Clinton Albert Cilley was born on 16 February 1837 at New Hampshire.^1,2 He was the son of Reverand Daniel Plumer Cilley and Adelaide Ayres Haines.¹ He married Emma Sophia Harper, daughter of James C. Harper and Louisa C. Harper, on 9 September 1868.¹ He died on 9 May 1900 at age 63.³ He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Hickory, Catawba, North Carolina.³
     Clinton Albert Cilley was also known as Charles Clinton Cilley.⁴
     Clinton Albert Cilley appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Manchester, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in the household of Reverand Daniel Plumer Cilley and Adelaide Ayres Haines.² He was educated at Boston Latin School and Harvard.⁴
     Clinton Albert Cilley and Emma Sophia Harper appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Lenoir, Caldwell, North Carolina, enumerated 10 August 1870, Clinton, age 33, is a lawyer, owns real estate valued at $4000 and personal property valued at $1000. His wife Emma H., age 25 and born in North Carolina, is keeping house. Also in their household are his son, Albert H., age of 2 months (born in North Carolina in April) and Elizabeth A. Friddle an apprentice.⁵
     Clinton Albert Cilley and Emma Sophia Harper appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Lenoir enumerated 24 June 1880, Clinton, age 45, is a lawyer and his wife, Emma, age 40, is keeping house. In their household are their three sons, John P (8), Gordon (6) and Lenoir (4) as well as a servant Nancy Barlow, age 22. Only John has been attending school.⁶
     Clinton Albert Cilley appeared on the 1890 Federal Census of Hickory, Catawba, North Carolina, enumerated June 1890, rank of Major, Brevet Colonel, U.S. Vols., he enlisted on 29 May 1861 and was discharged on 01 Sep 1866.⁷
          Clinton was born in Newmarket, New Hampshire in 1837 to the Reverand Daniel Plumer Cilley and Adelaide Ayres Haines. He was raised in south-eastern New Hampshire.
     He attended the Boston Latin School in 1852 (the oldest school in the United States, founded in 1635 and still open today). He was awarded the Franklin Medal for exceptional scholarship while attending there. He attended Harvard and upon graduating in 1859 he went to Minnesota to teach at a seminary of the Free Will Baptists in the town of Wasioja. The seminary opened in November 1860.
     In April of the following year, after hearing about the beginnings of the War between the States he persuaded many of his students to walk down to the Army recruiting station to enlist where he also enlisted. These volunteers formed Company C of the 2nd Minnesota. Company C fought at Chickamauga and took heavy casualties.
     During the war Clinton served in the western North Carolina area and settled there after the war. His father, Daniel, brought the family to North Carolina in 1868 to 1873, where he returned to New Hampshire. Cllinton was a well liked and respected lawyer and later judge for the area.
     He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 12 Jun 1895. Citation: Seized the colors of a retreating regiment and led it into the thick of the attack.