John Clark

As printed in 1906

JOHN CLARK is well known in Berrien county, where for more than a half century he has been connected with agricultural and horticultural pursuits, while in public affairs he has figured prominently, wielding a wide and beneficial influence in lines of public thought and action resulting in general progress and improvement. While still owning a valuable farm in the county, from which he derives a good income, he now makes his home in Benton Harbor.

Mr. Clark was born in Loraine county, Ohio, October 14, 1838. His father. Orange Clark, was a native of Massachusetts, born in Berkshire county, and was about thirteen years of age when his parents removed to the state of New York. He was married there to Miss Charlotte Washburn, a native of that state, and they resided in New York until about 1831, when they removed to Lorain county, Ohio, where they continued to make their home until 1854. That year witnessed their arrival in Pipestone township, now Sodus township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of sixty-eight years and the mother when sixty-nine years of age. In their family were five sons and five daughters, all of whom reached adult age. Five were born in New York and five in Ohio. Of this family John Clark is the ninth child and fourth son.

He was fifteen years of age at the time of the removal of his parents from Ohio to Michigan, previous to which time he had attended the district schools of his native county. As their home was only eight miles from Oberlin, Ohio, many of the teachers were students from Oberlin College, and the advantages enjoyed by the children of the district were thereby of a superior order to those usually afforded in a country school. For two winters Mr. Clark was a student in the district schools of this county and spent two years as a student in Niles, after which he engaged in teaching for five terms in Berrien county. His first school was two miles from Niles, in the Thomson district, and his third term was at Pipestone, while for one term he was teacher in the home district. He taught his first term in the winter of 1859-60, and in August, 1861, he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company A, Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He served for three years in the same company and participated in many hardfought battles, including the sanguinary conflicts at Stone River and Chickamauga. In the latter he was wounded and, being left on the field, was taken prisoner. The tenth day after the battle he was paroled and taken to the hospital at Chattanooga. He was wounded in September and the last of October he was granted a thirty days' furlough and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until the following February. He was then sent to his regiment, but after two weeks was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where he arrived on the 16th of March, 1864. On the 20th of May the government ordered an exchange of prisoners, after which Mr. Clark joined his regiment at Kenesaw Mountain, remaining with his command from that time until the expiration of his term of service. He was honorably discharged September 30, 1864, after serving for three years, one month and six days, and suffering all the hardships and rigors of war. Mr. Clark had three brothers in the service, Don A., who was wounded before August, 1864, and died of wounds December 25, 1864, Theodore and L. N.

When mustered out Mr. Clark returned to Berrien county and, settling in Pipestone township, rented land for a year. He then located on his farm on section 8 of that township, and improved the place. He now owns one hundred and sixty-seven and a

58o half acres of valuable land, from which he derives a good income, but since 1896 he has made his home in Benton Harbor. In that year he was elected county treasurer and filled the office for four years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has also been township clerk, township superintendent of schools, township school inspector, highway commissioner and justice of the peace, and has made a most commendable record as a public official, standing for opposition to misrule in public office and discharging his duties with the utmost fidelity, precision and accuracy.

On the 23d of March, 1865, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Helen Webster, a daughter of Robert L. and Aurelia Webster. Mrs. Clark is a native of Hillsdale county, Michigan, and for ten years prior to her marriage taught school in this county. Her parents were both born in Maine, and came to Michigan about 1837 and to Berrien county in 1848. Both died in Pipestone township, the father at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother when a little more than eighty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of two sons: Lowell, of Denver, is in the employ of the government, in the quarantine department of the bureau of animal industry, in which capacity he has jurisdiction over the three states of Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, making his headquarters at Denver; Glenn is farming the old homestead.

Mr. Clark has been identified with the agricultural and horticultural interests of this county for fifty-two years and has taken an active interest in its material progress as well as in the advancement of his individual interests. He followed the admonition of the Greek philosopher who, centuries ago, said: *'Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to cloth." He has labored persistently and diligently and his present rest from active business cares is therefore well merited. His interest in the matters of public moment has been manifest by tangible support of every movement instituted for the general good. He belongs to Benton Harbor Post, G. A. R., of which he has been commander, and he'is one of the charter members of the Berrien County Grange, which he assisted in organizing. He believes in united effort for the common good, as is manifest in the Grange and other movements and individually and in co-operation with others he has put forth effective effort for the welfare ol the county in which he has made his home from boyhood days.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.