His son, H. F. Clodius, was given liberal educational opportunities and in his later years has been a broad reader, so that he is said to be one of the best informed men on general subjects in Walla Walla county. In his wide scope of reading he has twice read the Bible through from cover to cover. When he was a lad of but fifteen years of age the life on the seas attracted him and for three years he sailed, during this time visiting the countries of France, England, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Russia. In 1865 his father died and H. F. Clodius then left the sea and returned home. He was the eldest in a family of four sons and he practically became the head of the family, assuming the responsibility of managing the valuable estate which his father left. He proved adequate to the duties that devolved upon him, for he has ever been a man of enterprise and adaptability who has readily and capably undertaken the tasks which have come to him.
H. F. CLODIUS
MRS. H. F. CLODIUS
In 1868 Mr. Clodius was united in marriage to Miss Catherine M. Rohde. Following his marriage he continued to cultivate his father's farm until 1875, when he determined to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic and with his wife and one son sailed for the United States. On reaching American shores he penetrated into the interior of the country and established his home in Woodford county, Illinois, where he resided for eight years. It was in the winter of 1882-3 that he came to the Pacific coast, making his way by train to San Francisco and thence northward by boat to Portland, Oregon. From that point he traveled by train to Walla Walla county, Washington, arriving in the city of Walla Walla on the 1st of February, 1883. He remained in the town for a couple of months and then purchased a farm on Mill creek, ten miles from Walla Walla. He continued to reside upon that place for fifteen years, at the end of which time he sold the property and purchased a portion of his present farm in Spring Valley, about four miles southwest of Waitsburg. His holdings he has since increased by additional purchase until he now has thirteen hundred acres, and upon this property he continued to reside until 1914, when he removed to Waitsburg, where he has since lived retired. His business affairs were most carefully and wisely managed and his well directed interests brought to him a very gratifying and substantial measure of success, so that, possessing a very desirable competence, he is able to rest from further labor and yet enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Clodius became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: H. F., who is a farmer residing in Garfield county, Washington; Catherine M., the wife of David Kibler, of Mill Creek, Walla Walla county; Marie C., the wife of Charles Kibler, who is an agriculturist living on Spring creek, Walla Walla county; Rosa, who gave her hand in marriage to William Weller, of Columbia county; Augusta, who is the wife of Emory McCown, a farmer of Walla Walla county; Ella, the wife of Henry Züger, who also follows farming in Walla Walla county; and John W., who operates the home farm. Two of the children, H. F. and Claus, deceased, were born in Germany.