Joseph Charles Clutts was born on 6 November 1861 at Vernon Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio. He was the son of Abraham and Sarah Elizabeth Doty Clutts. He was born just over two years after his parents married on 31 March 1859 in Lawrence County, Ohio. At the time of his birth, his father supported his newly expanded family as a farmer.
He spent most of his early life in that area and became well acquainted with the iron industry. Part of his childhood was spent in Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. His father worked as a teamster. The family home was so close to the Jackson County border the Samsonville Post Office was listed as their post office in the 1870 Federal Census.
Joseph was the eldest child, but like many families of the time period, the Clutts family had many children. His siblings included William, Nancy, Susan, Estella (born 8 December 1871), Joshua, Thomas (born 19 December 1875) and Julia (born 29 October 1879). Oddly, Julia was listed as a stepsister even though Abraham and Sarah had been married for nearly twenty years before she was born and her birth record lists Abraham as her father.
Like many families, the Clutts would have its share of heart break. On 27 March 1866, Sarah gave birth to another son. His life was cut tragically short when he died 17 July 1867. An obituary did appear in the Ironton Register, but no first name was listed in the article. The Lawrence County Probate Deaths stated he died of inflammation of the brain. Once again, no name was listed.
On 8 July 1870, Abraham and Sarah would lose a second child. Their daughter, Susan Emeline, died at the tender age of 2 years 4 months and 20 days. Her cause of death was measles.
By 1880, Abraham Clutts had changed occupations for a third time. He was working as a furnace manager in Elizabeth Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Joseph’s occupation was listed as weighing ore which was one of the many jobs associated with the iron furnaces.
In 1882, he moved to Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio. While there he became part owner of Milton furnace and Wellston Iron Company. Clutts was highly successful in Wellston.
On 8 January 1888, Joseph Charles Clutts married Ada A. Potter. Born in April 1867, Ada was the daughter of Miner R. and Selina Osborne Potter. Her father was from Connecticut, but moved to Jackson, Vinton County, Ohio and worked as a farmer.
In February 1892, Joseph’s paternal grandmother died. Although her name was not listed in the local obituaries or death records. What was recorded was Abraham’s reaction to his mother’s passing. According to an article in the Newark Advocate, Abraham “became insane” while attending his mother’s funeral. His insanity was blamed on his recent bought of la grippe. However, he did have to be removed from the scene. Joseph’s response to his grandmother’s death and his father’s insanity were not recorded.
As for Joseph, he was seeing profits in every venture. Since he experienced so much success in the iron industry, he decided to pursue other interests. His business interests were not limited to Jackson County or even Ohio. He became principal owner of a furnace in Detroit, Michigan where he was president for many years.
He partnered with Colonel Zimmerman to organize the Spring Valley Iron Company. Zimmerman had been the president of the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad. This new partnership owned large ore mines in Spring River, Michigan. Clutts was named president of the company and he held this position until his death. This business endeavor proved to be another extremely successful investment.
Because of his connection to these mines, Clutts was recognized as an ore expert in Canada. The Canadian government gave him a special invitation to tour the mines in British Columbia.
Mr. Clutts played an active role in the establishment and building of Wellston. He held numerous positions in a variety of institutions. One notable interest was his ownership of the Wellston Sentinel.
According to the 1900 Federal Census, Joseph and Ada were living in Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio. They had been married twelve years, but Ada had not delivered any children. Joseph was working as a manufacturer agent. Ada’s mother, Selina, was living with the couple. Their life remained mainly the same according to the 1910 census.
In July 1917, Deputy Sheriff Charles Stagnaro approached Joseph C. Clutts while he was staying in the Metropole Hotel. The deputy served Joseph with a notice of divorce from Ada. According to the deputy, he had spent 10 days trying to track down Joseph. The papers had been sent to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office from Jackson County, Ohio.
Joseph was caught because of his expensive limousine. His limo was seen outside the Metropole Hotel which was how the deputy found him. Joseph did not seem bothered by his receiving the papers.
According to an article appearing in the Chillicothe Gazette, the divorce was granted in the middle of September 1917. Ada alleged Joseph had grossly neglected his duties for three years and had abandoned her. Ada petitioned the court of alimony as well as the family home. Joseph and Ada had been living separately for some time.
The divorce was settled out of court. Ada received $400 per month and a life lease on the family home on Broadway. Joseph had to convey all his property in Jackson and Vinton County, Ohio to Charles H. Jones of Chillicothe and L. J. Crawford of Kentucky as trustees. He was ordered to make this change to guarantee he would make the monthly payments to Ada.
Joseph had been already separated from his wife by this time. He was living in Chillicothe for over a year. His main residence in that city was the Maple Grove Hotel. In fact, Joseph often lived in hotels. When in Cincinnati, he lived at the Metropole Hotel. In Fort Thomas, Campbell County, Kentucky, he lived at the nationally recognized Altamont Hotel.
Just a few months after his divorce was finalized, Joseph married for a second time. On 20 September 1917 in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky, he married Etta Wilson Bain. Born on April 1875 in Ohio, she was the daughter of John M. and Chloe A. Wilson.
Like Joseph, Etta had been married before and divorced. Her first husband was John B. Bain. They had married in 1896. She had given birth to two children during her first marriage, but only one survived.
Around 1919, Joseph moved to Ironton. He and his family made the Hotel Marting their home. While in Ironton, he once again showed in interest in local industries. He invested in the Ironton-Russell bridge Company, Belfont Steel and Wire Company and First National Bank.
His activities were not limited to just Jackson and Scioto County. He was a member of the Queen City Club of Cincinnati, the Ashland Belfonte County Club in Ashland, Kentucky, the Elks Lodge in Wellston, and was the honorary vice president of the American Sunday School Union. He maintained an active role in all of these groups until his health declined.
Around 1922, Joseph purchased Gray Gables, the former home of Robert Hamilton and his family. The house was located just outside the city limits of Hanging Rock. Once purchased, he remodeled the home. Clutts and his family lived in the home until his death.
At 4:45 p.m. on 28 July 1927, Joseph Charles Clutts died at his home, Gray Gables. He had been ill for nearly a year. His visitation and funeral were held at Gray Gable. People from all over the Ohio valley and Ohio came to pay their last respects. He was buried in Woodland Cemetery on 31 July 1927.
Shortly after his death, the court cases began over his estate. According to the Portsmouth Daily Times, Clutts had died a millionaire. The first debts to be paid from his estate would be his funeral costs as well as the cost for his monument. It would take three years for the estate to be settled.
Etta, as his widow, was next to receive a part of his estate. She received Gray gables as well as all the grounds connected to the Hanging Rock estate. She was to receive an income from his estate as long as she lived. When Etta passed, Gray Gables would go to his step-daughter, Geneva Bain Phipps.
The rest of Joseph’s estate was to be divided into thirds. Geneva was to receive one third. His brother was to receive 25% of the remaining two -thirds. His brother, William and Joshua would receive 15% of the two-thirds. His sisters, Estella and Julia, would receive 15%. Lastly, his niece, Ruth Wilson, would receive a final 15%.
Etta did not live long enough to see Joseph’s estate settled. At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 December 1930, Etta Wilson Bain Clutts died at her apartment in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of her friends from Ironton had recently visited her and stated she claimed to be enjoying better health. Bingaman and Jones of Ironton were contacted to arrange for the body to be transported back to Ironton for burial.
She was remembered as a “gracious lady of rare charms and personality.”
Geneva and her husband accompanied her mother’s remains back to Ironton where they were buried next to Joseph C. Clutts in Woodland Cemetery.
Resources:
Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Decatur, Lawrence, Ohio; Roll: M653_997; Page: 281; Family History Library Film: 803997
Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1870; Census Place: Decatur, Lawrence, Ohio; Roll: M593_1231; Page: 244B
Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Elizabeth, Lawrence, Ohio; Roll: 1039; Page: 67b; Enumeration District: 085
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Wellston Ward 2, Jackson, Ohio; Roll: 1289; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0058
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Year: 1910; Census Place: Wellston Ward 1, Jackson, Ohio; Roll: T624_1198; Page: 6b; Enumeration District: 0070; FHL microfilm: 1375211
Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1920; Census Place: Ironton Ward 2, Lawrence, Ohio; Roll: T625_1400; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 114
Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
Became insane at his mother’s funeral. The Newark Advocate (Newark, Ohio). 1 February 1892. Page 1.
Clutts gets divorce. Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio). 15 September 1917. Page 5.
Estate of the late J. C. Clutts will be kept intact: entire income goes to widow. The Portsmouth Daily Time (Portsmouth, Ohio). 3 September 1927. Page 6.
Funeral Rites for J. C. Clutts here Sunday. Ironton Evening Tribune (Ironton, Ohio). 30 July 1927. Page 8.
J. C. Clutts, pioneer southern Ohio furnace man, died Thursday. Ironton Evening Tribune (Ironton, Ohio). 29 July 1927. Page 6.
Last rites for Joseph Clutts this afternoon. Ironton Evening Tribune (Ironton, Ohio). 31 July 1927. Pages 3 and 12.
Limousine betrays J. C. Clutts. The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio). 20 July 1917. Page 14.
Mrs. Clutts gets $400 per month. Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio). 19 September 1917. Page 4.
Mrs. Etta Clutts died at Cincinnati today. Ironton Evening Tribune (Ironton, Ohio). 9 December 1930. Page7.
Obituary: Clutts. Ironton Register (Ironton, Ohio). 25 July 1867.
Rites for Etta Clutts will be held Friday. Ironton Evening Tribune (Ironton, Ohio). 10 December 1930. Page3.
Title is cleared by filing will. Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio). 1 March 1933.
Wife sues coal operator. The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, Ohio). 19 July 1917. Page 5.