This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Clem, Singleton, Ripley, Pease, McIntyre, Davis, Miller, Fisher Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/2034 Message Board Post: THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD. Nov. 6, 1906. "Henry Clem Tells of Early Days".--Henry Clem, one of the pioneers of this county is making a visit in this county, meeting some of his old acquaintances and relatives. Mr. Clem is now a resident of Fort Morgan, Colo. While yet a boy he came with his parents to Walnut Creek in 1856. His father, Bartlett Clem, was from Indiana and at the time mentioned above bought nine hundred acres of land in Walnut township at $5 an acre. He died in 1873 and was buried in the so-called Singeton Cemetery. At the time Henry Clem arrived in this region there were dear and wolves hereabouts. The only school house in his vicinity was located about half mile north of the present McIntyre school house and was built of logs, the cracks being filled with the usual mortar of that day, and the building was known as "Mud Seminary." Mr. Clem and his brothers and H. D. Ripley, better known as "Doc" Ripley, now also of Fort Morgan, attended school at this "Seminary", and E. N. Pease once taught there. This "seminary" was for a while quite a center for gatherings and the early elections and other public meetings of that region were held in that building. The Ripley family came from Ohio and preceeded the Clems on the Walnut. Henry Clem was married to Emily A. Ripley in 1861. Her father, Doctor S. W. Ripley, died in 1858 and was buried at Sidney, where he had lived a short time before settling on the creek. As few of our readers know how H. D.Ripley acquired the name of "Doc", we give the history here. His father, Doctor S. W. Ripley, mentioned above had a partner when living in Ohio by the name of H. D. Davis, from whom H. D. Ripley received his initials. This partner, Mr. Davis, was always referred to as "Doc", and when young H. D. Ripley--a mere child then living in Ohio--was asked his name, he used to tell the inquirer that he was "Doc Ripley," and to this day he is well known as "Doc" Ripley, though never a doctor in any sense of the word. Dr. S. J. Ripley, the father of R. J. and "Doc", was a graduate of Yale college and both he and his wife were born and raised in New London, Conn. They settled on Walnut Creek in 1853 and he practiced in that region till his death, and our R. J. Ripley enlisted in the Union army while living on Walnut Creek, and in his earlier life there kiled deer and other wild animals. A few other old timers, like Jack Singelton, Edward Miler, E. N. Pease, Henry Fisher and others were already settled on the Walnut before the arrival of the Clems. Like other early comers long before the days of the railroad, these settlers took land along the creeks where there was plenty of wood. After living there more than third of a century, Mr. Clem in 1892, went west and has remained at or near Fort Morgan ever since, being engaged in the cattle business. His wife has fully recovered her health by the change of climate. The fact that Mr. Clem is using crutches does not indicate poor health but is the result of having an engine on the Burllington road run into the caboose of another train, thus crippling Mr. Clem for life--he being in the caboose. He expects to return to his home in the latter part or November.