For twenty-five years Clement J. Lumpkin has been identified with the
Macoupin County Enquirer and has strived to make the paper a leading
democratic organ in this part of the state. He was born in Bird township,
August 24, 1864, a son of James W. and Elzina (Bates) Lumpkin, both of whom
were natives of this county. The father was reared in Bird township and
followed farming until 1880, when he moved to Carlinville and engaged in the
agricultural implement business, also serving as deputy sheriff. In 1886 he
and his son, Clement J., assumed control of the Macoupin County Enquirer and
associated as editors and publishers of the paper. Mr. Lumpkin, Sr., died in
July, 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife passing away one year
later at the age of sixty-five. Both held membership in the Baptist church.
Mr. Lumpkin was well known in political circles and was active in the
councils of the democratic party, being a stanch upholder of its principles.
He was energetic and capable in business, thoroughly honorable in his
dealings, and left a record of which his friends may always be proud.
The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was John Lumpkin,
who was born on a farm near Owensboro, Kentucky. He came to Macoupin county,
Illinois, in 1835, and took up government land in Bird township, where he
spent the remainder of his life. He died at the age of seventy-two years.
The maiden name of his wife was Emily Ann Rafferty. She was the mother of
one sou who grew to maturity. The grandfather on the maternal side was James
Bates, a native of Tennessee and also a pioneer of Macoupin county. He
married Martha Witt and they had two children, Elzina and John.
Clement J. Lumpkin was reared on his father’s farm and attended the district
schools. Later he matriculated at Blackburn University, from, which he was
graduated in 1885. After leaving the university he taught school for one
year, at the end of which time he and his father purchased the Macoupin
County Enquirer. He succeeded his father in carrying forward the publication
of the paper and its success speaks for itself. He still owns his share of
the old home farm of four hundred and thirty acres, and has other landed
interests.
On the 27th of June, 1899, Mr. Lumpkin was married to
Miss Mary Elizabeth Pegram, a daughter of Alvin and Almeda (De Kalb) Pegram.
She was born in Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, her father being a
native of the same county and her mother of the state of Alabama. The father
died at the age of sixty-two years, but the mother is still living and is
now sixty-four years old. They had four children: Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs.
Clement J. Lumpkin; Nathaniel J., a resident of White Hall, Illinois;
Almeda, who is the wife of Normal L. Jones, of Carrollton; and Abbie, who
married L. J. Titus, of Springfield.
A lifelong democrat, Mr.
Lumpkin is well informed concerning the history and principles of the party
and is one of its most earnest and uncompromising supporters. He tries to
make his paper a potent influence in promulgating the advantages of Macoupin
county and upholding the interests of this section. He is not connected with
any religious denomination, but his wife is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order. He is
a member of Mount Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M.; Macoupin Chapter, No.
187, R. A. M.; Elwood Commandery, No. 6, K. T.; and Moolah Temple, A. A. O.
N. M. S., of St. Louis.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 237-238.
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