Bettie and William had three children before she died and he remarried to Nettie.

Married Nettie C. McGuire Sep.18, 1900

Hand-Written Letter from William Franklin Clemons to Nettie Craig McGuire
(in family papers collection of Steven C. Clemons - [email protected])

Winchester, Kentucky
September 12, 1900

Miss Nettie McGuire
WhyNot, Kentucky

Dear Miss Nettie,

Although our former acquaintance has been brief, may I ask you pardon for this note asking a correspondence, and the privelege of calling on you if opportunity will afford. Can I say I await a favorable reply?

I am sincerely your friend,
W.F. Clemons

P.S. Should this request be denied, please burn this and be so kind as to retain it only in your own memory.


Bartlesville Magnet (Bartlesville, Indian Territory -- later Oklahoma), 23 July 1904, front page story.

ELDER CLEMONS DEAD
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FALLS FROM A WAGON SUNDAY AND DIES SOON AFTERWARD
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The Accident Occurred Near Wann While En Rout to a Sunday School Picnic, -- A Peculiarly Distressing Occurrence that Shocked Everyone who Knew Him.
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The people of Bartlesville were greatly shocked Sunday evening when a telegram from Wann announced that Elder W.F. Clemons was dead. No details were given, and it was not until after midnight, when the body was brought here in a wagon, than any knowledge of the sad ending of a pleasant life was obtained. (W.F. Clemons' accident and death occurred on July 17, 1904.)

Mr. Clemons, accompanied by Mrs. Clemons and the youngest child, left Bartlesville Saturday evening to attend a Sunday school picnic or convention on California creek, four miles east of Wann, and fifteen miles northeast of here. The spent the night at the home of Mr. George Adams, three miles from Wann, and at about 11 o'clock Sunday morning, while driving to the place where the convention was to be held, in descending a rough hill, the tongue dropped. The wagon ran against the mules, but they did not run away. Mr. Clemons, who was sitting on the front seat, holding the baby, stood up to jump and Griffith Graham also made a similar move at the same time. A jolt caused both to fall out, Mr. Graham falling upon Mr. Clemons, the baby escaping uninjured. One wheel of the wagon passed over the abdomen of Mr. Clemons and one shoulder was dislocated by the fall. Ten persons were in the wagon at the time, but those who remained sitting escaped injury.

The injured man was driven to the Adams home and two physicians summoned. Aside from the dislocation, no serious injury was found, but the shock was too much for a weak heart, and at 3 o'clock Mr. Clemons expired, retaining consciousness to the last and offering suggestions about family matters.

Telegrams had been sent to Mr. D.C. Satterlee and others to come and bring casket, but Mr. Adams brought the body home in a wagon and Mrs. Clemons, Mrs. Saterlee and Neal Saterlee were driven by Mr. Graham, reaching Bartlesville shortly after midnight.

W.F. Clemons was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, and had lived in Bartlesville two years. He had been married twice, two boys. Leon and Homer, being sons of the first wife. Deceased was an ordained minister of the Christian Church and had for a time been pastor of the Bartlesville church. For some months he had been in the store of Baird Brothers, but at the time of his death was with D.C. Satterlee in the Magnet Grocery Store. Mr. Clemons las week bought a lot off A.J. Norwood at Dewey and would have moved the family there this week and built a house.

It is no exaggeration to say that deceased was more generally liked than any man in Bartlesville. His was a happy, genial nature and he loved all mankind, as all men and women loved him. Kind words were never more lavishly bestowed than upon this excellent man whose life was so suddenly and cruelly destroyed.

The funeral took place Wednesday, under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias, of which order deceased was a member, the services being conducted by Elder Charlton of Caney, and interment was in the Bartlesville cemetery.

It is not known just what plans Mrs. Clemons has. Her father, Judge H.L. Wheeler, of Beattyville, Ky., spent several weeks with the family not long since, and is expected here to assist the bereaved family.

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There are several mistakes in this obituary. William Franklin Clemons married three times -- to Betty Jackson (Fluty), Mattie Clay (Reed) (Neal), and to Nettie Craig (McGuire). This obituary also mentions his two oldest sons but fails to identify the child he was holding on the wagon, William Wheeler Clemons, who was the son of W.F. and Nettie McGuire Clemons. I also believe that W.F. Clemons was born in Clark or Estill Counties, not Jessamine County. Lastly, what is noted as Bartlesville Cemetery is now the White Rose Cemetery in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma.

information provided through GenCircles - Marilyn McGuire