CLEMENT M. SLATER, of the firm of Walker & Slater, builders, and proprietors of a planing mill in the borough of Washington is a native of the county, born August 9, 1848, in West Alexander. His grandfather, James Slater, married Catherine Martin and three of their children are David (father of Clement M.), Martin (in West Alexander) and Mrs. McKahan (in Washington, Penn). James Slater, who was a farmer, died in 1859 in West Alexander at the age of seventy-one years. David Slater was born February 28, 1818, near West Alexander. He was educated at the subscription schools of his neighborhood, and followed farming pursuits in Washington county till the age of twenty-four, when he moved to Ohio county, W. Va., where he now resides on his farm. In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Dwight Warren, of New Hamphire, by trade a builder of windmills, and who came in 1837 to Washington county, where he died at the age of seventy years; his wife departed this life some five or six years later. Their children were Mrs. McKeag and Henry C., both in Washington; Rose Warren, living in West Alexander, and Elizabeth. To Mr. and Mrs. David Slater nine children were born, as follows: Clement M.; Rosa; Horace M., a carpenter in Oscaloosa, Iowa; William (deceased); Warren, living near West Alexander, this county; Frank, a farmer at Blue Hill, Neb. ; Augusta, married to James McMurray, a farmer near West Alexander; Wendell P., farming on the homestead, and Vernon, living at home. Clement M. Slater received a liberal education at the common schools of the place of his birth, working on his father's farm until he attained the age of sixteen years, when he commenced to learn carpentering in West Alexander. This trade he followed there some three years, and April 7, 1874, came to Washington, and for twelve years worked for Walker & Klevis as journeyman. On the death of both members of this firm, our subject and George Walker (son of the old partner) bought out the business, and have since carried it on jointly, their general line being sawing and planing, house building, contracting, etc. On January 5, 1871, Mr. Slater was married at Constitution, Washington Co., Ohio, to Jennie, daughter of Rhoda Mendelhall. This wife died November 6, 1876, leaving one child, George W., who, on May 4, 1890, was run over by a train on the B. & 0. R. R., from the effects of which he died after six hours' suffering, at the age of nearly eighteen years. On March 16, 1887, Mr. Slater married Miss Minerva Taylor, of Parkersburg, W. Va., daughter of Alexander and Delilah Taylor, also natives of that State. No children have been born to this union. Mr. Slater is a Republican, and has filled various offices of trust with considerable ability. He and his wife are members of the First M.. E. Church, he for eighteen years, and is steward of same. He has made his own success in life by strict attention to business, economy and thrift. When he had finished his apprenticeship, all he had to start on was the sum of $2.50, and today he is enjoying a well-merited comfortable competence.

Text taken from page 297 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by George A. and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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