The Clark Families of Allamakee County, Iowa

George Clark, one of the public-spirited and progressive men of Franklin township whose labors have been of material and substantial value to the community in the line of general progress, is known throughout Allamakee county as the owner of the Forest Mills, wherein he manufactures graham and rye flour and all kinds of feed. He is, moreover, the owner of two fine farms, his holdings aggregating si.x hundred acres of land, and he is classed with the most prosperous and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of the community in which he resides. He was born in this township, three miles east of Forest Mills, January 5, 1858, and is a son of Belfield Carter and Mary (Powell) Clark, the former a native of Tennessee, born in 1830, and the latter of Indiana, born in 1831. The father moved to Illinois when he was a young man and located at Woodstock, Illinois, whence in 1849 he moved to Iowa, entering land in Franklin township, Allamakee county, among the earliest pioneers. Frontier conditions prevailed everywhere, a wilderness of prairie and timber lands stretched for miles on all sides, and wild game abounded in the forests. The tract which Belfield Carter Clark acquired was entirely unimproved and a dense growth of timber had to be cleared away before the work of cultivation could be begun. With characteristic energy and determination he set himself to this work and it was finally accomplished, the farm gradually developing into one of the finest in this section of the state. The father continued to make his home upon it until 1887 and then moved to the vicinity of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, where he resided for about one year. At the end of that time he returned to Iowa for a visit and here died in 1888. During his residence in this state he held various important local offices, serving his township with credit and distinction and making his name known and honored as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. His wife survives him and now makes her home in Waukon, this county. She and her husband were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this review is the third in order of birth. George Clark acquired his education in the district schools of his native township and from his childhood was familiar with the best and most practical agricultural methods, having gained this knowledge through personal experience iJKS. (;Ji()K(iK (-LAUK upon the homestead. At the age of twenty he purchased land in Franklin township and turned his attention to farming, continuing upon that property for about ten years. At the end of that time he disposed of his holdings and moved into Waukon, where until September, 1908, he engaged in bridge building and general contracting. Upon that date he returned to Franklin township and purchased what is known all over Allamakee county as the Forest Mills. In them he has installed modern equipment and he has given a great deal of attention to their operation since that time, manufacturing all kinds of graham and rye flour and also feed. In addition he operates a sawmill in the vicinity, both being old-established enterprises in this section of the state. The sawmill was erected here in the year 1854 and the gristmill built as an addition to it in 1868. Mr. Clark has kept them in good repair aid modern in equipment and accessories and under his able management they are both valuable business concerns, yielding heavy profits annually. In addition to this enterprise Mr. Clark owns also six hundred acres of land in Allamakee county and operates this as two farms, both being well improved, well managed and productive properties. He is interested in other business enterprises and is justly accounted one of the active, progressive and substantial men in this section of the state.

On the 26th of September, 1880, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Farnham. who was born in Wisconsin on the 6th of May, 1860, a daughter of Daniel I. and Elizabeth (Farington) Farnham, the former a native of New Brunswick. The parents came to Iowa about the year 1870 and located at Luana, Clayton county, where they resided for many years. The father is now living retired and he and his wife make their home with the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have become the parents of three children. Floyd I., born January 11, 1884, married Miss Alice Winters, a native of this county, and he resides upon his father's farm in Franklin township. Dora Isabelle, born August 3, 1888, is a teacher in the Waukon high school and resides at home. Gordon Lynn, born August 18, 1893, is also residing at home.

Fraternally Mr. Clark is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Waukon and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of trust and responsibility although he never seeks public office. In analyzing his life record it will be seen that persistent, earnest work has constituted the foundation upon which he has built his prosperity and his diligence may well serve as an example for others to emulate.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A native of Allamakee county, Harvey Clark devotes his attention to the cultivation of a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres located near Postville. He has been successful in his pursuits, as he has always employed thorough and up-to-date methods and has industriously and energetically worked on the improvement of his property. He was born in Franklin township, October 30, 1 861, and is a son of Belfield Carter and Mary (Powell) Clark, the father being generally known as Carter Clark. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, June II, 1832, and in the fall of 1849 became one of the pioneers of Iowa, first locating in Franklin township, this county. He was married in Allamakee county to Miss Mary Powell, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, November 28, 1832. Upon coming to Franklin township the father entered government land and began clearing and cultivating his property amidst the wilderness, the Indians only having been removed from here the year previously. He resided upon his first farm until 1887 and then sold out and removed to Adams county, Wisconsin, where he bought a large tract of land, to the development of which he gave his time and attention until his death in January, 1888. The mother resided upon that property until the ist of May of the same year and 'then returned to Allamakee county, taking up her residence at Hardin in Franklin township. There she lived until 1905, when she removed to Waukon, where she now makes her home with her daughter Mrs. C. H. Stillwell. The father was not only recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of Franklin township but also held various township offices, ever discharging his duties with faithfulness and greatly to the satisfaction of his constituents. The mother and her daughter Mrs. Stillwell were among the first teachers in this section, holding the first classes in Hardin. Mrs. Clark also taught one of the first.schools in Post township, at which time she made her home with Judge Toplifl:', the first judge of Allamakee county. Mr. and Mrs. Clark became the parents of si.x children. Cordelia resides at Waukon. William makes his home at Marion, North Carolina, and is successful as a fruit grower, specializing in peaches, with which he supplies the wholesale markets. George, resident of Forest Mills, this county, is a contractor and builder, making a specialty of bridges and road work, but is

HARVEY CLARK AXD FAMILY also a prominent agriculturist, being an extensive landowner and breeder of Holstein cattle. He also operates grist and saw mills and is one of the most substantial citizens of his locality. The fourth in order of birth is Harvey, our subject. Linda is the wife of A. D. Farnham and they make their home near Milwaukee, Mr. Farnham being a creamery expert and butter maker. Mary, the youngest of the family, married C. H. Stillwell and they reside at Waukon. Mr. Stillwell is engaged in general contracting, house wrecking and similar pursuits.

Harvey Clark was reared under the parental roof and early grounded in the old fashioned virtues of industry and honesty. Naturally his educational opportunities were limited in that primitive period of pioneer life and what education he received was obtained at the little red schoolhouse in Franklin township. He remained at home until about twenty years of age, when he began his independent career by renting a farm in Franklin township, which he cultivated for seven years with such good success that at the end of that period he was enabled to acquire by purchase forty-seven acres, which he still owns. As his means increased he subsequently added to his holdings another eighty acres and now operates one hundred and twenty-seven acres devoted to general farming. His land is highly improved, and modern, well equipped buildings testify to the thorough methods which he employs and the prosperity which attends his labors as their result. He is considered one of the most up-to-date farmers in his vicinity and, while he has attained personal prosperity, has also been a factor in promoting the agricultural interests of the county. Mr. Clark is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store at Postville.

On May 31, 1881, Harvey Clark was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Jones, who was born near Waukon, this county, January 25, 1859, and is a daughter of Charles and Marinda (Lane) Jones, the father a native of England. The mother's native state was New York, being born in Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson river. During all his active life Mr. Jones was a farmer. Having crossed the ocean early in life, he made his first residence in New York, where he remained for about two years and in 1851 came to Iowa, locating near Round Prairie in Makee township, this county. There he entered government land and continued in its cultivation until about 1871, when he rented out the homestead and bought another farm near Forest Mills, upon which he remained until his death, which occurred about 1898. The mother of Mrs. Clark survives him and now makes her home with her sons upon a farm northeast of Forest Mills, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Clark is the third in order of birth.

To Air. and Mrs. Clark two children have been born. Virgil LaValle, whose birth occurred January 1, 1885, married Helen Sharp, who at the time of her marriage resided in Portland, Oregon. She had, however, previously been a resident of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wirgil L. Clark now make their home in Portland, where he is prominent as one of the younger and successful members of the legal fraternity. They have one child, George H., born October 26, 191 1. Mr. Clark gained a high reputation in Portland by securing the first verdict against the Portland Electric Power & Railroad Company ever rendered against that corporation since its organization. The suit was for personal injuries and he secured judgment against the company for the sum of five thousand dollar for his client, the case being that of a young boy whose father had been killed by the road, the guardian bringing suit against the company. Virgil Clark is also prominent in Masonic circles and very enthusiastic in the work of the order, being a thirty-second degree Mason. The other child born to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Clark is Libbie M., whose natal day was September 25, 1890. She is the wife of Don E. Lamborn, a prosiJerous farmer of Franklin township.

Mr. Clark has ever taken a laudable interest in matters of political importance and for several terms served as township trustee, only discontinuing his services at his own initiative, refusing on account of other pressing duties to continue in the office. He is deeply interested in the cause of education and for over twenty years has efficiently served as secretary of the school board. His political adherence is given to the republican party, the principles of which he considers best adapted to good government and of greatest benefit to the majority. For some years Mr. Clark was a member of the Mutual IJrotherhood of America but recently withdrew from that organization. He is highly respected and esteemed in his neighborhood for what he has accomplished, his success being especially creditable as it has come to him through his own efforts. While careful of his own interests, he is ever considerate of those of others and always weighs his actions in regard to what influence they will have upon the general welfare. He has therefore become a valuable factor in progress and advancement and his life work has not only been of benefit to him but of value to his state and county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Michael Clark has been a resident of Allamakee county since 1853 and is numbered among the oldest men in this part of Iowa, being among the very earliest settlers. He has witnessed practically the entire growth of the county, for few settlements had been made within its borders at the time of his arrival, and all the evidences of frontier life were to be seen, while the hardships and trials incident to pioneer existence were to be met. Mr. Clark was born September 22, 1819, and has therefore almost reached the ninety-fourth milestone on life's journey. His career has been characterized by unfaltering determination and well directed labor, and his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres is the visible evidence of his lifelong industry and thrift.

Alichael Clark is a native of County Monahon, Ireland, and was born in the same year which witnessed the birth of Queen Victoria and in 1844 he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Canada, where he remained for four years. At the end of that time he removed to Livingston county. New York, and from there to Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1853. For several years he engaged in getting out wood to supply to steamers on the Mississippi river, and he lived during that time at Johnsonport. Soon after his arrival here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on section 29, Taylor township, and several years later located on the property, where he has since continued to reside, bearing an active and honorable part in the work of upbuilding which has transformed this part of the state from a frontier wilderness into a prosperous and growing county. With characteristic energy he began developing his farm, clearing the timber and erecting upon it substantial buildings. He has today a well improved property, which is under the management of his son, and which in its neat and attractive appearance indicates the many years of careful supervision which the owner has bestowed upon it.

-Mr. Clark has been twice married. In Canada he married Miss Mary Brady and by her had two children, one of whom,:\Irs. Alary Murril, resides in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Mr. Clark's second wife was in her maidenhood

Aliss Bridget Marn, and she passed away February 15, 1902, leaving four children: Eva, the wife of John Hart, of Waterville, Iowa; John, who operates his father's farm; Anna, who lives at home; and Nell, the wife of Amos Damon, of Harper's Ferry, Iowa.

Mr. Clark is a member of the Roman Catholic church and guides his honorable and upright life by the principles in which he Ijelieves. He has been at all times interested in the welfare of the county and has given active cooperation to many movements for the public good. Living in Allamakee county for titty years, he is one of the best known citizens of his locality, being widely recognized as a man of tried integrity and worth, of business enterprise and unfaltering diligence.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.