The Clark Families of Jones County, Iowa

Mrs. Mary L. Clark, who in her maidenhood was Mary L. Joslin. is a lady most highly respected in Jones county, where she has made her home for many years, driving her income from a good farming property located in Castle Grove township. She was born in the state of New York, and there spent the first nine years of her life, after which she came with her parents to Jones county, Iowa. Here she was reared and educated and in 1874 gave her hand in marriage to Bently Clark, who was born in this county on the 22d of January. 1852, a son of Joseph and Matilda C. (Spencer) Clark. The father was born in Ohio, while the mother's birth occurred in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from which place she later moved to Butler. Pennsylvania, and in May, 1839. came to Jones county, Iowa. Here she was united in marriage in 1847 to Josejih Clark, and unto this union were born three children, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Clark entered land in this county and erected a log cabin with clapboard roof and luncheon floor and with the proverbial latchstring hanging out. He was engaged in farming up to the time of his demise, which occurred April 16. 1881, while his wife still survives at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years.

Lender the parental roof in his native county Bently Clark passed the years of his boyhood and youth, and after reaching man's estate became identified with the dentist's profession, which he followed for six years. He then purchased a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his

BENTLY CLARK demise, which occurred on the 4th of February, 1905, his remains being interred in Oakwood cemetery. Aside from his mother and wife he left three children to mourn his loss. Harry B., who was born on the 6th of June, 1875, is now residing in South Dakota. Ford M., born September 19, 1882 is operating the home farm for his mother. Mattie E., who was born December 28, 1889, also resides at home with her mother. She is a graduate of the academy at Hopkington, Iowa, and has been engaged in teaching for some time. There are two grandchildren, Arthur R. and Effie E., both living with Mrs. Clark.

Mr. Clark was well known in local political ranks, being a stalwart supporter of the democratic party, and he held several township offices. He and his wife were both faithful and exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of which have ever formed the guiding influences of their lives. Fraternally Mrs. Clark is a member of the Royal Neighbors, the Rebekahs and also of the Royal Patrons, in all of which organizations she is actively and helpfully interested. She has many warm friends in the county, within whose borders she has resided for so long a time, for she possesses many excellent traits of character such as under her to all who come within the close circle of her friendship, while in her own family she has ever been a devoted and loving wife and mother.

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

Robert Clark, who is one of the most extensive landowners in Scotch Grove township, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of November, 1834. and is a son of David and Margaret (Bell) Clark, both natives of the Keystone state. There the father died in 1853, after which the mother came to Jones county, Iowa, arriving here in 1856, where her remaining days were passed. She was the mother of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of John Gibson, residing in Monticello, Iowa; Margaret J., the widow of James Dawson, now making'her home in Boston with her son; Robert, of this review; and five who have passed away.

No event of special importance came to vary the routine of daily life for Robert Clark through the period of his boyhood and early youth, which was spent in his native county, and to the public schools of Pennsylvania he is indebted for the educational advantages which he enjoyed. At the early age of seventeen years he started out to earn his own livelihood, at first being employed as a farm hand. In 1854, when twenty years of age, he came to Jones county and here worked as a hired hand on the farm which later became his home, and upon which he now resides. Two years later, in 1856, he purchased forty acres in Wayne township, for which he paid seventy-five cents per acre, and a year later invested in eighty acres adjoining his original purchase. This tract of one hundred and twenty acres he improved and put in good condition, after which he sold it and bought his present farm. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land located on section 20 which, under the careful and wise management of Mr. Clark has been brought under a high state of cultivation. As the years have come and gone he has been able to add to his original purchase, so that the home farm now comprises three hundred and forty acres. He is also the owner of twelve hundred and twenty acres on sections 1, 2, and 3, Scotch Grove township, constituting him one of the most extensive landowners in his section of the county. Aside from his present possessions he has given his oldest son a good farm. He is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and has always been a large stock raiser and shipper. He has become very successful

ROBERT CLARK in his business ventures, industry, energy and close application being salient elements in the gratifying degree of prosperity which he today enjoys.

Mr. Clark laid the foundation for a happy home life in his marriage in 1877 to Miss Alicia Warner, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, who came to Jones county with her parents in the early '50s. She is one of the six children born unto Paul and Mary (Hannah) Warner, the former having now passed away and while the later still survives at the advanced age of eighty-two years and makes her home with our subject. Unto Mr. and Mrs.

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

ROBERT PAUL CLARK.

The agricultural interests of Scotch Grove township find a worthy representative in Robert Paul Clark, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on section 21, to the cultivation and improvement of which he is directing his entire energies. He was born in this township on the 9th of July, 1880, and is a son of Robert and Alicia Clark, extended mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. Spending the period of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, he acquired a good common school education and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad. He remained under the parental roof until attaining his majority, and then located upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which had been given to him by his father. Thus he started out in the business world on his own account and has since been identified with agricultural pursuits, in which line of activity he has been most successful. He practices rotation of crops, makes a thorough study of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and is progressive and up-to-date in his methods, so that he has gained for himself a place among the substantial and prosperous agriculturists of the community. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Canada, and this forms an additional source of revenue to him.

It was on the 18th of March, 1908, that Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Nelson, a native of Scotch Grove township, born on the 23d of May, 1878. She is a daughter of M. J. and Nancy E. (Overley) Nelson, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively. Both are now deceased. In their family were three children, of whom Emeline P., the eldest, has now passed away. The others are Mrs. Clark and a brother, Charles. The former was but three years old when her mother died in 1881, while her father passed away on the 22d of March, 1900. She attended the common schools until thirteen years of age, and then laid aside her text-books in order to take charge of the household. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark are well known in Scotch Grove township, where their entire lives have been passed, and they have a circle of friends which is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances. In politics he gives his allegiance to the republican party, and his influence is ever found on the side of improvement, advancement and progress in all matters of citizenship.

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

NORMAN P. CLARK.

Industry, energy and perseverance have characterized the efforts of Norman P. Clark during the years of his active business career, and his well directed efforts in agricultural lines are now meeting with creditable success. Born in Waterville, Lamoille county, Vermont, on the 5th of October, 1849, he is a son of Seth and Lucretia (Phillips) Clark, also natives of that state, the former being born in Johnson in 1809 and the latter in Chester in 181 1. The parents lived together upon the farm where our subject was born for about forty-five years, or until the death of the mother, which occurred when she was almost seventy years of age. The father passed away at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were seven children, namely: Nancy A., the widow of N. H. Terrill; Mary Jane, the deceased wife of Z. Whiting; Helen G., who married J. Stevens and is also deceased; Lucetta, the wife of L. Page, residing in Princeton, Illinois; Norman P., of this review; Alice Isabelle Stevens, deceased; and Edwin A., of Chula, Aissouri.

Spending the period of his boyhood and youth on the home farm in Vermont, Norman P. Clark acquired his education in the district schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, when he entered the business world on his own account, wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. In 1878 he came west to Bureau county, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1880, when he removed to Leadville, Colorado. Returning to Illinois after a short stay, he remained in the latter state but one year, and then in February, 1882, came to Jones county, purchasing the farm upon which he now makes his home. It consists of two hundred acres on section 2, Cass township, and to its further development he has directed his entire energies, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. When it came into his possession the farm was equipped with a small dwelling which has since been replaced by a comfortable and attractive residence, substantial and commodious barns and outbuildings have been erected and on the place are found all of the modern accessories and conveniences that go to make up a well improved farm of the nineteenth century. He carries on general farming and also make a specialty of breeding Duroc Jersey hogs, both branches of his business proving sources of gratifying remuneration. Industry and energy have been the salient characteristics of his business career and his labors have found their just reward in a most gratifying degree of success. As he has prospered he has purchased other property, and he now owns, aside from the homestead, sixty-five acres on section 25 and 36, Castle Grove township.

Mr. Clark laid the foundations of a happy home life in his marriage, on the 20th of June, 1894, to Miss Hattie J. Worster, who was born in Wayne township, Jones county, on the 18th of August, 1863. She is a daughter of Selim and Lucy (Ripley) Worster, the former born in Swanzey, New Hampshire, on the 26th of May, 1822, and the latter in Winchester, New Hampshire, November 20, 1825. They came to Jones county in 1853 with four of their children, the home being established in Wayne township, where they continued to reside until their death, at which time Mr. Worster owned about three hundred acres of fine farming land. He passed away on the lath of January, 1907, while his wife survived him until the 13th of September, 1909. Their family consisted of ten children, namely: George C, of Ottosen, Iowa; John M., residing in Emporia, Kansas; Waldo A., of Fort Scott, Kansas; Alden E., making his home in Albion, Iowa; Charles, also residing in Emporia, Kansas; Mrs. Miranda S. Dunn, who lives in West Bend, Iowa; William J., also of Ottosen; Mrs. N. P. Clark; Mrs. Cora A. Walters, of Cass township; and Henry F., living in Wayne township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born four children, of whom Grace L., the eldest, passed away in infancy. The others are: Hattie May, Norman E. and Raymond J., all under the parental roof.

In his political allegiance Mr. Clark is a stalwart republican and has served as township trustee, justice of the peace, and has held other public offices. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his life record has ever been in harmony with the principles of brotherhood that form the basic elements of these organizations. His time and attention are naturally most largely given to his business interests and he has followed the occupation to which he was reared for many years. In his business career he has been straightforward and reliable and county among his many friends all those who acknowledge and appreciate genuine personal worth.

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