Capt. W. B. Dugger, who has been prominently engaged in the real estate and loan business for some years, is one of the best known citizens of Carlinville, Macoupin County. He was born in this city July 26, 1835, and is a son of Joseph and Phoebe A. (Barton) Dugger, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of North Carolina.
The parents of our subject were married in Lebanon, St. Clair County, Illinois, in 1833, and in the fall of that year removed to Macoupin County. Here Joseph Dugger entered a tract of land which he improved and farmed until 1849, when he sold out to engage in the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1865. One year later he died at the age of 56 years. He and his worthy wife became the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living. Mrs. Dugger died in 1870, aged 58 years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Capt. W. B. Dugger received a common school education, which was supplemented by a course of study in McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois. When a young man he engaged as a clerk in his father's mercantile establishment and in 1856 went into business on his account, and so continued until the Civil war was in progress. On August 9, 1862, he enlisted in the 122d Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and was chosen captain of Company A. In October of that year he went South with his company, the regiment being assigned to the 16th Army Corps. In June, 1864, he was made provost-marshal. He served throughout the entire war and made an honorable record. His record of service is given in detail in the "History of the 122d Regiment." He was discharged at the close of the war, on August 8, 1865, and returned to his home in Carlinville. Here he erected a three-story brick building and engaged in the dry goods business with great success until 1872. In that year he purchased a small tract of land in the vicinity of Carlinville, and engaged in the breeding of Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs. In 1886 he was elected county clerk of Macoupin County, and discharged the duties of that office in a most satisfactory manner until 1891. He has since engaged in the real estate and loan business with a high degree of success, and is at the present time one of the most active and enterprising men of the city.
In political belief. Captain Dugger has always been an enthusiastic Republican and has frequently been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He was president of the board of trustees before the town of Carlinville was chartered as a city, and has since served twice as mayor of the city. He was supervisor of the township four terms, city alderman six terms, and a member of the Board of Education one term. He has been a notary public since 1891. Fraternally, he is a member of Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, F. & A. M.; the Royal Arch Chapter and Commandery of Knights Templar. He is also a member of Daniel Messick Post, G. A. R., and has been its commander five times. He is a very public spirited man, and many of the public improvements enjoyed by Carlinville to-day are the results of his efforts.
Extracted 2018 May 01 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 13-14.
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