Grant Clabourn

GRANT CLABOURN, one of the prominent business men of Cherokee County, and superintendent of the Red Rose Mining Company, of Shawnee township, was born April 12, 1864 at Russellville, Cole County, Missouri, and is a son of Lawson and Sarah (Kennon) (Barlow) Clabourn.

Lawson Clabourn was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, in 1816, but removed to Missouri at an early age, accompanying his parents, who settled in Cole County. There he passed his whole life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Mrs. Sarah (Kennon) Barlow in Missouri, and seven of his eight children grew to maturity, viz: John B., of Cole County, Missouri; Francis and Mary (twins), the former, of Cole County, and the latter of Fort Scott, Kansas; Russell, of Shawnee township; Louisa; Grant; and Margaret. The mother of Grant Clabourn was married first to a Mr. Barlow and her only son by that marriage, Charles William Barlow, is a resident of Jefferson City, Missouri. The family is well and favorably known in Cole County, where the grandfather had a plantation of 600 acres, owned slaves and was an extensive raiser of good stock.

Grant Clabourn attended school in his native locality until he reached the age of 16 years, when the death of his mother broke the family entirely up, his father having died when he was eight years old. For several seasons he assisted an aunt with her farming, and then was appointed a guard at the Missouri State Penitentiary, where he remained on duty for about six months. After this he became interested in mining, and has been for the most part identified with this work, in Missouri and Kansas, since he was 18 years of age. He has been connected with many large developing enterprises, and has been very successful in them. In l900 he organized the Red Rose Mining Company, which is operating on the Badger M. & M. Company's lease. The company has four lots, comprising 1,600 square feet, a shaft 135 feet deep, a complete 150-ton mill, and the best equipment in the camp. Mr. Clabourn has opened up several other mines in his time, among which may be mentioned "Crown Point," on the North Empire. He has also been in the drilling business for many years, and has two drills at present. He has a 52-acre lease on Mrs. A. B. Brooks' land at Zincite, Missouri, which pays a handsome royalty.

In 1896, Mr. Clabourn was married to Lona Heddens, who is a daughter of Noah H. Heddens, of Galena, and they have one daughter,—Opal. Politically, Mr. Clabourn is a Democrat, but has little disposition, and less time, to engage actively in politics. His fraternal associations include Mineral Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Pythias, in which he has filled the office of chancellor; the Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is well known all over the county, and is considered an authority on mining and mining properties. Honorable business dealings have brought him respect and esteem, and good menagement has been rewarded with business success.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by students from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Baxter Spring, Kansas, 4-24-97.