WI BIO - Dane Co - AINSWORTH, Janette W. 
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol I, pp 128-129

Janette W. AINSWORTH, nee CLUGSTON, proprietress of the Madison Academy of 
Music, located at 19-21 S. Pinckney Street, Madison, Dane County, WI, 
established it in 1870, and has since managed and developed it with wonderful 
success. Mrs. AINSWORTH is a natural teacher, and has been thus engaged 
since she was 12 years of age. When not yet seven years old her musical 
ability was developed to a wonderful extent. Her early life was passed at 
Manchester, England, where she was born and educated, having served an 
apprenticeship of six years as a pupil teacher, learning the science and art 
of teaching under the government in the public schools of Manchester.

For many years Mrs. AINSWORTH was the organist in one of the leading churches 
of her native city. When she came to this country and desired to make a 
permanent home, she came to Madison, WI, in 1870, and has continuously taught 
music since that time. She makes a specialty of the piano, of which she is 
a perfect master, theoretically and technically, playing with skill and 
expression, and having the faculty of imparting some of this facility to her 
pupils. She cannot make a musician out of a clod of earth, but if there is a 
spark of the divine fire she will find it and nourish it to its greatest 
blaze. On account of this perseverance and her charming manner, Mrs. 
AINSWORTH can have no fault to find with the good people of Madison, for her 
success has been steady from the first.

To one of the temperament of this accomplished lady, her music is as meat and 
drink, and she has scarcely lost a day from her profession since her coming 
here, and has now a comfortable bank account, a good home and parlors where 
she devotes her time to her classes. She came of Scotch parentage, being the 
daughter of John and Susan (McDONALD) CLAGSTON, who were natives of 
Argyleshire, Scotland, and both came of old Scotch families, who have figured 
for years prominently in the history of Argyleshire. Especially is this true 
of the McDONALD family. Mr. and Mrs. CLAGSTON were married in Manchester, 
England, whither they had gone from Scotland, and there the former 
established himself as a builder and contractor, and was thus engaged until 
1869, when be brought his family to the U. S. and settled in the city of 
Madison, Dane County, WI, and here John CLAGSTON died 27 Apr 1873. He was 
born in the town of Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on 03 Aug 1824.

Mr. CLAGSTON had been reared a Presbyterian, but in England he joined the 
Episcopal Church, and died in that faith. His wife is yet living, and makes 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. AINSWORTH, of this sketch. She is a well 
preserved lady of 66 years, and has taken the full Chautauqua course, 
graduating from it in 1890, with 13 seals, having read everything connected 
with the prescribed course. Since [p 129] that she has earned more seals, 
and is now an active and interested student of Greek. She is a lady of much 
intelligence and culture, and shows the result of her application to the 
delightful course laid down for those who desire to take it.

Mrs. CLAGSTON has been the mother of seven children, three of whom died while 
young. The living are: (1) Agnes T., for some years a student in Italy for 
grand opera, but who, on account of failing health, after a few years upon 
the stage in Italy, was obliged to give up her ambitious plans, and is now a 
teacher of music in Elgin [Kane County], IL. She is also the organist and 
choir mistress of the Episcopal church there. (2) Annie S., is the wife of 
L. P. GOODCHAP, of Sparta [Monroe County], WI. She has the family gift also, 
and is a prominent teacher of music there. (3) Alex R., is an employee in 
the watch works at Elgin [Kane County, IL], and his wife was Miss Anna LEWIS, 
of Monroe [Green County], WI. Mrs. AINSWORTH, of this sketch, is the eldest 
of the family, and is the mother of two children, Harry Holroyd, a student in 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago; and Charles Sydney, at 
home, a student in the public schools. Both are bright youths. Both Mrs. 
AINSWORTH and her sons are members of the Episcopal Church, where they are 
highly regarded and appreciated.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly