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Columbia Claggett 1904 Obituary
Of Lexington, Illinois
Mrs. Columbia Claggett, a prominent and well-known resident of Lexington, died at her residence Sunday [Feb 4, 1904] at a little after 1 p. m. Mrs. Claggett had been in failing health for some time but the ultimate cause of her death was paralysis, she being severely stricken with that disease more than six months ago and from which she was a constant sufferer until her death.
Columbia Claggett, daughter of Christopher and Emily Claggett, was born in Buckland, Fauquire county Virginia, September 25, 1836. She was one of a family of four children, there being two boys and two girls, both of her brothers preceding her in death. She was married to Thomas J. Claggett, August 21, 1861. To them were born nine children, six of whom with their father preceded the mother in death, the father dying February, 4, 1901.
In February 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Claggett came to Lexington and spent the remaining years of her life in her pleasant home on North street. Mr. and Mrs. Claggett were both highly esteemed by the community in which they lived, being both neighborly and hospitable, and by her death the children lose a loving and devoted mother.
She is survived by three children: Mrs. Emily C. Hefner, and Mrs. Minnie Wheaton, both of Lexington and Samuel C. Claggett of Chicago, and by her son-in-law, Mr. Mark Roy, of Chicago. There are also three grandchildren, Charles .battle fields in Virginia and she was able to tell some thrilling tales of those bloody days. At one time a skirmish between the northern and southern forces took place in their yard and afterward Mr. Stephen Merrill, who was Chaplain of the Second Maryland, Regiment, took some pictures of the place.
The funeral services of Mrs. Claggett were held from her late residence at 2 p. m. Tuesday. Rev. Wm. Wooley, pastor of the M. E. church of Chenoa, conducted the services and was assisted by Rev. R. T. Ballew of the Lexington M. E. church. A quartet composed of Mesdames John Montgomery and L. J. Hammers and Messrs. Tom Oddy and T. F. Fieker, furnished the music. The pall-bearers were Messrs. George Hiser, James Davidson, [brother-in-law] Luther [Sanford] Beasley, L. B. [Louis Brewster] Strayer, C. J. W. McNemar and W. R. Mahan. The body was laid to rest in the Lexington cemetery.
Those from out of town who attended the funeral were: [son] Mr. and Mrs. S. [Samuel and Emma] C. Claggett and son [John], and Mr. and Mrs. C. E. [grandson Charles Ervin] Biggs, of Chicago and Mr. and Mrs. W[illiam]. H. Claggett [son of Sanford R.], of Normal.
--Lexington Newspaper
[1982] McPherson, p. 56