WILLIAM H. CLARNO, a resident of Oneco Township for twenty-eight years, was born in Tazewell County, this State, on the 3d of April, 1835, and is the son of John H. Clarno, who was born in Virginia in 1790. His paternal grandfather, a native of France, emigrated to America early in life and settled in Virginia, where he was married and reared his family. His son, John H., remained in his native State until changing his residence to Ohio, where he lived until he was thirty-eight years of age. He then moved to Tazewell County, Ill., and engaged in farming for a period of four years, thence moved to the farm in Oneco Township where his son William H. has lived since the 16th of August, 1838.

This property was purchased in that year as a claim by John H. Arno, and consisted of 320 acres. Here he labored industriously to eliminate a homestead from the primitive soil, and in the meantime became prominent as a successful farmer and a valued citizen. For a number of years he officiated as Justice of the Peace and held other local offices. He died in 1856, at the age of fifty-six years, on the farm which he had opened up from the wilderness. He was a member of the old Whig party, and became a Republican upon its abandonment, a short time before his death. Mr. Clarno’s mother was in her girlhood Miss Jane Plimel, daughter of Anthony Plimel, who was born in Ohio. Her people, so far as known, were through several generations of the Buckeye State, and farmers by occupation.

Mr. Clarno lived with his parents until the fall of 1855, with the exception of one year which he devoted to the trade of blacksmithing. He then went to Minnesota and engaged in farming and breaking ground for others at a stipulated price per acre. He remained there until in December, 1858, then started on a visit to Oneco Township. He arrived there on the 1st of January, 1859, and has been there ever since. He and his brother jointly owned a claim in Minnesota and had equal interests in their father’s estate. William H. exchanged his interest in the Minnesota claim for his brother’s interest in the estate, thereby becoming the possessor of the homestead.

Our subject, in 1860, was married to Miss Mary C. Kylor, who was born Feb. 16, 1841, and is the daughter of Henry Kylor, of Clearfield County, Pa. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Clarno was a native of Germany. Her father was engaged in farming and lumbering in Pennsylvania, where he died nearly forty-six years ago. The mother was subsequently married, and in 1857, the stepfather came west and located at Sac City, where he remained one year. He then came to Stephenson County and located in Oneco Township, where he resided many years. He died in August, 1879. The mother is still living. Mrs. Clarno had one sister and two brothers.

The family of John H. and Jane (Plimel) Clarno included eleven children, of whom William H. was the fifth. The latter and his estimable lady are the parents of nine children: Mary J., Mrs. Walter; Sarah E., Mrs. Reeser; John H.; Oliver P., who resides at Orangeville; Anthony J., Aaron A., Minnie L., Stella V., and Joseph A., who died in January, 1884. Mrs. Clarno belongs to the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Clarno votes the Republican ticket. He has filled several local offices, and by many other complimentary acts have his fellow-citizens signified their approval of his career as a citizen and business man.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 359