Augustus Ducas Clemens, Jr. (1845-1909) was born January 17, 1845 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was christened at age 6 on May 25, 1851 at the First German Reformed Church, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.
His parents were Augustus Ducas Clemens, Sr.(1818-1898) and Henrietta Matilda Bryden (1814-1900). They had a long marriage and three children. When Augustus was a young teenager, the family moved to Leavenworth, Kansas and opened a bookstore. Two years later Augustus’ brother William died at age 16. The family returned to Baltimore with Augustus and his younger sister Mary and and Augustus’ father went into the real estate business, becoming successful.
Augustus was a graduate of the Newton Academy. Almost immediately after completing his studies he entered the real estate business.
The development of the property in the northern suburbs…The first sections he began to develop were those about Friendship and Oxford, at Waverly. Then, as the tide of population moved northward, Mr. Clemens began to develop other property in Waverly, Chestnut Hill, Wyanoke, Woodbourne Heights and Govanstown. Later he became interested in the property in Arlington and West Arlington and built a number of houses there…
It is estimated that Mr. Clemens managed the development of the property and the erection of nearly 2,000 houses in and around Baltimore.
Land Ownership Map, Govanstown, Friendship, 1877
Augustus Ducas Clemens, Jr. married Mary Bordley (1851-1928) on December 15, 1881 in Waverly, Baltimore County, Maryland. Her parents from Maryland’s Eastern Shore were William Clayton Bordley, Jr. and Amelia Heritage.
Augustus and Mary‘schildren:
| Child |
Born
|
Married |
Departed |
| Lennox Birckhead Clemens |
10 Mar 1885 |
Olivia L. Fendall, 1909 |
1961 |
| Henrietta Amelia Clemens |
1888 |
George Ray Hyde |
1986 |
Augustus Ducas Clemens, III
|
10 Mar 1890 Govans, MD |
Eleanor SULLIVAN Collins, 1917
|
10 Nov 1931 Govans |
Augustus and Henrietta lost their first three infants. A. Ducas Clemens (2 days old 1882), George B. Clemens (four months old 1884), Bryden Bordley Clemens (13 months old 1887) are buried at St. John’s Episcopal cemetery in Baltimore.
A portrait of Augustus’ children Henrietta and Augustus, III hung in the family house over the piano.
Henrietta and Augustus
Highlights of Augustus D. Clemens, Jr.’s life were featured in “Genealogy and Biography of the Leading Families of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland”
There are few homes in the city and county of Baltimore more beautiful than Evesham, the residence of Mr. Clemens. The estate, which he purchased from Reverdy Johnson, Jr., contains fifty acres of land as fine as may be found in the county and is situated about one thousand feet from the York road, the latter with its excellent electric car service furnishing easy transportation to the city… The magnificent mansion, which was erected by an Englishman many years ago at great cost, stands on a slight eminence in the center of the estate and is flanked by substantial barn and other buildings, while on every side stretches a beautiful forest containing many choice varieties of trees… There are also shrubbery and plants with bright-blooming flowers…the elegance of the interior furnishings reflect the cultured taste of the family…
In the public and private schools of Baltimore and in Newton Academy, our subject acquired what was in those days considered a liberal education. He was but a small child when the family removed to Kansas and there he assisted his brother in the book and stationery business until the latter’s death in 1859. While in Leavenworth he saw some of the first gold that was taken from Pike’s Peak, it being brought there in a small sack by a miner; this was the inauguration of the great gold fever that followed. After spending two years in Leavenworth he returned with his parents to Baltimore, and for ten years was connected with a photographic business here. Afterward he embarked in the real-estate business and in this he has since continued. That he has met with success it is scarcely necessary to mention, for his beautiful home and valuable possessions attest this fact.
For over fifteen years he resided on the old homestead at Chestnut Hill, which he is now platting in lots and selling for residence purposes. In 1895 he bought the place where he has since made his home. He has been instrumental in platting several additions to the city, among them Woodburn Heights.
Politically he is independent, with Democratic tendencies. For twenty years he has been a director in the Waverly Building and Loan Association. He is identified with the Maryland Historical Society and fraternally belongs to St. Andrew’s Society and Concordia Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M., which was organized in 1793. His wife holds membership in St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Augustus Ducas Clemens, Jr. died at his home Evesham in Govanstown at the age of 64.
The portrait on the wall in the living room of Evesham is of Augustus’ maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Goodman Bryden.
Augustus D. Clemens, Jr. died November 10, 1909 at the age of 64 and Mary Bordley Clemens died about 18 years later on March 13, 1928. They now lie next to each other, buried at St. John’s Episcopal Cemetery, Waverly, Baltimore, Maryland.
References
“Genealogy and Biography of the Leading Families of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Md.”, Chapman Publishing Co., N.Y.C. 1897, with heading “Genealogical and Biographical Record”, pp. 939-940.
U.S. Federal Census 1860, 1880
Bordley Pedigree compiled by Bryden Bordley Hyde
Dix Family Archive: Clemens Family
