WILLIAM P. CLUGSTEN. The fact that a man was in the service of his country during the trying days of the Civil War is sufficient to cause him to be looked upon with favor by all loyal Americans. When to this is added a manly character, industrious habits and business acumen, the result is the respect and esteem of all who enjoy his acquaintance, and a position of influence in the community of which he forms a part. Such a place in the minds of Calhoun County citizens is held by the gentleman whose name introduces these paragraphs, who for more than twenty years has been identified with the interests of Hamburg Precinct.
Mr. Clugsten is descended in both lines from German ancestors and his parents, John and Caroline (Alford) Clugsten, were natives of Pennsylvania. They were quite early settlers in Scioto County, Ohio, and in Portsmouth the father carried on the jewelry business for a time. There our subject opened his eyes to the light January 16, 1842. He was one of five children born to his parents, and is the youngest of those who are now living. The other survivors are Eveline, wife of Charles E. Rose, who resides in Hamburg, and Mary, wife of Robert Jordan, whose home is in Nebraska. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native county, and pursued the common-school branches in the schools of Portsmouth.
The patriotism which slumbers in the breast of every true American, was aroused to life by the firing upon Ft. Sumter, and our subject, although he lacked some months of having leached his majority, was determined to offer his services to his country. October 21, 1861, he entered the navy as second assistant engineer on the tug "Sampson," from which he was transferred a year and a half later to the tug "Thistle." He served on the latter about thirty months, his connection with the navy comprising over four years. June 5, 1863, he was promoted to be second assistant in charge, and as such served until he was honorably discharged, November 30, 1865. His position was one of great responsibility and extreme danger, requiring fully as much discretion and courage as that needed by the soldiers who led the van in battle. Mr. Clugsten participated in the naval engagements at Ft. Henry, Ft. Pillow, Arkansas Post, and a member of others less famous.
After receiving his discharge, our subject returned to his native State, then went to Albany, N. Y., and securing employment as a fireman on the New York Central Railroad, remained in that State five months. In 1868 he came to Calhoun County, Ill., where he has since resided. He is engaged in business as a silversmith and jeweler — a business which he has followed more or less during his life, having begun to learn the trades when quite young. In connection with that business, he is engaged in fruit raising, having over ninety-one acres of land on section 26, Hamburg Precinct, upon which stand four hundred apple trees of different varieties.
January 16, 1869, Mr. Clugsten was married to Elmira Praul, with whom he lived happily until her demise, January 16, 1875. The union was blessed by the birth of two children, Charles and LaFayette, the former of whom is now deceased. On Independence day, 1875, Mr. Clugsten was again married, his bride on this occasion being Amanda Nimrick. a native of Calhoun County, who has become the mother of two children, Nelhe and John. Mrs. Clugsten is, like her husband, an active member of society, and boasts of a large circle of friends. Mr. Clugsten has served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of School Director. He always deposits a Republican ballot on election day. In the management of his business affairs he exhibits the strictest integrity, and his word is considered as good as his bond.
Extracted 24 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 258-259.
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