McDonough ILGenWeb

CLINGAN, Robert T., who is successfully engaged in farming in Scotland Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Woodsfield, Ohio, April 25, 1883, the son of George B. and Catherine (Sabin-Amos) Clingan. His father was born in Woodsfield, Ohio, and his mother, in Lebanon, N.Y. On the paternal side, his grandfather, Robert Clingan, was a native of Belmont County, Ohio, and his grandmother, Elizabeth (Van Horn) Clingan, of Philadelphia, Pa., the Van Horn branch of the family being descended from Hollanders. His great-grandfather, John Clingan, was also a native of Holland, and his great-grandmother, Mary E. (Armstrong) Clingan, was a native of Ireland. On the maternal side, Robert T. Clingan's grandparents, Chester and Caroline (Thayer) Sabin, were natives of Lebanon, N.Y. The maternal great-grandparents, Nathaniel and Margaret (Rhinedollar) Sabin, were natives of Philadelphia.

Elizabeth (Van Horn) Clingan came from Pennsylvania to Ohio when she was seventeen years old. Her union with Robert T. Clingan's grandfather resulted in six children of whom George B. Clingan was the eldest, the others being girls. At the age of twenty-one years, George B. began to work for himself, being employed on a farm and in a grist mill. In 1886, he came to Macomb and bought a farm of 156 acres in Scotland Township and there the son, and subject of this sketch, Robert T., received a common school education.

 George B. Clingan has been twice married. In 1867, he wedded Catherine Sabin, by whom he had one child, Elizabeth Jane, wife of Augustine Decker, a druggist of Macomb. The mother died July 29, 1873. He subsequently married Catherine (Sabin) Amos, and one child, Robert T., resulted from their union. George B. is now retired from active life. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P.

Robert T. Clingan is a member of Troop H, First Regiment Illinois Cavalry, First Brigade, in which he has been First Sergeant for two years. The troop, organized in 1900, is commanded by Capt. Frank M. Russell, and the regiment, by Col. W. C. Young, who was Colonel of the First Regiment Illinois Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. Politically, Robert T. Clingan is a Republican, and his religious associations are with the Universalist Church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. In his early manhood Robert T. gives promise of a useful and successful career, and is looked upon as a worthy scion of worthy ancestors.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907.