Clagg, William M. 1838-1911

CLAGG, GIDEON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/8/2010 at 18:51:00

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
July 4, 1911

WM. CLAGG IS DEAD
Old Resident Succumbs To Illness of Two Weeks
He Was A Native of Ohio and Lived in Illinois and Was Among the Early Settlers of Iowa, Locating in Ft. Dodge

W. M. Clagg, one of the well known residents of LeMars, died at his home on Eagle street shortly after midnight on Saturday following a brief illness. His death is regretted by the community, which loses a broadminded liberal citizen, who in a quiet unostentation way has performed many acts of kindness and charity in his life. During his illness may anxious inquiries were made as to his condition and fervent hopes expressed for his recovery. Mr. Clagg by his manner of life exemplified a true conception of the brotherhood of man. His death is sincerely mourned by a large number of friends in many varied walks of life.

William Marion Clagg was born October 21, 1838, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he spent his childhood. In 1854, at the age of sixteen, he came with his parents to Clinton, Illinois, where he made his home for a number of years. There, together with his father and only brother, he engaged in the hardware business and learned the tinner’s trade.

May 10, 1860, he was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Gideon, also of Clinton, Illinois. Six children were born to this union, one son, Paul and one daughter, Francis Marion, dying in infancy. Four children, Mrs. Maye S. Hull and Earl D. Clagg, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; William E. Clagg, of Sheldon; and Ben T. Clagg, of LeMars, remain with their mother to mourn the loss of father and husband.

Wm. M. Clagg enlisted in Company D., One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1862. He helped to enlist and muster in from his own town the company of which he was a member. Mr. Clagg served as second lieutenant of Company D. until he was appointed first aide with the rank of first lieutenant on the staff of General Hobson. In 1864, because of sickness contracted in the service, he was granted a sick discharge from the army and spent the next five years in trying to regain his health. In 1869 Mr. Clagg removed with his family to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he resided for thirteen years, engaging in the hardware and implement business and later in the hide and fur business, in which later occupation he continued until the time of his death. Mr. Clagg was one of the pioneer fur dealers of the part of the country. He made his first visit to LeMars in the winter of 1869 driving overland in a sleigh from Fort Dodge before the railroad was yet built and buying furs from the settlers.

In 1882 Mr. Clagg and family removed to Sioux City, where they resided for four years, leaving there because of the failing health of Mrs. Clagg after the death of their little girl, and removing to Baxter Springs and later to Fort Scott, Kansas.

In the fall of 1886 Mr. Clagg came to LeMars, the family coming the following spring in March, 1887. Here Mr. Clagg established the hide, fur, and wool business, which he, with the aid of his sons, carried on for twenty-five years and to the time of his death, his youngest son, Ben, being a partner in the business with him for the past five years.

At the age of nineteen, Mr. Wm. Clagg was converted under the preaching of Rev. Benjamin Thomas, who became a lifelong friend, and who afterwards performed the marriage ceremony of Mr. and Mrs. Clagg, and for whom the named their son, Benjamin Thomas Clagg. At the time of his conversion, Mr. Clagg became a member of the Baptist church, to which he has continued faithful throughout his whole life. In his private life he always tried to do right and through his example more than by what he said he tried to show his love for Christ. In this he was rejoiced by seeing each of his children accept the Savior whom he loved and join the church of which he was a member.

Mr. Clagg joined the Masonic order just before going to the front in 1862 and has been a member in good standing from that time to this, being a member of Giblem lodge, No. 322, of LeMars, at the time of his death. He was also a member of Mower Post, G. A. R. of LeMars.

While Mr. Clagg appeared to be a robust man and in good health, he has felt his health failing for a number of years. He has always wished to continue in the active management of his business and was seldom willing to stay away from the office even for sickness. Mr. Clagg suffered lately from light attacks of heart trouble, but continued going to his office until two weeks ago Monday evening, when he had a very acute attack, which was the beginning of his last illness. He has been kind and patient throughout his suffering and illness with never a word of complaint and with never a thought of giving up and expecting to the last day of his illness that he would be up and around within a day or two. Mr. Clagg passed away at ten minutes of one o’clock Sunday morning, July 2, 1911. Mr. Clagg’s only brother and two of his sisters have died within the past four years of the same trouble. His eldest sister died only last Monday evening.

The Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the First Baptist Church, the pastor, Rev. J. C. Hoover, officiating, and were attended by a large throng of people who paid reverent tribute to his memory. The remains were taken on the evening train to Fort Dodge, where he had many times expressed his request that he might be buried beside his children. A service will be held at the home of his son, Earl Clagg, at that place this morning.

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