CLARK, William

CLARK, WILLIAMS

Posted By: William Baker (email)
Date: 2/11/2002 at 00:56:50

Biography of William Clark
By William Baker

HISTORY OF ANCESTOR WILLIAM CLARK, OF MAHASKA COUNTY, IOWA -- William was born in Belmont County, Ohio in 1832, to Joseph M. and Elizabeth McElfresh Clark. In about 1842 William passed through Nauvoo, Illinois, at the age of 10, on a trip. He saw the great settlement of Mormons. He later recounted this experience to his granddaughter Margie Williams, after the turn of the century. She remembered how she used to sit upon his knee and he would tell about that childhood experience, places where he had traveled, or where he was and what he thought when Abraham Lincoln was killed. She reported that tears would well up in his eyes at the Lincoln memory. William was a very sentimental man.

In 1832-1856 William Clark lived in Belmont County, Ohio, where he and three other siblings grew up at. I have corresponded with descendants of his siblings. On May 15, 1856 he married Angelina Knight in Belmont County, Ohio. Belmont County is a rather mountainous area on the West Virginia border of Ohio.

Around 1856 to 1858 he moved to near Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois with his new wife Angeline Knight. His parents Joseph and Elizabeth Clark stayed in Ohio. William and Angelina then moved to MAHASKA County, Iowa by 1860.

William and Elizabeth had six children, three were infants who died young, Elizabeth Clark, Mary Clark and James H. Clark. William's wife Elizabeth died in 1872 in Mahaska County leaving three young children.

William married his second wife Edella Arnold in Mahaska County on May 31, 1874. Edella was the daughter of Isham and Druzilla Arnold of Mahaska County, Iowa. For 36+ years, c.1860-1896, William lived in MAHASKA County, Iowa.

In 1896, William Clark sold his farm in Mahaska County and moved to a farm near Decatur City, DECATUR County, Iowa. His family followed him.

Sometime before 1910, as he was getting older and unable to care for himself, William lived at the home of daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Thomas C. "Tommy" Williams, and granddaughter Margie Williams Cotterill on their farm in Hamilton Township, Decatur County, Iowa, where he died. The farm was next door to his son's farm, Leslie "Bud" Clark. This site is located in the southern part of Hamilton Township, a couple miles from Pleasanton.

William Clark was buried in April 27, 1916 at Coal Creek Cemetery, near Bussey, Mahaska County, Iowa. He had a long grey beard, and was very fond of his grandchildren and telling about his life stories.

OBITUARY OF WILLIAM CLARK, OF PLEASANTON, IOWA. FROM LEON JOURNAL REPORTER NEWSPAPER, LEON, IOWA:

Death of William Clark -- "William Clark, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Clark, was born February 21, 1833, in Belmont County, Ohio, and departed this life at his home near Pleasanton, Iowa, on April 24, 1916, being 84 years, 2 months and 3 days of age.

On May 15, 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Angeline Knight and several years later with their four children they came to Iowa, where immediately on landing in their new home amidst strangers, three of the children were stricken with diphtheria and passed away within three weeks of each other. A few years later in the year 1872, the mother followed the little ones to their eternal home, thus leaving the father and three other little ones to mourn their great loss.

On May 30, 1872 [actually May 31, 1874, compiler's note] he was again united in marriage with Miss Edella Arnold of Mahaska County, who preceded him in death August 18, 1889.

He spent the greater part of fourty years of his life in Mahaska County, but for the last twenty years has resided in Decatur County, where all of his children are married and reside, except one daughter, and one son in Mahaska County. Mr. Clark was a man of plain ways and manners, very conservative and only those who knew him best could estimate his character and ideals.

He was a kind loving husband and parent, a good neighbor and friend always ready to aid those who needed assistance. He was converted in his early youth and became a member of the Christian Church, still retaining his membership at the old home church, Bethel, in Mahaska County.

He departed this life at the home of a daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams, near Pleasanton, Iowa. Medical skill, loving attention of children, friends and many kind neighbors was of no avail against the grim reaper of all mankind, so as peacefully as if he were going to sleep, he passed into the sleep which knows no awakening until the angel of resurrection hands to us again the key of life.

According to the wishes of the deceased and the family it was decided to place the father by the side of his children and the companions of his earlier years. On account of the distance, something over one-hundred miles and inconvenience of making train service, it was decided to make the long trip by auto. [This was in 1916!] The hour to start was necessarily made early but not too early for many kind friends to gather at the home to offer their assistance and sympathy. Mr. F. S. Stewart of Leon took charge of the service and in a very kindly manner arranged the details necessary for such a long journey overland.

Those in the funeral cortege were M. and Mrs. Thomas Williams, Mr. & Mrs. John Bibbey, Mrs. Frank Williams, all of Pleasanton. Mrs. Lige (Elijah) Ryan, of Lamoni, and Mr. John Clark of Decatur City, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Clark of Mahaska County; Mr. F. S. Stewart of Leon, accompanied by J. H. Clark, driving the hearse across country to the home of the son in Mahaska County, where the funeral services were held on Wednesday morning at Coal Creek Church, where interment was made.

Reverend Pettit, an old friend of the family, gave an excellent discourse and the choir rendered beautiful and appreciative music, after which the remains were tenderly borne to the adjacent cemetery where they were laid away to await the final day of all time.

The immediate relatives near Pleasanton are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Clark, Mr. and Mrs. John Bibbey; others are Mr. and Mrs. John Clark of near Decatur City, Mr. and Mrs. Lige Ryan of near Lamoni, Mr. and Mrs. High Doxey, Oklahoma and Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Clark, of Mahaska County. There are also fourteen grandchildren, and a sister [Hannah Jane] in Oklahoma, and a brother, Mr. L. C. (Lawson) Clark and son William Clark, and family, of Unionville, Missouri."

DEATH RECORD OF WILLIAM CLARK:
"William Clark, Hamilton Township, Decatur County, Leon, Iowa; b. February 21, 1832, d. April 24, 1916, aged 84 years, 2 months, 3 days; widowed; farmer; Father: Joseph Clark, Maryland, Mother: Elizabeth Mackelfresh; Chronic Nephritus (kidney failure); attending physician: B. L. Eiker; buried Bussey, Iowa 4/26/1916; Funeral F. S. Stewart; Informant: Charlotte Bibbey, Leon, Iowa." - Leon, Iowa Courthouse.

A picture of William Clark at one time (1983) resided with the Cotterill family of Leon, Iowa. This is the only likeness I know of him.

Places where William lived:
1. Belmont County, Ohio.
2. Peoria County, Illinois.
3. Mahasaka County, Iowa.
4. Decatur County, Iowa.

This is included to prove when William Clark moved to Decatur County, Iowa. It is about the marriage of Mary Clark, daughter of William, to a Frank Williams: Source: Decatur County Journal Newspaper, April 24, l898:

"Married, Wednesday, April l3, at ll o'clock, at the home of and by JOHN RAUCK, ESQ., MR. FRANK WILLIAMS to MISS MARY CLARK. The groom is a son of TOM WILLIAMS, who is well known in the western part of the county as a quiet and industrious farmer. FRANK is a young widower, whose wife died of consumption about two years ago.

"The bride is of a well respected family, who moved from Monroe County, two years ago this spring, who have since then lived two miles southwest of Decatur City. MARY was a quiet and social young woman and was well liked by all who knew her.

"They were congratulated by many friends, who wished them much joy and happiness through life. They were charivaried by a large crowd of boys and men who gave them a hand of friendship and also wished them a happy and enjoyable life. They have rented a portion of MR. WILLIAMS' farm for the coming season."

Researcher's Note: There are some of William's records in both the Monroe and Mahaska Counties, Iowa Censuses.

Sources:
1. Family records and file of W. R. Baker.
2. Edna Hill (1888-1983), Waco, Texas.
3. Margie Williams Cotterill (1902-1983), Leon, Iowa.
4. Gladys Marie Clark (1917-1996), Pleasanton, Iowa.
5. Death Record of William Clark, Leon, Iowa Courthouse.
6. Obituary of William Clark, 1916, Leon Journal-Reporter Newspaper.
7. 1850 Malaga Township, Monroe County, Ohio Census, Roll 712, p242, enumerated 23 Oct 1850.
8. Keo-Mah Genealogical Society, comp. Mahaska County Iowa Cemeteries WPA Burial Records. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Genealogical Society, 1996. 5 vols.