W. H. Clute is entitled to much credit as he began his business career with no capital and without the aid of influential friends, and he is now the owner of four hundred acres of fine land in this county and has also other valuable assets. He engages to a large extent in the feeding of sheep, buying them on range and fattening them for the market, and for the past ten years has averaged a profit of a thousand dollars from this business. He resides upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on section 22, Oneida township, and has spent his entire life in this county, as he was born near Greeley, November 3, 1863.
     His parents were Lewis and Melissa (Roe) Clute, natives of New York and Michigan respectively. The family is of German descent and the grandparents, were born in the fatherland. Lewis Clute was one of the '49ers who eagerly sought great wealth in the California mines, but he, as did so many others, returned rich only in experience. He concentrated his energies upon agriculture after settling in this county and became eventually the owner of seven hundred acres of land. He raised Durham cattle and also experimented along scientific lines in the cultivation of fruit and grain, doing much toward the develop-ment of both interests in the county and in the state at large. For thirty years he had charge of the state exhibits at fairs and was widely known among the men who sought to disseminate scientific knowledge concerning horticulture and agriculture. In politics he was a republican and took an active part in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace for about twenty five years. He passed away May 15, 1911. His widow survives and lives on the homestead, and has the honor of being one of the oldest residents of the county. Two brothers of the subject of this review, Charles A. and Augustus, are both fanners in the county.
     W. H. Clute, as a boy, attended school during the winters but in the summers assisted his father upon the farm. He put aside his text books when a youth of eighteen and began to provide his own livelihood. At first he rented land, but as he was careful to save as much as possible he was soon able to buy eighty acres of land from his father in law. He has since added to his possessions by degrees and now has four hundred acres of splendid land, all of which has been earned by hard work. He does some mixed farming, but specializes in the fattening of sheep for market. He buys sheep upon the range and then feeds them until ready for sale and finds this a very profitable business. His farm, which is noted for its sheep, is situated near the town of Earlville, which affords a convenient market.
     Mr. Clute was married September 30, 1885, to Miss Carrie Waldo, a daugh­ter of Lucius and Martha (Merry) Waldo, and has become the father of eleven children, namely: Clarence, May, Elsie, William, Carrie, John, Grace, Eva, Charles, Doris and Henry.
     Mr. Clute is a republican in his political belief and has always taken an active part in public affairs. He was assessor for eight years, is at present county supervisor and is a candidate for reelection to that office. He looks after the public interests entrusted to him with the same carefulness and wisdom that he gives his own personal affairs and his record as a public official is a most creditable one. He has proven a man of unusual initiative and enterprise and also of marked financial ability, and has achieved signal success, although he begun his business career without capital. In so doing he has also aided in the material development of his county and has found time as well to cooperate in many movements seeking her moral and social betterment.