The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-11
Sue ClAGGG1'S
| PIANO Is HERE
lis the Property Of r. ). Lamb Of This
City and l. Being Restored
to its Original
Beauty.
MISS cLAGGETT's FAME
Wa. Brilliant Belle Of City and for
Some Time Served AZ
Editor on the Daily
Constitution.
MISS CLAGGETT's FAME

4 i
! door in shop filed with numerous
pieces of antique furniture, spinning
| wheels, old chairs and the like on
Third street. The piano is hand
some one in q mahogany case which
still retains some OF its former lustre.
The double legs are beautifully carved
and on q name plate on the plano 10
the mark Of q noted Leipsis firm
The piano is said by its owner, F. J..
Lamb, to have been one belonging to
Sue Harry Clagett. Keokuk belle.
author and editor of several years
ago.
| Sue Harry Clagett is name to
bring back to many OF the older resi-
dents of Keokuk food OF memories.
The younger generation perhaps
knows her best through the anecdotes
they have heard told OF her. and
| through some OF her writings.
The piano which reposes SO grace
fully among some of its older and
battered neighbors. stood in the cor
ner of . spacious room In the Clagett
residence at Third and Morgan streets
years ago. It has thrilled to the touch
Of the noted woman. and around 1t
| have gathered some OF the most bril-
liant people not only Of Keokuk but
Of all Iowa.
Known All Over state.
As the brilliant and accomplished
daughter Of Judge Thomas Clagett.
Sue Claggett was known by prominent
people all over the state. She attend
ed one or two state conventions with
her father and here met many Of the
statesmen OF Iowa AS an editor she
made a name for herself, and her POI
litical writings had all the brilliancy
OF the ablest men writer's Of the time.
and far surpassed many OF their Of
forts. At the death OF her father, she
took up the burden OF the editorial
work on the Keokuk Constitution.
Mrs.. William BalNnger OF this city
gives perhaps the most intimate ac-
count Of this wonderful woman, as
she knew the family well. The Bal
linger home was the old Claggett
house. Mrs. Ballinger spoke OF her
briHiancy, her wit, her beauty. and
said that everyone who met the young
belle was impressed with her mind
and her beauty, and to know her was
to love her. She made friends easily,
and 1t was a treat to talk to her.
Mrs. BalIinger paid compliment
+; to one OF the most brilliant young
women Of the present generation in
Keokuk. Miss Mann Clark Barr. daugh-
yafn D.
when she said she could never see
Miss Barr without recalling Sue Clag.
gett.
!, Overcones Handicape.
/! When one stops to think OF the han
dicaps under which Miss C1aggett
worked, one must wonder the more
at her wonderful success. Her eyes
were afflicted when she was sixteen
and there were years that she could
use them only for hve minutes at a
time. During all this time her mother
would read to her. Miss Claggett's
MING would absorb and retain the
most important matters thus given
her and right here was one secret OF
her ability, the power to discriminate
As what was important and what was
not.
i One amusing incident OF Miss Clags
gets ability is told Her sister who
was being educated in convent
school was Of course not allowed to
have books or papers and Sue Claggett
would read the news Of the day, re
member little stories and poems. and
standing outside the grating would re
peat these to her sister on the other
j side OF the door.
In 1880 Sue Clagett left here FOL
Marlborough, Nd. where she married
and lived part OF the time. The fam
ny went west little later, and hei
death occurred in 1892.
The piano which is In good condi
ton will be restored to all its Original
beauty, by its present owner.