Clarence Hamilton Poe was born on January 10, 1881, in Chatham County, North Carolina. Poe was an editor and publisher who owned and published the Progressive Farmer from 1903 to 1956. He was a lifelong advocate of agricultural improvement in the state of North Carolina, holding several influential positions on relevant boards. From 1913 to 1931, Poe served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. He died in Raleigh (Wake County) on October 8, 1964.