My Genealogy Hound

Joseph H. McClinton, ex-sheriff and ex-officio collector of Benton County, and also real estate agent of Bentonville, is a native of Richland County Ohio, born in 1840, and is the son of Hugh and Sarah (Black) McClinton. Hugh McClinton was born near Baltimore, Md., in 1803, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1821 he went to Richland County, Ohio, with his father, John McClinton, who was a native of Ireland, and who immigrated to the United States previous to the Revolutionary War, and served as a soldier in the same. He died in 1846, at about the age of ninety years. Hugh McClinton was married in Richland County, Ohio, and in 1828 moved to Morrow County, of the same State, where he now resides, being eighty-five years of age. His wife, Sarah Black, was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1808, and was of Irish extraction. She died in 1879, and was the mother of seven children: John, James, William (deceased), Joseph H., Elias F., Matthew, and Sarah E., wife of Louis Morton. Joseph H. was educated in his native State, and at the age of twenty began teaching school, and continued this profession six terms. In 1859 he went to Lamar County, Tex., and taught school, and in 1861 he became a resident of Bentonville, Ark. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Regiment Arkansas Infantry, and was afterward transferred to Company F, Thirty-fourth Regiment Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was elected first lieutenant of the company. He was in the battles of Wilson’s Creek, Prairie Grove and Helena. He served until July, 1865, when he surrendered at Fort Smith. He afterward taught three terms of school. In 1867 he hired as salesman to A. W. Dinsmore, and sold goods for five years. In 1872 he went to Gallon, Ohio, and he and his brother, James, ran a machine-shop, but at the end of four years sold out and returned to Bentonville, where he resumed his clerkship. In 1878 he was elected sheriff and ex-officio collector of Benton County, and in 1880 he was re-elected, serving for four years. He was a good officer and filled the position to the satisfaction of all. In 1881 he married Miss Sallie B. Bryant, a native of LaPorte, Ind., born in 1845. They have one adopted child, Josie, who is eight years old. In 1886 Mr. McClinton and C. R. Bruce became partners in the real estate, loan and insurance business, and the next year they dealt in real estate exclusively. For the past eight years Mr. McClinton has assisted in collecting the tax of Benton County, in connection with his other business. He is a Democrat in politics; is a Master Mason; his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.