Robert O. Clarida was of Irish, Scotch, English parentage, born near Crab Orchard in Williamson County, Illinois, on July 19, 1868. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Tennessee. He was reared and educated in Crab Orchard Township of Williamson County and lived on the farm until 1902.

His father, Archibald Clarida, died while Robert was quite young and to his mother deserves the credit of his rearing and ambitious training.

On May 27, 1891, he was married to Miss Dora Wilson of Crab Orchard, Illinois.

Clarida managed to complete four-years at Crab Orchard Academy and graduated in 1896. He began teaching school at twenty and continued for fourteen successive years. Much of this time he worked on the farm in the summers and taught in the winters. It is an indication of his worth as a teacher that he taught one school eight terms, and the last three terms of his 14 years at Crab Orchard.

In 1902 he was elected county Superintendent of Schools on the Republican ticket by a majority of 800, running ahead of his ticket. He served twelve years, declining a fourth term.

During the twelve years that Mr. Clarida served as county Superintendent the school property increased more than six-fold, every school in the county possessed a good library, several schools had been “Standardized,” and the county had unified its course of study for the High Schools. Mr. Clarida was asked to present this county course to a conference at the State University, after which many counties and High Schools all over the State of Illinois asked for the outline of this High School course, and an additional supply was furnished.

The county uniformity of textbooks was completed before the expiration of his last term, and county commencement exercises were inaugurated. He insisted on a higher scholastic preparation by the teachers, and at the close of his superintendence all who were then teaching had received normal training.

When Clarida became Superintendent of Schools in 1902, he moved his family from Crab Orchard to Marion and purchased a home at 903 S. Market Street.

The 1910 census reflects that Robert is aged 41 and his wife Dora is aged 35. He was the Supt. of Schools and owned his home free of mortgage. Children present in the home were Troy W. Clarida 17, Mabel B. Clarida 13, Carmen M. Clarida 12, Jewell Clarida 9, Hallie Clarida 4 and Kermit Clarida aged 1. The census indicated that Dora had given birth to six children and all six were living in the home at the time of the census.

Mr. Clarida served as President of the Southern Illinois Teachers’ Association, and appeared on the State Association program on various occasions.

In 1914 he retired from office after twelve years of very successful superintendence, and was elected president of the Citizens’ Trust and Banking Company, which position he held until 1919. During his banking experience the institution grew in deposits more than 400 per cent.

He was president of the Farmers Institute, the County Sunday School Association, and later of the Williamson County Fair Association.

In May, 1917, he was elected to the position of secretary of State Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund, affiliated with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

During the war Mr. Clarida tried to enlist for special military duty, but was rejected on account of his age. He, however, was arranging to go over as a secretary of the Y. M. C. A., when the armistice was signed.

By the 1920 census, the Clarida family had moved to Springfield, Illinois and lived at 701 S. Lincoln Avenue where he served as secretary for the State Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund until his death. Robert was then aged 51 and still had five children living in the home. His daughter Mabel was now 22 and was a public school teacher, Carmen was 20, Jewel 8, Hallie 14 and Kermit aged 11.  

Robert was an active member of the M. E. church, also A. F. and A. M.; I. 0. 0. F.; K. of P.; Red Men; Woodmen; Mystic Worker and B. P. 0. E. lodges.

Clarida passed away in Springfield on December 4, 1936 at the age of 68. His body was returned to Marion where he was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.

His wife Dora died in December on 1965 and was interred next to her husband at Rose Hill Cemetery.

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(Data from Williamson County in the World War, 1919; 1905 Souvenir History; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Street Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 08/05/2013)