The last home of Jacob Clinton & his wife Margaret "Peggy" (Hilton) Clinton in Vernon, where they lived for 38 years. This home was built in 1834 it also was
the home of Henry Harmon and now owned by Joan Bentz. Picture taken 2008.
CLINTON FAMILY INFORMATION
OBITUARY
Vernon Banner March 15, 1876
Died-At the residence of his brother, Jacob Clinton, in Vernon, Ind., on Thursday, March 9th, 1876, of Pneumonia, William Clinton, aged
66 years, 7 months, and 22 days.Another one of Jennings county's early settlers has gone to his last home. William Clinton was of Irish extraction, his father and mother having emigrated from Ireland to this country near or quite 70 years ago, and his siter Annie Campbell, having been born in the old country. His father settled in Bourbon co., Kentucky, not far from the beginning of the present century, and here, William Clinton was born July 17, 1809. When he was about 2 years old his father died, leaving his widowed mother with a large family of small children dependent upon her. She married a man named Robert Finney when William was but 3 years old, and in 1816 the family emigrated from Kentucky to this county. Robert Finney's habits were of such character, as to preclude the possibility of his maintaining the family, and the Clinton children were bound out. When William Clinton was about 9 or 10 years old, he was indentured to Richard Stott of Vernon, who was then carrying on a tannery here. He remained with Mr. Stott until he arrived at full age, and his indenture had expired. He afterwards formed a partnership with Mr. Stott, and worked at the business for some time. On May 21st 1833, he was married to Miss Mary Yoast, of Vernon. He finally abandoned the business of tanning and began that of farming. He lived in Sand Creek Township, and then moved to Jefferson county, where he still followed farming. He then moved to Bryantsburg, Jefferson county, and while living there, on the 15th day of November (December), 1855, his only living child, a young man of great promise and good education, who had passed his majority only a few months, died, leaving his aged father and mother childless, and almost heart broken. He then moved to Madison, where he continued to reside until about a year ago. His wife, a remarkably neat and prudent house-wife, died in Madison in Nov. 1873. Mr. Clinton then boarded there about one year, and then came to Vernon to reside with his brother Jacob, where he died. His remains, by his last request, now lie beside those of his wife and son, at Hebron Church, in Jefferson county. He had eight children all of whom died in infancy, except one son. And thus the good old man when he died, completed the family circle beyond the tomb.
His character was easily comprehended and can be readily described. He embraced the Christian religion over 40 years ago, and united with the Baptist Church at Vernon, and ever after, to the end, continued a devout christian, and an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist Church. His manner was as artless and simple as that of a child. His humility was remarkable, and could be seen in every sentiment he uttered, and every act he performed. His love of, and regard for the truth, led him to clothe his utterances in the most guarded and simple language, and his statement of a thought, or a fact, was an index to his mind, and pointed unerringly to his own convictions in regard to the matter expressed. He was most kind, not only in his remarks about others, but in all his intercourse with his fellow men, and he esteemed it such a pleasure to do an act of kindness for another, that it seemed to him that he received kindness, rather than imparted it. His temper was not seen ruffled in the slightest, but under all circumstances seemed as serene as a summer's sky. Patience made her abode with him; Meekness was his constant companian; truth reigned in his mind, and Religion presided in his affections. He lived, walked among men, and died as though in the August Presence, where he now is. findagrave link
Golden Wedding
The 50th anniversary of the marriage of Jacob and Margaret Clinton was held at their residence in Vernon, on the 6th instant. About thirty-five
of the relatives and old-time friends were present. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clinton received tokens of the kind regards of their friends. Mr. C. was presented with an elegant
gold headed cane and a pair of gold-framed spectacles by various friends; a watch charm by A. P. Green, Esq. of Illinois, made of the claw of a huge bear that he killed last
fall in the far West-mounted in gold. Mrs. Clinton received a pair of gold-framed spectacles, a gold thimble and many other gifts presented by various friends.A neat presentation speech was made by A. P. Green who was responded to by Mr. and Mrs. Clinton expressing their gratitude at being thus kindly remembered. The ceremonies were concluded by a short speech and prayer by the Rev. Hickman New when the party adjourned to their dining room and did ample justice to a rich and well prepared feast.
The Plain Dealer attaches were kindly remembered and sampled the fine cake set before the guests. Uncle Jacob and his good wife have our best wishes, and always had, for continued life and prosperity.
March 6, 1889 - The Vernon Banner
Once more death has invaded our community and removed from our midst a useful and noble citizen. We shall miss his genial smile and honest
counsel. The voice that cheered and the hand that welcomed us are lost to us forever. But he has left us the example of an industrious, frugal, Christin life, closing
in a triumphant death.
JACOB CLINTON
Was the fourth son of William and Polly Clinton, who migrated to this country from Ireland early in the present century and settled in Bourbon
county, Kentucky. Here, on the 15th day of September, 1810, Jacob Clinton was born. Before he was old enough to know his loss, his father died leaving his mother a widow
with six children, five sons and one daughter. His mother remarried with one Finney and the family emigrated to Jennings county, Indiana, in the year 1817. The family
was broken up in the following year, and all the sons were apprenticed to different citizens of the Town of Vernon and vicinity. Jacob to David Campbell, who owned a farm near the old Read mill
on the South Fork of the Muscatatuck. In the articles of indenture it was stated that Jacob Clinton was apprenticed to David Campbell to learn the trade and art of husbanding (Art of husbanding - the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.) until the
25th day of September, 1834, when he should become 21 years of age. The Master, David Campbell, in the same articles undertook to instruct and teach and cause to be instructed and taught
said apprentice in the trade and art of husbandry; to provide him meat, drink, washing, lodging, apparel and all other necessaries, food and comfort for said term; to instruct him and
cause him to be instructed to read, write and cypher as far as the rule of three included; and at the end of the term of apprenticeship to pay him $100 in a horse, saddle and clothing
according to the true value thereof. Thus before he was eight years of age Jacob Clinton was deprived of the fostering care of both father and mother. While he was serving out this
apprenticeship there occurred an incident in his life that made a deep impression upon him and produced a profound sensation in the community. On Friday morning, about the 7th day of
April. 1822, he was sent before breakfast to drive up the cows which were browsing in the adjacent woods. He started without coat, hat or shores. The cows proved fractious and would
not go home, after driving them awhile and attempting to get them home he found that he had missed his bearings and did not know the direction in which home lay. There was on that day
a log rolling at Mr. Campbell's and the men supposing the boy was at the house with the women folk, and the women supposing he was with the men at the clearing, he was not missed until
noon. Then inquiry developed the fact that he was not at the neighbors and that he was probably lost in the woods, and a hunt for him was at once organized and carried on all the remainder
of that day and all that night without results. Meanwhile the lost child, with the energy so characteristic of him, was making every effortt in his power to regain the clearing, but each
effort only added to his perplexity and terror. It must be remembered that in this early day small openings only had been made here and there along the creeks in the dense native forests
that once covered all this county. There stretched from the Campbell clearing on the South Fork of the Muscatatuck to Brush creek an unbroken forest, haunted by wolves and bears. As the
shade of night drew on, the boy would imagine that every place that looked light was a clearing and he would run to it with all his might only to find his hope illusive, and then he would
cry bitterly. At last he thought he saw a house, and hope rose high in his breast and lent speed to his tired and bleeding feet, but on reaching the spot where the supposed house was he
found it was only a huge upturned tree. He seems to have lost consciousness then, for he never could tell how he passed that first night. The next morning he felt better and calmer, and
kneeling down there in the forest he asked the Lord to take care of and protect him and he arose comforted and began the battle for life with renewed hope, although hungry and weary from
his long fast and former exertions. But his efforts were unavailing and each attempt to extricate himself from the mazes of the woods proved fruitless. Then he thought he would not get
out of the woods that day, and he cast about for the means of passing the night as comfortably as possible. He gathered some dried leaves and moss and made a bed by the side of a log.
Then he took off his jacket and wrapped up his cold and torn and bleeding feet in it, and lying down was soon sound asleep. In the night he was awakened by a cold rain and compelled to
move his quarters. He imagined he was near the creek and hunted for it, expecting to get under some shelving rocks so to screen himself from the rain. He could find no creek or rocks but
he found a hollow tree in which he slept so soundly that he was awakened about ten o'clock on Sunday morning by the sound of the huntsman's horn. Creeping out of his tree he found the
woods full of men and soon learned that while he attempted to extricate himself from the forest and believed his deliverance depended upon his own exertion, the neighbors from Graham,
Big Creek and Vernon had organized a great hunt in his quest and found him in time to save his life. It has been said that not a man, save Wm. A. Bullock, whose wife was sick, and Dr.
Paybody, her attending physician, was left in Vernon during that hunt. No wonder such an experience made a deep and lasting impression on an impressive child as Jacob Clinton was.Faithfully he served his apprenticeship and then began business for himself. He cut and split many a rail at 25cts. per hundred. Large and strong he loved work for the exercise it gave his herculean frame.
On the 6th day of February, 1834, he was married to Margaret Hinton, who survives him. They had one daughter, Mrs. Eliza Weeks, wife of Harvey Weeks, of North Vernon.
He purchased on credit, a farm near the Concord church in Campbell township, and applied himslf so dilligently to the business of farming that by the time he reached the age of 40 years he had become one of the most substantial farmers in the county.
He united with the M. E. church at Vernon during the great Bussey revival in that church, and here he held his membership as long as he lived.
In 1851 he moved to Vernon and there on the 27th day of February, 1889, he departed this life, at the good old age of 78 years, 4 months and 18 days.
He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and had he in his youth enjoyed the facilities of a better education he would have risen to distinction in any walk in life, for in whatever he engaged he worked with energy and tact to make it a success. So unerring was his judgment and his success in all his undertaking so marked, that many persons attributed his good fortune to the circumstances surrounding him. But by frequent inquiry and dilligent investigation he thoroughly mastered the situation and took advantage of fortuitous circumstances.
In his intercourse with his neighbors he was ever kind and genial. He was attentive to the sick and ever ready to do a kindness to a friend. Among his relatives he was a tower of strength, and a refuge in time of need or distress. He contributed largely of his abundant means to their comfort and relief.
He was a man of deep convictions and never hesitated to take a firm stand on any matter involving his personal welfare or the right. Everybody knew how Uncle Jake stood on a matter of public interest and knew that when his stand was taken he was as firm as the everlasting hills. The same earnestness characterized his religious life, and was shown in all his church relations. He was the pillar of the M. E. church in Vernon, and in his death it has met a loss that will never be filled. Ever liberal in his donations to the church and attentive in all its ministrations he will be most sadly missed here.
He was an earnest Christian, a faithful friend, a loving husband, a kind father, a good citizen and the noblest work of God, an honest man. T.C.B. Find A Grave Link
Vernon Methodist Church - Jacob Clinton was a dedicated member
May 22, 1889 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
A SUDDEN DEATH
Our people were much surprised this morning at the announcement of the death of Mrs. Clinton. "Aunt Peggy" as she was familiarly known, was the widow of Jacob
Clinton, who died a few weeks ago, and has been ailing ever since his death, but her illness was not thought to be serious until last night, when she became worse,
and, at an early hour this morning she passed away. "Aunt Peggy" possessed a host of relatives and friends among who she will be sadly missed. Find A Grave Link March 23, 1905 - North Vernon Banner Plain Dealer
Obiturary
Eliza J. Weeks, nee Clinton, was born June 30, 1835, and died March 17, 1905, aged 69 years, 8 months and 17 days. She was born one and
one-half miles south of where Butlerville now stands and was the only child. She married Harvey R. Weeks August 3, 1853 and four children were born to them. The
first died in infancy and Flora Ellen Kinnick, nee Weeks, died after 13 years of married life, leaving a boy and a girl. The girl has since died. Maggie Coy, nee
Weeks, whose husband is now dead, has one child, and Mary B. Hole, nee Weeks, has one child. All of these children who reach maturity were well educated, two of
them being grautates of Moores Hill College and the other one attended as long as health would permit. Mrs. Weeks formerly lived at Vernon, on a farm but the last
twenty years, she was a resident of this city. She joined the M. E. Church in childhood in the Brougher neighborhood, near Butlerville and has since belonged at
Vernon and in this city. She with her husband helped to build the Butlerville church and were the largest contributers to the building fund of the First M. E.
church of North Vernon. Their subscriptions were made each one paying one half from their respective possessions. She had been an invalid for the past 13 years
and had not been able to leave her bed for three years past, she was consequently a great sufferer. Funeral services were conducted at the First M. E. church,
Sunday, March 19, 10:30 a.m. by the pastor C.C. Bonnell. Burial at Vernon. Find A Grave LinkYou may use this material for your own personal research, however it may not be used for commercial publications without express written consent of the contributor, INGenWeb, and