D., March 25, 1884; and since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Fulton, with the very best of success.

He was married in Tuscumbia, Ala., Jan. 15, 189, to Miss Ellen A. Ferriss, daughter of E. W. Ferriss. Mrs. Clendenen was born in St. Joseph Co., Mich. They had four children: Blanch, who died aged two years; Gracie, who died aged one year; Eddie W. and Kittie G., who are living.

Dr. and Mrs. Clendenen are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is also a member of Lodge No. 189, A. F. & A. M. and in politics is a Democrat.

Although young in the profession, Dr. Clendenen is securing a rapidly increasing practice as a reward for a zealous and faithful discharge of his professional duties.