Biography - MILO R. CLANAHAN
As manager of the Southern Illinois agency for the National Life
Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont, Mr. Clanahan is recognized as one
of the representative figures in the field of life insurance in this section
of the state, and he maintains his official headquarters in suite 506-7
Metropolitan building, East St. Louis. He is one of the popular and
representative business men of this thriving city and has made an admirable
record in his chosen field of endeavor.
Milo R. Clanahan finds a due amount of satisfaction in reverting to Illinois
as the place of his nativity, and he is a scion of a family whose name has
been identified with the history of this favored commonwealth for fully
three quarters of a century. He was born on a farm in Pope county, Illinois,
on the 4th of March. 1864, and is a son of Augustus Hamilton Clanahan and
Ann Eliza (Modglin) Clanahan, who established their home in Pope county many
years ago, the father becoming one of the prosperous farmers of that
section, where both he and his wife continued to reside until their death.
He whose name initiates this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of
the farm and in the meanwhile the district school found him enrolled as a
duly ambitious pupil. He amplified his educational discipline by attendance
in summer schools and finally by an effective course in the Northern
Illinois Normal University, at Normal, McLean county. In this institution he
admirably qualified himself for the work of the pedagogic profession, and
for six years he was a successful and popular teacher in the public schools
of his native state. Thereafter he served five years as chief deputy in the
office of the United States collector of internal revenue at Cairo,
Illinois, a position from which he retired in 1894. In 1896 he became
district manager for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, this
position having been given him after a specially excellent record as a local
underwriter for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. His service as
district manager for the Mutual Life continued until the 1st of January,
1904, and he maintained his executive headquarters in the city of Cairo
until 1901, when the same were transferred to East St. Louis. On the 1st of
January, 1904, Mr. Clanahan assumed his present position, that of manager of
the Southern Illinois agency for the National Life Insurance Company of
Montpelier, Vermont, and he has added materially to his prestige in his
chosen profession since forming such connection with this admirable New
England company, for which he has built up a large and substantial business
in his jurisdiction. He has shown marked initiative and executive ability,
is progressive and alert and has a broad and exact knowledge of all details
of the life-insurance business, in which he has gained a high reputation and
unqualified success. In 1908 Mr. Clanahan purchased a fine stock farm near
Vienna, the judicial center of Johnson county, Illinois, and he has found
great pleasure and satisfaction in the development and improvement of this
property and in exploiting the stock industry through progressive and
effective methods. His farm is now one of the best devoted to the raising of
pure bred live stock to be found in Southern Illinois, and he gives to the
same his personal supervision.
In politics Mr. Clanahan gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party
and as a citizen he is essentially loyal and public-spirited. He is a member
of the East St. Louis Commercial Club, is affiliated with the Masonic
fraternity and is identified with other civic organizations. The church
relations of Mr. and Mrs. Clanahan are with the Presbyterians.
On the 26th of June, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Clanahan to
Miss Lollie Mittler, and they have three children, Elsie Mittler, who is a
student in Washington College, at Washington, D. C.; Julius Harrington, who
is a member of the office force of the Pittsburg Aluminuni Works, which is
one of the largest industries of East St. Louis, Illinois; and Walter
Hamilton, who is a student in the East St. Louis high school.
Apropos of Mr. Clanahan's deep interest in stock-growing it may be said that
he is specially enthusiastic as a lover and breeder of fine horses, in which
connection he has prepared and published an attractive little brochure,
dedicated to the American saddle horse in general, but more particularly to
Forest Dudley, No. 2850, and his noted sire, Forest King, No. 1462, the
former animal being owned by Mr. Clanahan. Concerning the pamphlet to which
reference has just been made pertinent information is given in the preface
of the same, and the context thereof is consistently reproduced in this
sketch of the career of the author: "Upon my first conception of the idea
that I would prepare a pamphlet and dedicate it to 'The American Saddle
Horse' in general, but more particularly to the one in which I felt most
deeply interested, I little realized the enormity of what first appeared so
small a task, but which in reality proved a large one for me, coming, as it
does, not from a horseman, familiar with 'boss' talk, but simply from a
life-insurance man who in early boyhood and while on the farm formed a love
and admiration for horses, which is my hobby. . . . It has been said that
every man must have his business and his hobby. Imagine yourself, if you
please, trying to write something of your hobby and to make it of interest
to anybody else, especially when you are not a member of or applicant for
membership in the Ananias Club, and you will agree with me that it would be
far easier to talk or write intelligently and, as in this case I have tried
to do, truthfully upon the line of business in which you are in every-day
life engaged. But as I was never accused of being a 'quitter,' I have stayed
at this self-imposed task until it is now 'up to the printer' and 'me for
the bill,' and if this pamphlet contains any information of interest to you,
either with reference to Forest Dudley, No. 2850, or any of his
distinguished ancestry or to the American saddle horse in general, let me
assure you that I have taken no little pains but have spent much time and
labor and some money in the preparation of the booklet, and in an honest
effort to substantiate every statement made herein, and which I now ask you
to accept as authentic, with the compliments of the author." Copies of the
pamphlet may be had upon application to Mr. Clanahan, and at a purely
nominal price. Further statements made by Mr. Clanahan in this connection
are as follows: "By a careful study of this publication you will find that
it contains much valuable and general information, in fact the boiled-down
essence of the various published volumes of the American Saddle Horse
Register, as to the organization of the association, the foundation sires
and later noted sires, outlining from official sources the distinctive upper
blood lines of the American saddle-horse family, with show records and
achievements of its most noted sires; also the sources, breeds and crosses
from which the American saddle-horse family has sprung; therefore we trust
that everyone into whose hands this booklet may fall may find it both
interesting and worthy of preserving for future reference."
In conclusion of this sketch of Milo R. Clanahan, will say that he has
always applied his energies faithfully and loyally to whatever task he
undertook, always remembering, and usually applying that good old rule
"Business first and pleasure afterwards."
Extracted 07 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Southern Illinois, by George Washington Smith, published in 1912, volume 3, pages 1262-1264.
