Biography of Col. Henry S. Clemant
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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Clement, Col. Henry S., of the Congress Hall Hotel, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841, a son of W. H. and
Elizabeth (Steiner) Clement His father was a native of Saratoga Springs and a descendant of one of the oldest families
in this vicinity (Putnam.) On the maternal side he descends from the old Maryland family of Steiner. In early life
his father removed to Ohio and became one of the most successful business men in the State; he was for a number
of years president of the Mad River Railroad and of the Little Miami road; also of the Cincinnati Southern road.
He was tendered the nomination for governor of Ohio in 1860. Henry S. Clement was educated at the Baliston Academy,
which in those days had an enviable reputation, where he was prepared for college, but at the outbreak of the Civil
war he raised a company for the Twelfth Ohio Volunteers, of which he was elected first lieutenant. This was the
first company accepted by Governor Denison under the àall for 75,000 men. Colonel Clement served three years
and six months, ranking successively as captain in the Twelfth; major in the Seventy-ninth, which regiment he commanded
as lieutenant-colonel in Sherman's famous campaign, and after receiving an honorable discharge he was brevetted
colonel. For a time he served as his father's private secretary, and in 1868 bought a quarter interest in the Congress
Hall Hotel at Saratoga Springs. This interest he sold in 1871 and opened the Lindell Hotel in St Louis, which became
the leading hotel in the city while under his management In 1878 he returned to Saratoga Springs, his father and
John Cox having purchased the Congress Hall Hotel, where he has since been continuously connected with the famous
hostelry, having completed his twenty-first season in 1898. He is a Republican and. in 1883-84 represented the
Second district in the Legislature, serving on the committees on elections, insurance and villages. He made an
excellent record as a legis. lator, and during his term secured the passage of important bills in the interest
of the village of Saratoga Springs, among them being a special act creating a paid fire department, and the sewerage
bill. He is a man of strong character, pleasing personality and exceptional ability. He married, in December, 1863,
Julia H. Young, daughter of Thomas Young, and granddaughter of Hon. Samuel Young, secretary of state, senator from
Saratoga county several terms, canal commissioner, and Democratic candidate for governor against De Witt Clinton.
They have two surviving children: Elizabeth Clement Seavey and Henry S. Clement, jr.
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