...father, Alexander Clingman, a native of Germany, emigrated to Pennsylvania, served in the continental army, was captured in General Lincoln's surrender, and after the war made his home in Yadkin, now Surry county , becoming allied by marriage with the Patillo family. Young Clingman was graduated by the university of North Carolina, and began the practice of law at Hillsboro, where in 1835 he was elected to t...