Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: O.P. CLINTON ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, 10 June 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern February 17, 1890 The reunion of the Twenty-first regiment was inaugurated this morning by the sad death of its aged chaplain, Rev. O.P. Clinton. For several days his life has hung by a slender thread which at any moment threated to snap in twain. Death relieved the sufferer at 4:30 this morning, resulting from a complication of ailments that gradually developed into Bright's disease. Rev. Mr. Clinton was highly esteemed. A man of strong moral character, he had led a pure christian life upon which appeared no blemish. Had he lived until November next, he would have been eighty- three years of age. He leaves a wife and five children, Messrs. A.D., L.A., and J.W. Clinton, Mrs. Hattie Meeker and Mrs. Kate Bradish. A daughter Mrs. Eva Elliot died last winter. Rev. O.P. Clinton was born in Addison county, Vermont. His early life was spent in teaching and clerking. In 1835 he received license to preach and settled in his first pastorate at Lewis, Essex county, New YOrk. He was appointed missionary to Wisconsin in 1846 and in the wide territory given him had but two pastors from whom to expect assistance. In the first year of his labors here he traveled over 7,000 miles. He saw the foundation laid in midwinter for the first shanty between Oshkosh and Ripon. In 1836 he was married to Miss Caroline C. Finch. His married life has been a happy one. Few leave at death a larger circle of friends than he. Arrangements for the funeral have been perfected. It will be held from the house Thursday morning at 9:30 sharp, attended by his regiment in a body. He was chaplain of the regiment during its entire campaign and cheered with hopeful words many a dying comrade. His death casts a dark shadow on the usual pleasure of the annual reunion.