Biography - John Clark
JOHN CLARK. A well-built and attractive house is a monument erected to
the honor of the builder, speaking more truthfully than can words, of the
dominant traits of his character. If he is thorough, it will be indicated by
the firmness of foundation and the quality of lumber that he uses. If he be
of an analyzing turn of mind, it will show in the detail, and if he have
taste and culture, it will bespeak itself from the ridge pole to the cellar
and from the front entrance to the rear. Our subject is evidently one who
pleases his patrons in every detail in building, for he is one of the most
successful dealers in lumber and house furnishing supplies in Moweaqua,
having, previous to engaging in this business, made a reputation for himself
as a builder.
Our subject is one of the firm of Berry & Clark, dealers in all kinds of
lumber. Mr. Clark has been a member of the firm since it was started,
September, 1889. He came to the county in 1854, and with his father, settled
in Flat Branch Township. He has since lived in this county, with the
exception of six years, extending from 1875 to 1881, at which time he was a
resident of Montgomery County, Kan., where he was engaged as a cattle
dealer.
While yet a lad, our subject learned the trade of carpenter which he has
followed for many years. He has erected many of the best buildings both in
the township and village of Moweaqua, and in Flat Branch Township. He has
been a contractor and builder, and all the best buildings in Moweaqua he has
been more or less connected with during construction.
Our subject was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 14, 1842. His father, was
W. H. Clark, a native of Ohio, and his grandfather was William Clark, also a
native of Ohio, and one of the first settlers on the site of what is now the
city of Cincinnati, at that time nothing more than a wilderness. William
Clark had married while in Ohio, a Miss Rachael Ross. He and his wife lived
in Warren County at an early day, and there died, an old man. He was of a
Welsh family noted for their longevity. All his life was engaged in
agricultural pursuits. His wife survived him and was a second time married,
her husband being Mr. Decker, who left her a widow. She then came to
Illinois, and died in Mercer County, this State, at the age of eighty-six
years. She was of German ancestry.
W. R. Clark was the only son of his parents. He grew up in his native county
and when Cincinnati became a village of some importance, and a commercial
center for the region about, for a period of eighteen years he drove a
six-horse team over the new country from Lebanon, Clarksburg, Milford and
Foster Crossing, carrying flour, pork, whiskey and other freight, and
bringing back supplies for the general stores in the country towns. In 1854,
with his family, he moved West, making the journey overland, his household
goods as well as his family being conveyed hither by means of teams. They
enjoyed camp life during this emigration and after a long trip they settled
on a tract of Government land in Flat Branch Township, Shelby County, and
the tract which he at that time located upon was never transferred until his
death, he having passed away from this life on the farm which he had
preempted, September 19, 1889. He was born February 14, 1802, and had become
a well-known man in this part of the country. He was quiet and unassuming in
his personal bearing, but had had an experience that few men, even at that
time, had enjoyed. He lived to see the country change from primeval
wilderness to one of the richest commercial and agricultural districts in
the country. His wife had preceded him, having died April 9, 1881. Her birth
occurred December 19, 1806, near Pittsburg, Pa. Her maiden name was Nancy
Berger. She and her husband enjoyed fifty-two years of married life.
Our subject is the youngest but one of nine children, now living. Two of his
mother's children had died at an early age. He grew up in his native county,
enjoying the limited advantages as to education and social life that were to
be had at that time. When the first three years' call was made for
volunteers to go to the front to quell the rebellion, our subject responded.
He enlisted August 14, 1861, in the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, Company F. The
Colonel in command being C. R. Jennison, and F. M. Maloney serving as
Captain. The regiment in which he served was known as the noted Jayhawkers,
and they served in the Sixteenth Army Corps, being engaged in Missouri,
Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Our subject was a
participant in the battles of Corinth, luka or Tupelo, Oxford, Water Valley
and Coffeyville. The regiment was under the general command of Gen. Grant
and was the first to penetrate into Oxford, Miss., being in the advance of
the main army from Holly Springs to Coffeeville.
The original of our sketch during his military experience, was fortunately
never seriously injured, but was once knocked off his horse by a spent ball.
He was never captured, nor spent a day in a hospital. During all his service
he reported every day for duty. He saw much hard fighting during the three
years he spent in the army. He veteranized at Corinth, Miss., and became
recruiting officer of the regiment. He was honorably discharged at St.
Louis, Mo., after three years and seven months of service, in 1864. He had
received the honor of being advanced to the position of First Lieutenant of
his regiment, and was on special duty as Court Marshal at St. Louis, Mo.,
for some time. He was also offered the Provost Marshalship in Northern
Missouri, but refused to serve.
After our subject's discharge from military life, he returned to Shelby
County, this State, and took upon himself the obligations of married life,
his wife having been a Miss Charlotte A. Goodwin, who was of English
ancestry and birth, having come to the United States when but thirteen years
of age, her only kinsman in this country being Dr. Richard Dawson Goodwin,
of St. Louis. Mrs. Clark died in St. Louis on May 19, 1871. She was in the
prime of life at the time of her taking away.
Mr. Clark again married, the second partner of his joys and sorrows being
Mrs. Nancy H. Jones, a native of Illinois. She died one year after her
marriage, while yet in her young womanhood. The little daughter that she
left to be a comfort to her husband, followed her mother when but four years
old. By a former marriage, Mrs. Clark was the mother of two children, Eliza
J. Brickey, who lives with her step-father, and Charles W. Brickey, who took
to wife Stella Henry, now a resident in Moweaqua Township. The lady is a
daughter of Ex-Representative Thomas Henry, of Windsor, Ill. Mr. Clark's
first wife was a member of the Baptist Church. His second wife was a member
of the Christian Church. She was the daughter of Levi Jones, now deceased, a
prominent minister at an early day in Montgomery County, Kan.
Our subject is an adherent of the Republican party. He is much interested in
local as well as national affairs and has been closely identified with all
the local offices from Supervisor down. He is a Past Commander of J. V.
Cleming Post, No. 363, of the G. A. R. in Moweaqua.
Extracted 27 Sep 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 708-709.
