Bio of John CLABAUGH (b.1812 d.1889), Faribault Co., MN

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information
on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is
obtained from the contributor of the file.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to
use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written
consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter,
and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.

Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Alan Hartman

JOHN CLABAUGH, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Faribault
County, Minnesota, and one of its most highly respected citizens.  Some
personal mention of his life and family is herewith presented.
John Clabaugh was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1812,
and was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools.  His 
parents were James and Elizabeth Clabaugh, both of German descent.  
After his marriage, which event occurred in 1842, Mr. Clabaugh continued 
farming in his native state a short time, from there removing to Crawford 
County, Ohio, where he rented land four years.  At the end of that time 
he again turned his face westward and took up his abode in Fayette County, 
Iowa, near West Union.  On a rented farm at that place he continued to 
reside until 1856, when he came to Faribault County, Minnesota, and 
settled on section 10 Winnebago City township, pre-empting 160 acres of 
land and buying eighty acres adjoining his pre-emption claim.  To the 
cultivation and improvement of this farm he devoted his energies, was 
successful in his operations, and at his death, December 20, 1889, left 
to his widow and children a nice property.  Mr. Clabaugh was a man of 
many sterling traits of character, and was honored and respected by all 
who knew him.  Politically he was in early life a Whig, and after the 
organization of the Republican party he gave his support to it.  He was 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
March 10, 1842, Mr. Clabaugh married Miss Mary Jane Jemison, a native of
the same county in which he was born, and a daughter of Joseph and Susan
(Ritchie) Jemison, both natives of Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Clabaugh is still
living at the old homestead.  They had a family of seven children, all of
whom grew to maturity.  James, the eldest son, enlisted August 17, 1862, 
in Company D, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly two 
years, participating in all the engagements in which his regiment took 
part.  He was taken prisoner at Guntown, Missouri, and was imprisoned 
for a time at Mobile, and was then taken to Andersonville, where he was 
incarcerated.  He had had a partial sunstroke the day of the battle, and 
he did not long survive the starvation and neglect of that terrible 
prison life, dying July 17, 1864.  He was a young man of noble character, 
and that he was held in high regard by his comrades is evinced by the 
fact that they named the G.A.R. post at Winnebago City James Clabaugh, 
in honor of him.  The other members of the family are as follows:  
Winnie, wife of Thomas White, resides in Spencer, Iowa; Susie, wife of
John Nichols, resides on a farm in this township; Cornelia, wife of 
Benjamin F. Pierce, lives in Winnebago City township, Mr. Pierce being 
a carpenter; Emma is the wife of John Goldsworthy, a stock dealer of 
Spencer, Iowa; Luther, who died October 8, 1893; and Elgie, wife of 
Victor Resche, lives at the old Clabaugh homestead."  

Exerpt from "Memories of the Counties of Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and
Jackson, Minnesota" (pp. 86-87)
Chicago
The Lewis Publishing Company
1895