William J. Clark

CLARK, RENSHAW, HENDERSON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/24/2009 at 15:42:27

WILLIAM J. CLARK, a prominent farmer of Viola Township, has been a resident of Audubon County since 1876.He was born in Warren County, Kentucky, August 30, 1840, and is the oldest son of John M. and Mary (Renshaw) Clark. The father, a native of Tennessee, is a son of John Clark, and is still living, in his seventy third year, having been born January 11, 1817. The mother, Mary Renshaw, was a daughter of Andrew Renshaw, an early settler of Kentucky; she died when William J. was seven years old. In 1844 John M. Clark removed with his family to Missouri, and thence to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, spending one year in that county; he then returned to Kentucky, and in 1860 removed to Wisconsin, locating in Grant County. In 1872 he removed to Shelby County, Iowa, and is still living there. He was twice married, and William J. is the oldest of the children of the first marriage. A biography of John M. Clark appears in the history of Shelby County. The boyhood of William J. Clark was passed in Kentucky and Wisconsin, his education being obtained in the common schools of the former State. His father being a farmer he was trained to agricultural pursuits. At the age of fourteen years he went to Wisconsin with his father, and remained with him until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company M, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and was assigned to the western department of the army. He took part in the battles of Cabin Creek, Fort Gibson, Honey Springs, and skirmished through Missouri and Arkansas. He served his country faithfully for three years, three months and eight days, and was not wounded or taken prisoner. In March, 1865, he was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, and there received his final discharge. He then repaired to the mining district of Wisconsin, and worked in the lead mines for two years. The three years following he was engaged in farming in Wisconsin, and in 1872 he removed to Shelby County, Iowa, and resided there until 1876, when he came to Audubon County, as before stated. He purchased a farm on section 8, Viola Township, which contained 160 acres of raw prairie, paying $5 per acre; this place has been unproved and brought to a high state of cultivation by Mr. Clark. In 1888 he bought a tract of improved land in sections 4 and 5, which contains 174 acres. Since his residence in Audubon County he has devoted his time to general farming. Mr. Clark was united in marriage in December, 1866, to Serena J., the oldest daughter of Greenberg and Charlotte (Henderson) Thompson, natives of Mississippi. At the time of their marriage Mrs. Clark lived in Grant County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of eight children John G., Emma S., Albert S., Sophrona M., Ella C., Martha, and Charlotte, who died in infancy. In National and State politics Mr. Clark is a straight Democrat. He has served as township trustee, school director, and as road supervisor. Mr. Clark began his career at the bottom round of the ladder, but by industry, honorable dealing and perseverance he has risen to a position of financial independence.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 789-790