The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-11
Life and Services Of
Gen. 7Th08. h.GlinQnnan
Address Of COL VIM. H. S. Burgwyn Delivered Yesterday
Before the Ladies Memorial Association.
Ladies of the Memorial Association,


Albert sydney Johnston. near the en-
trance OF the narrow passage way lead
ing down to the tombs of the illuStrious
Confederate dead, there buried. is placed
the marble figure of Confederate sol
der He stands at parade rest ms
nusket reclines against his Bonded ell
how; in the left hand he holds his
scroll. the right grasps a pen in the at
titude Of one about to write. How Sug-
gcstive to those thronging multitudes,
rs they pass that spot. of their duty TO
their dead. The inspired seer in his
apocalyptic vision on Patmos. with all
the past and the future spread out be-
fore him records: II heard voice from
heaven saying unto me. Write We
must write the story.
All honor to those noble women. the
ladies of the Memorial Association for
their patriotic determination, SO resolu-
tely perseyered in from year to year by
those annual ceremonies. to preserve
fresh in the recollection of the living. and
for all time. the unfading glory of the
Confederate soldier.
The life character and public services
of one of these men we meet this after
noon briefly to consider.
Thomas Lanier Clingman was born
in his ancestral home ut Huntsville. in
Surry county, on July ~, 1872; he died
in the State Hospital at Morganton,
November 3. 1897. in his Seth year. A
long life. and what is the record?
On his fathers side he was German.
his paterna grandfather, Alexander
Clingman. was halter by trade, and
when he migrated from Pennsylvania
and settled in Rowan county, this State.
he could only speak the German tongue.
He married Elizabeth Kaiser, who lived
in Mecklenburg She also was German.
There was born of this marriage, five
sons and two daughters. The oldest son,
Jacob, Father of General Clingman. on
August IL, 1911. married Jane Poin-
dexter. Shortly after his marriage,
Jacob moved TO Huntsville. Here he
lived until his death. quietly pursuing
his trade as Il halter and merchant. The
issue of this marriage. in the order
named, was Thomas Lanier, John Patti
To- Elizabeth Anne, and Jacob Alexan-
der. Elizabeth Anne married the Hon
Richard Clansel Puryear. several terms
a member of Congress before the war
and member Of the Confederate Con-
grcss. Their oldest son. Hail. Shepherd
puryear was il gallant soldier during the
late war. and served ON his uncle's staff
as aide-de-eamn. Has represented his
county in the Legislature, and is now n
practising lawyer at Concord, this State.
AZ was to be expected, Jane PoindeXt-
or, the mother of General Clingman, was
Ii remarkable woman. She was born in
1889. and died in 1873, at the old home
place. Shallowford, Yadkin county. Her
father. Captain Francis Poindexter, was
a captain in the North Carolina line
during the revolutionary war, and lived
on the Yadkin. ut what is known as the
bend Of the river His father. the Rev.
Thomas Poindexter. Baptist preacher,
married Elizabeth Pledge. the daughter
of the Cherokee Indian Chief, it thus
appears General Clingman was lineally
descended on his mothers side, from
Cherokee Indian.
Thomas I.anier received his first in
struction from his mother. She said of
him, ''he would always tell the truth,
and she could never break him from
fighting" From his mothers knees he
was sent to Il school taught by her
brother Francis Anderson Poindexter,
and thence to the High school at Beth
any church in Iredell county, where
Peter 1Ney afterwards taught. While
at this school attempting to swim the
Yadkin, swollen ny a freshet, he was
only saved from drowning by the acct
dental arrival Of a neighbor. who went
by the euphonius name of Punch Kelly.
From the Bethany church school he
went 10 Chapel Hill and joined the So
phomore class in 1929.
He is thus described by college mate.
His dress from head gear to shoe strings
was Surry county homespun. and when
he first presented himself before the
students he was fit object for derision
and practical jests The size of the
buildings greatly impressed him, and one
day as he stood in absorbed contempla-
ton at the majestic proportions of the old
south buildings. his mouth wide open,
talling to himself, habit he acquired
from his mother. and which he never
conquered. u venturesome student bent
on having Il little fun began to ridicule
him. inquired at what was he gazing at,
and 10 whom was he talking? Young
CIingman grasped the situation at once.
His response was Il blow and clinch:
and when the fracas was over. the older
student went away wiser and a blood
Ter man.
Thirty-four years after this. his aged
mother. then in her S3rd year. mt her
home Oh the Yadkin. when the news was
impaired to her that her son Thomas,
in fight in the streets of Raleigh, had
received injuries on his head. from
which many Of his friends think he new
or fully recovered. bending her venerable
head on the table, the tears streaming
from her eyes. was heard to murmnr:
Il have whipped that boy more for fight
ing than anything else, and haven't
broken him yet
Young Clingman was noted while at
college for his scholarship. intellectually.
cccentricity and gawkiness: He was the
best scholar in his class. Graduated
with first honors in all his studies. Was
almost perfectly punctual Was an
untiring banjo player: was leader in
the hi society. and could twirl more
flap jacks ON his fork while grace was
saving in Commons Hall. which would
more rapidly disappear down his ocso-
phagus SO soon as that grace was over.
than was the case with any student on
the Hill He also prided himself on get
ting no from the table before anyone
.le.