Webster Township Man With 22 Children Claims U. S. Title Of 'Father Of The Year'

Webster Township Man With 22 Children Claims U. S. Title Of ‘Father Of The Year’

Name: Clarkson Frederick Warden.

Address: Donovan Rd., Dexter.

Age: 79 years.

Number of living children: 22!

Thus did Warden, a Webster township farmer, serve notice to the National Fathers’ Day Association that he is a nominee for the title of “Father of the Year”—that is, the father with the largest number of living children.

Warden thinks his chances are pretty good for winning the $100 bond offered yearly by the association, as last year's winner had a mere 20 living children.

Warden counted noses yesterday at the 40th wedding anniversary he and his third wife, 57 years old, celebrated at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Dexter. Sure enough! There were 22—counting Clarence who couldn’t come. And with the 31 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren plus the various in-laws, the family party numbered 73.

Three Children Died

Had all his children lived there would be 25. One of the two children by his first wife died and two of the four by his second wife also died. He and his present wife have had 17, all of whom are living.

A native of Washtenaw county for 35 years, Warden has farmed practically all of his life and at one time was considered the largest potato grower in the county.

The 79-year-old man declared that he had little trouble rearing his 22 children. "Just give them plenty to eat and wear, and enough work to keep them busy,” is his advice. "You also have to teach them to respect their elders and find a place for themselves in the world.”

It was a bit easier to rear the older children, he said, as it wasn’t such a job to keep them at home "where they belong.” In these modern times, with transportation making the world smaller and smaller, a father just can’t keep his children at home as well, he laments.

"All Turned Out Well’

All of his children have turned out well, their father avers. He points with pride to his son Clarence, who, he said, formerly was general manager of the General Motors plant in Flint, and to another son, Floyd Shotwell, who owns an interest in the Hubert Cartage Co. in Pontiac.

Floyd, he explained, has taken his father’s real name, Shotwell. Warden’s mother died when he was born and he was reared by an uncle and aunt whose name he took, while never having been legally adopted by them.

Warden’s family history includes, he said, a great-grandfather, Charles Shotwell, who carried mail for General Washington in the American Revolution.

Washington deeded Charles Shotwell land around Philadelphia, Warden declared, pointing out that this land still technically belongs to Shotwell’s descendants, of whom he is the foremost, but that complicated litigation has kept the family from being paid for the property.

Lawyers have also been consulted, Warden avers, in regards to property near the London bridge claimed to have been left to his grandfather by the latter’s uncle, an English lord. English authorities had advertised in this country for descendants of this Lord Shotwell, but having had no reply, had sold the property and put the money in a sinking fund.

Lack of funds has prevented Warden from attempting to get the money back, he said.

Here’s The Roll Call

Warden’s children, in order of their age, are Archibald of Pontiac, 57 years old, Clarence of Long Lake, Floyd Shotwell of Pontiac, Mrs. Pearl Dennis of Pontiac; Bert Joel of Pontiac, Mrs. Olive Alaimo of Buffalo, N. Y., Mrs. Juanita Hall, of Pontiac, Clarkson of Flint; Jasper of Pontiac, Kenneth of Waterford, James of Dexter, Cecil of Detroit, Harvey of Ann Arbor, Horace of Dexter, Mrs. Ruth Heise of Fraser, Mrs. Betty Rogers of Dexter, Mrs. Jean Stanley of Ann Arbor, Romona Warden of Ann Arbor, Enola Warden of Dexter, Glenna and Glenroi, 15-year-old twins, and Phyllis, 12 years old.

Warden’s wife and his oldest son, Archie, were in school together and were in the same school play in which they played husband and wife. It was through Archie that his father and Mrs. Warden met.

Clan Gathers For Couple’s 40th Anniversary

Washtenaw county’s bid for the title of “father of the year” in the national contest to be held in June is Clarkson Frederick Warden, 79, of Webster township, father of 25 children. He is pictured above (second from left, front row) with his family as he and his wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Dexter. To the left in the front lineup is the oldest son, Archie, 57, of Pontiac. Mrs. Marguerite Warden, 57, (second from right), Mr. Warden’s third wife, is shown with the youngest child, 12-year-old Phyllis. Also in the picture are all but one of the 22 living Warden children, plus a large representation of the 31 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Seventeen of the children were born to his present wife.