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Published in the Abilene, TX - Reporter-News 2005-7-25
Calvin J. Clemmer, 87, died Friday, July 22, 2005 at
a local medical center.
Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Wylie
Baptist Church with Reverend Lee Fuller and Reverend Roland Williams
officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by
Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. The family will receive
friends at a visitation 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Calvin was born June 1, 1918 to Ida {McDaniel} and
A. D. Clemmer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was reared in Oklahoma
and graduated from Stratford High School in 1937. Calvin spent two
years at New Mexico A&M University prior to joining the Army to serve
his country in WW II. He was stationed at Fort Sill Army Camp before
being sent to Camp Barkley in Abilene in 1941 with the 45th Division.
Calvin transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. In that
capacity he flew 50 missions during the war as a gunner and armorer on
the B-17 and the B-24 planes for 13 months in the European Theatre of
War. Calvin's most historic mission was fly- ing up the main street of
Berlin from the airbase in Foggi, Italy in 1944. He met his future
life, Marie, at a church fellowship at Elmwood Baptist Church during
his time at Camp Barkley. They were married February 5, 1944, in
Hampton, Virginia. After serving in the military, the couple made
their home in Abilene. Calvin and his wife celebrated their Golden
Wedding Anniversary in 1994 at First Baptist Church University Place.
In 2004, an observance was held for their 60th wedding anniversary at
Wylie Baptist Church.
Calvin spent 30 years with the U.S. Postal Service
where he served as local union president and state vice-president of
the Texas Postal Union. He also served as chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Abilene Postal Federal Credit Union for 20 years.
Calvin witnessed tremendous growth in the credit union during this
time. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1976. Calvin and his
wife owned and operated Lucile's Flower Shop from 1976 to 1985. Since
1983, he was involved in ranching and raising Beefmaster cattle.
Calvin was a member of the Southwest Texas Cattle Raiser's Association
and served as chairman of the agricultural committee. He was also a
member of the Kiwanis Club of Abilene.
Calvin was a Baptist and began serving as an
ordained deacon in 1945 at Elmwood Baptist Church. He also served his
Lord, Jesus Christ, in numerous ways. He was Associational Sunday
School Director from 1953-1954 and again from 1973-1974. While an
active member of the First Baptist Church of Abilene he was a member
of the Deacon Board, Director of Adult 2 Sunday School Department, a
member and president of LLL Club, and very active in the Majestic
Sounds Choir. He was also Minister of Education at Wylie Baptist
Church from 1975 through 1981. Calvin and his wife, Marie, returned to
active membership there in 1999 and are members of Pairs and Spares
Sunday School Class.
Calvin was preceded in death by his parents;
brothers Ernie Clemmer and Dalton Clemmer; and sisters Mavie Clemmer,
Mary Ellis, Altha Nelson, Minnie Sparks, and Marie Johnson.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Keesee Clemmer of
Abilene; a son, James "Jim" Clemmer and wife, Tommie, of Bethany,
Oklahoma; a daughter, Karen Clemmer Camp and husband, Tom, of Abilene;
seven beloved grandchildren: Jason Clemmer and wife, Heather, Keri
Clemmer Ihle and husband, Jimmy, Ashleigh Clemmer, Bryan Camp and
wife, Lisa, Brent Camp and wife, Alison, Britney Camp, and Brandon
Camp; three great-grandchildren: Marissa Elliott, Griffin Camp, and
Grayson Camp; and a sister, Geneva Norvell and husband, Dave, of
Norman, Oklahoma.
Danny Clemmer
Clemmer.org
DNA TESTING ARTICLE BY
BOB CARPENTER OF LOMPOC, CALIFORNIA
AN INTRODUCTION BY
ROBERT C. CARPENTER
A number of years ago Bob Carpenter of 1504 Sheffield Dr.,Lompoc, CA
93436-7133 contacted me about his ancestor John T. Carpenter of
Georgia. Bob was unable to trace his ancestry past this John T.
Carpenter. He had seen reference to my book. Capenter A Plenty, and
felt that with the large number of Carpenters located in the Lincoln
County area of NC that he just might descend from this area. We
corresponded for a number of years with nothing materializing. He
would send information to me and I would respond. I did not have any
record of a John T. Carpenter in our area who had moved away from here
or specifically who had moved to Georgia.
About two years ago DNA Carpenter told me that he had gotten a DNA
genealogical test. He stated that he believed that using DNA was going
to be the only way for him to make his Carpenter connection. About the
same time we renewed our email correspondence. He suggested to me a
plausible connection to our NC Carpenter family. I had furnished some
infonnation in Carpenters A Plenty about an illegitimate child of
Joseph Carpenter through Catherine Kiser. I had never been able to
identify this child.
When Bob got DNA tested, he was one of a few genealogists who had
begun to use the science of DNA for genealogical purposes. He
contacted me about getting someone here to also get tested. I
suggested some people and he suggested some others using my book. To
make a long story short, the descendants of Christian Zimmerman,
grandfather of the Joseph above, who had been asked were reluctant.
Finally, Bob asked me to consider getting the DNA test. I thought
about it for sometime and finally agreed. I ordered the kit and when
it arrived I followed the directions. I sent the kit off with my DNA
and waited.
Then the unbelievable happened. I got the email and Bob immediately
also emailed me. Our DNA matched! I had not believed that he was
related to our family. The link seemed too far-fetched. Yet, the proof
was in the results.
Our matched DNA meant that we were closely related. It did not prove
the connection as Bob had suggested it to be. It did prove that we had
a common ancestor. The only logical conclusion was that Bob was
descended from the Joseph Carpenter described above.
I then invited Bob to come to our annual Carpenter Reunion which is
held in September. He agreed and furnished the program, DNA and
Genealogy. He told his story that without the DNA results he would
still be searching for his ancestors. His program was outstanding. He
and his wife, Judy, spent a week here in beautiful Piedmont North
Carolina. I took them to as many graveyards, homesites, and libraries
as possible. It was an enjoyable time and a wonderful adventure for
Bob who had been searching so long.
I asked Bob to write an article for Footprints when he returned to
California. He agreed. The following article is the result. You may
contact him by his address given above or through his email:
bjclompoc(a)attglolbal.net. Enjoy his article!
Exploring Genetic Genealogy
There have been many scientific breakthroughs in genetics, where DNA
testing and profiling can prove and resolve many family connections.
One such breakthrough was by Family Tree DNA in proving the kinship
between Robert C. Carpenter of Gaston, Co., NC and Bobby L. Carpenter
of Santa Barbara Co., CA.
Although genetic research is not new, its use in genealogy is
relatively recent and has been given the name `Genetic Genealogy".
Let's explore the chronological development of our understanding of
DNA.
1. In 1869 a substance containing nitrogen and phosphorus was
extracted from the nucleus of cells, and was called Nuclein. Today it
is called deoxyribonucleic acid, abbreviated and more widely known as
DNA.
2. In 1902 Walter Sutton discussed the behavior of chromosomes
during the process of cell division as part of sexual reproduction and
strongly suggested that those chromosomes were the carriers of the
units of inheritance.
3. In 1909 Johannsen was the first person to use the term Gene to
describe what was then considered to be the ultimate subunit of
inheritance for each single physical characteristic to be found at a
fixed segment on a chromosome.
4. In 1944 Oswald Avery demonstrated that it was the DNA contained
in chromosomes that acted as the carrier of genetic information.
5. James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the now famous double
helix structure of DNA in 1953.
6. In 1955, Tijo and Levan clarified that humans only have 23
pairs of chromosomes.
7. The chemical structure of DNA was found to be characterized by
sequences of four different nitrogen bases: Adenine (A); Guanine (G);
Thymine (T); and Cystosine (C).
8. It was not until 1985 that the small mutations or polymorphisms
found in chromosomes were first recognized by Casanova and others.
9. In 1995 Jobling and Tyler-Smith discovered a type called
microsattelites that were highly variable and they wrote that the
Y-Chromosome could be used as a Genealogical tool.
10. The number of repeats at the various loci (markers) on
theY-chromosome microsattelites and repeat types are variable enough
to distinguish one male lineage from another. Collectively,the results
from several loci (markers) are called haplotype.
11. Several studies have calculated that the expected frequency for a
Y-chromosome mutation is about 0.2% (one-fifth of 1 percent) and that
on average it occurs every 500 father/son pairings. There are two
basic DNA tests that can be used by family historians: 1) Y-Chromosome
Test (Y-DNA) and, 2) mitochondrial Test (mtDNA). The Y-Chromosome in
the nuclear DNA of every living man and replicates that of his father
and his paternal grandfather and back for generations and generations.
Y-DNA tests distinguish one male-to-male lineage from another and
reveal a DNA signature for each individual man. The mitochondrial test
looks at the mitochondria which is passed from female-to-child and is
inherited down the female line. This test can indicate the details
about the distant origins of maternal ancestors, and can be used to
link individuals via the direct female line. The Y-chromosome test can
only be taken by men while the mitochondrial test can be taken by both
men and women.
DNA test results can also be used to link specific individuals, build
a database showing the ancestry of people showing the same name, and
also be used to map the genetic origins of large segments of the
population.
The Y-Chromosome Test can indicate, whether specific individual men
share a common male ancestor, and whether men with the same or similar
surname are directly related through a common male ancestor. Here, a
father passes to his son an unchanged copy of his Y-chromosome.
However, small changes called polymorphisms can occur.
DNA is the cell nucleus which is organized into objects called
chromosomes. Humans have 46 (23 pairs), including two that determine
each person's sex: if these are X and X, the person is female; if X
and Y, male. The Y-Chromosome is passed virtually unchanged from
father to son through the generations. The DNA test simply measures
the lengths of certain specific sequences on the Y Chromosome. These
sequences are smaller than genes and don't have any genetic function,
and so the test will not reveal any physical characteristics or innate
tendencies. In addition with respect to confidentiality and privacy,
Family Tree DNA follows the most stringent guidelines for privacy.
They control the Surnames Database Library, while the University of
Arizona controls and maintains the genetic library on their behalf The
University of Arizona keeps the DNA sample associated to a number and
not a name, while Family Tree DNA offices keep the DNA profile
database with no access to the actual sample.
Currently Y-DNA testing results for males come in the form of 12, 25,
and 37 Loci (markers), with a 25-marker test being the most common and
recommended DNA test to take. However, the 37-marker is recommended
for better determining ancestors when a group of people have tested at
the 25-marker level.
The best way to explain DNA testing with respect to Family History
research is to think of it as another tool to be used. Prior to DNA
the two most common Family History research tools were:oral
(information handed down as family legend from parents, grandparents,
Uncles and Aunts, etc.,) and documented information via the Family
Bible, Vital Records, Court Documents, Land Records, etc. These two
methods have served us well over the years and only occasionally do we
hit a brick wall or come to a complete stop because of an inability to
find information on a relative.
Genetics can be used to extend family history research, especially
when a dead end (brick wall) has been reached due to lack of
traditional documentary evidence. However, genetics is not a
substitute for conventional research; it must be thought of as another
genealogical research tool. As such it can become a powerful tool. You
could say that it is absolute. A good example of how DNA testing can
help is best shown in how it helped me, Bobby L. Carpenter in finding
the parents of my Great-Grandfather John T. Carpenter. Over the past
twelve years I have searched in numerous locations using various
techniques. I've also read many books and microfilm at the State
Archives in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Alabama, along with other Genealogical Libraries such as the LDS
Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is probably, second to none.
Finding John T. Carpenter's descendants did not prove to be a problem.
I was somewhat surprised by the number of children that he had. When I
started I only knew of my Grandfather Noah and his brother James.
Census records kept telling me that John T. Carpenter and his father
were both born in North Carolina. This piece of information would
naturally lead me back to Robert C. Carpenter's book, "Carpenters A
Plenty", but I could not find a connection. Sure, I found similar
names, but there just was no real family connection apparent. Then I
found what amounted to "seven pieces of circumstantial evidence" that
pointed towards a Joseph Carpenter and Catherine Kiser. Collectively
these were:
1. Bastardy Bond dated 23 April 1823 and filed in Lincoln Co., NC. The
mother was Catherine Kiser and the reputed father was Joseph
Carpenter.
2. Lincoln County, NC - "Estate Sale" & "Inventory of Property" of
Catherine Kiser, (dec'd) dated 16 March 1832, sold by David Crouse,
Administrator.
3. An Apprenticeship Bond was filed in Lincoln Co., NC on 17 September
1838. The participants were George Kiser and John Carpenter.
4. 1840 Census for Lincoln Co., NC gave a George Kiser and another
male in the 15-20 year old group as living in the same household.
(John T. Would have been 17 years old in 1840)
5. John T. received the last name of Carpenter, which would indicate
that he was living with his father initially, or at least part of the
time. In addition, I have been told that NC law forbid the mother from
naming her son after the father if they were not married.
6. The Cleveland Co., NC census for 1850 showed the same George Kiser,
now at age 37, but, with no 27 year old male. This would prove that
John T. Carpenter had left, and that probably occurred when he reached
21 years old in 1844.
7. The Kiser-Carpenter Chronicle (book) researched by A. B. Kiser
reads on page 44,"Catherine Kiser, b. 1786, m ___________ Carpenter."
Individually, the above seven items do not mean very much. However,
when using them collectively and by associating them to one another,
the overall picture starts to take shape. An item also seems to come
into focus, and that is the fact that there seems to be no direct
evidence linking John T. to his father Joseph Carpenter. This lack of
direct evidence can be partially understood, because of the
circumstances involved with the birth of John T. Carpenter and
the apparent disappearance of Joseph Carpenter after the 1850 Census.
During my research I looked at family history results that other
researchers had come up with for their ancestors named Carpenter
and/or Zimmerman No matter how hard I tried I just could not make a
connection to their work. Somehow, it seems that I was always drawn
back to "Carpenters A Plenty". The day I discovered the Bastardy Bond,
(after about the third or fourth reading of the book on page 262), a
light just came on and I felt that I had indeed found the parents of
my Great-Grandfather John T. Carpenter. Then came that nagging
question. How can I prove that Joseph Carpenter and Catherine Kiser
were the parents of my John T. Carpenter?
Now I will have to admit, I was getting desperate and felt that God
was my only answer. So I prayed day in and day out for his guidance
and help. I was getting His answer and not understanding it. He was
telling me to have my DNA tested. I didn't know what DNA was, so I
forgot about my other research and started to educate myself about
DNA, or Genetic Genealogy. The Internet Search Engine Google just
seemed to be on my wavelength and page after page of DNA information
kept appearing for me to read. Then on 22 November 2002 I sent in my
DNA sample kit. I received my 12-Marker certificate dated 14 January
2003 (they had made a mistake and sent only a 12-marker certificate
which was their normal procedure at the time) and an update that
reflected my 25-marker results on 10 June 2003.1 also upgraded to the
37-marker test on 24 June 2004, which did cost extra.
I first contacted Robert via e-mail in 1998 and we have corresponded
via e-mail since then. I was actually using the name in his book to
contact possible relatives for having their DNA tested. During this
portion of my research Robert agreed to take the DNA test. Robert C.
Carpenter, is the author of the book, "Carpenters A Plenty". He sent
in his DNA Sample Kit on 3 November 2003. Results of his test was sent
to me by Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) on 18 December 2003, the first four
words of the e-mail read, "You have a match!" Robert's DNA and mine
matched almost perfectly. FTDNA said that there was a 99.9 percent
likelihood that we shared a common ancestor. Who was this common
ancestor? Robert can trace his ancestry back to Peter
Zimmerman/Carpenter And, I can via circumstantial evidence trace my
ancestry back to Christian "CZ" Zimmerman/Carpenter.
I believe that the Y-Chromosome DNA test results prove three distinct
things:
1) Joseph Carpenter and Catherine Kiser are the parents of my
Great-Grandfather John T. Carpenter.
2) Christian "CZ" Carpenter and Peter Carpenter were either brothers,
or first cousins.
3) Last but not least, God answers prayers if you have faith in Him.
In addition, for Robert and myself, the DNA test results have proven
that Christian "CZ" Carpenter and Peter Carpenter were closely
related. Now we need other Zimmerman/Carpenters to take the DNA test
to assist in determining to what extent they and other Zimmermans that
came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1700's were related.
In summary, I believe the DNA test results for Robert and me are a
good example of how you can integrate DNA test results into the
conventional paper trail evidence. In our particular case it proves my
circumstantial evidence was correct in regards to Joseph Carpenter
being the father of John T. Carpenter. And, it also proves that Robert
C. Carpenter's documented evidence on his ancestor Peter Carpenter is
totally correct and allows for the transition and acceptance of DNA
test results.
After having read the preceding Genetic Genealogy information and
feeling that you are or could be related to another person but you
just can't find that missing document or elusive piece of evidence,
then you are ready for DNA testing. How can you find out how to do
this? Just log onto www.ftdnacom and look around their Website. There
is a lot of available information and its mostly about Genetic
Genealogy. In addition, go to www. 00 lecom and enter "DNA Testing".
You will be truly amazed at the results you will find here. Now, if
you would like to understand more about DNA, then read James D
Watson's book, "DNA - The Secret of Life"
Currently there are about five different businesses that provide DNA
Testing services, they are:
1) DNA Heritage at www.dnaheritage. com
2) Family Tree DNA at www.familytreedna.com
3) Gen by Gen at www.genbygen.de
4) Osford Ancestors Ltd at www.osfordancestors.com
5) Relative Genetics at www.relativegenetics.com
With all things considered, I feel Family Tree DNA to be the best. I
believe they are the only one that uses a University Laboratory to
conduct their tests. It's not just a business. With Family Tree
DNA,it's a profession run by a fellow genealogist "Bennett Greenspan".
When you send in your DNA sample there is a form to sign authorizing
them to release information to others that have the same DNA profile.
It is recommended that you sign their release form,
otherwise your DNA results would not be known to anyone but yourself
One of the primary purposes of having your DNA profiled is to see if
there are matches. When FTDNA and the Laboratory at the University of
Arizona have completed your DNA testing, FTDNA will notify you via
e-mail if there are others with the same DNA profile. They will also
provide you with an 8.5 X 11 certificate, in color. Basically, if your
DNA comes within three mutations or less of another person they will
say that you and the other person have a 99.9 percent likelihood of
sharing a common ancestor. They do not know who that common ancestors
is; that is where your previous genealogical research comes into play.
Sometimes finding family history information via the conventional oral
and documentation ways is like looking for a needle in a hay-stack.
However, you can still get lucky and find what you are looking for.
But, at what price? Day and night trips to another library or another
courthouse can get costly, especially if they are out of state. Longer
trips from one coast to another can get really expensive even if you
mix it in with visiting relatives at the same time.
We have all experienced these family history research difficulties and
when all is said and done we make the trip and hope for the best.
However, usually when we make that trip we have done our homework and
can prove our ancestral lineage back to the point where we get lost.
That is exactly what we must do with DNA testing. For myself, with
respect to research trips, I have made six trips from the west coast
to the east coast, seven trips from California to Salt Lake City,
Utah to research in the LDS Library. In addition, there were various
other Family History Centers and Libraries located in various States
noted for their vast genealogical library holdings. The time period
for these trips and research was between 1983 and 2003. Needless to
say thousands of dollars was spent along the way.
One of my research goals was to determine the what, when, where, why,
and how of DNA testing to see if profiling could help me. It soon
became obvious that DNA testing was the third tool for Family History
Research and I had no other choice if I wanted to get beyond my
research brickwall. Although I submitted my DNA sample for testing on
22 November 2002, it took a year to find a person to take the test
that matched my results. Robert C. Carpenter submitted his DNA sample
in November 2003, he and I both received an e-mail from FTDNA on
Thursday, December 18, 2003 that read: "You have a match!" The total
cost for having your DNA profiled at the 25-Marker level is $169.00
(after the discount via the Surname Project Group) plus $2.00 for
mailing of a certificate with your DNA results. One of these groups is
called "Carpenter Surname Project" for example, and by having your DNA
tested via one of these groups you get a discount of about $40.00,
otherwise it would be about $209.00. Family Tree DNA now has over
24,000 records in their database of Y DNA results. They also
have over 1,100 Surname Projects which include over 9,000 surnames and
variants.
Give it a try and Log onto Family Tree DNA at their Website
www.ftdna.com and look around, - select Surname Projects - then select
the initial letter of your surname - then select your surname -
towards the bottom of this page you will find a form to fill out for
obtaining your DNA profile. Although they have 13 Types of Tests, it
is recommended that you select Y DNA25 - Male 25 Marker Paternal Test
$169.00 (Group) There will be an additional fee of $2.00 for mailing
your certificate.
About five days after you submit your request, Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)
will send you a DNA sample kit and instructions along with a Kit
Identification Number. This Kit No. and a password willbe required to
access your DNA results at the FTDNA Website. The Arizona Laboratory
does not know your name. They only know the Identification number
assigned by Family Tree DNA. It usually takes Family Tree DNA in
Houston working with the Arizona Laboratory about 5-7 weeks to run the
required tests and provide you with your Y-DNA Profile. Give DNA
testing a chance. You won't be disappointed!
Danny Clemmer
Clemmer.org
One of our list members has approached me with and idea of starting a
DNA project.. While most probably think of DNA testing as a crime
tool, it increasingly is being used in Genealogy also. There is a
cost involved and it varies according to the overall amount of
information requested. What I would like to propose is for you to
visit at least a few of the following sites and then post your
comments, pro and con to the list. Should you not wish to post to the
list, you can email me direct and I will tabulate numbers only.
Thanks for your time and lets hear what you think.
www.dnaheritage.comwww.famiilytreedna.comwww.genbygen.dewww.osfordancestors.comwww.relativegenetics.com
Danny Clemmer
Clemmer.org