Clarence Chapman Caman

I know very little about my great-grandfather Clarence Chapman Caman, other than what I have been able to pick up here and there. There is a great deal of documentation about his father and grandfather, and I was able to talk to my Gpa, his son, but as far as anything about Clarence, it seems that not a lot was recorded.



Clarence Chapman Caman - no dates on either photo


Clarence Chapman Caman - 1974

Clarence Chapman Caman was born on 26 November 1892 in Welllington, Sumner, Kansas to William and Nellie Caman. I have no information about him as a youth, although his parents were very musical and held prominent positions in the community. Clarence had an older sister, Hazel, and two siblings that passed away in infancy. In the 1909 City Directory for Beatrice, Nebraska, Clarence is listed as a student, and in the 1911-1912 City Directory, he is listed as a chaffeur. On the 1910 Census his occupation is chaffeur for an auto factory.



Clarence Caman - circa 1911

Clarence was a Sergeant in the US Army in World War I. According to my Gpa Caman, he was in, or associated with, the Foreign Legion.


Clarence Caman (right) and his friends in the Foreign Legion

On the Marriage Certificate for Clarence and his wife Annie, it notes that this is the groom's second marriage. Until recently I didn't have any idea who his first wife was. Today I came across the marriage record for Clarence and Bethel Hawkins on 16 Feb 1916, in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa. I have not found any records as to what happened to their marriage, if she died or if they were divorced, but on 26 November 1917, a year and a half later, Clarence married Annie Sammon, in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa.



Clarence and Annie had a son, Donald in 1920. At the time they were still living in Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska, where Clarence's parents lived.


Donald, Annie and Clarence Caman - circa 1920-21


Four Generations representing the Tribe of Caman - Clarence Chapman Caman, Donald William Caman, Augustus William Caman, William Harrison Caman - July 1920 - Beatrice, Nebraska

In an interview with my Gpa Don Caman in 1998, he stated, "Clarence Caman came to Ocean Park, California to get a job. Once he had found one he sent for his wife and son. They came to California in 1922 when Don was 2 years old. They lived in Hollywood Hills for a while and then moved to Glendale, California."

Clarence is listed in the Los Angeles City Directories from 1927 to 1938 (these are the only ones I have access to online) and his professions was listed alternately as a switchman SCTCo and electrician. Their home was at 4505 Fountain. (According to Google Maps, there is still a house at that address)


Clarence Chapman Caman - no date on photo

I have a vague recollection of meeting my great-grandfather, Clarence Chapman Caman, when I was about five years old. We have a photo of us with him in his apartment in Riverside, California. (This photo is significant to me, as it is the only photo ever taken of my whole family together while my parents were still married.)


Kathryn (Marshall) Berkowitz, Jeremy Marshall, Clarence Chapman Caman (age 82), Lora Marshall Nehring, Don (Caman) Marshall, Jordan Marshall - summer 1974 - Riverside, California

Clarence died on 22 December 1976, shortly after his 84th birthday. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Hollywood Hills, next to his wife, Annie.


Clarence Chapman Caman - Interment Space: 3, Lot or Block: 3163, Section: Eternal Love

Direct line ancestry: Clarence Chapman Caman --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Marshall Nehring