Rev. Simeon Clark 1801-1884

CLARK, DUBOIS, BROWN, SNODGRASS

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/15/2020 at 20:32:46

Rev. Simeon Clark, a native of Ohio, moved westward to Illinois, then on to Iowa. He first croseed the Mississippi River on June 24, 1835, locating ten miles west of Dubuque near Peosta, Iowa, laying claim there. Mr. Clark was an early settlor to the county. He stated that the time he built the log cabin on his homestead, wolves were so thick they could chase his dogs into the house on some nights. Clark was known to have a 24 wolf scalp in his house at one time, all of which he had personally taken. Rev. Simeon Clark brought the first hogs across the river in Northern Iowa, afterward sold one of them to J. P. Farley for $30.50. Rev. Clark farmed until 1866 when he moved to Farley, Iowa and engaged in the mercantile business. He was known to be honest, upright and quite entertaining in relating the early life of Iowa homesteading. The Rev. Clark lived an active and interesting life. This gentleman was the Farley postmaster for 11 years and was Justice of the Peace. He delivered the first temperance lecture ever given in Dubuque in 1836. Rev. Clark attended the first 4th of July celebration in Dubuque, being the Chaplain of the day. Simeon was the first local preacher of the M. E. Church that came to the state of Iowa. He traveled extensively through the region, preaching the gospel in the houses of the settlors, bar rooms or an open air. He married Miss Sarah Snodgrass, a native of Ohio, in 1823. Two of their children were Caroline Clark and Fletcher W. Clark. They also had a daughter Julia-Mrs. L. W. Dubois-of Waverly. Julia became ill at the age 28 and died at her parent’s home April 30, 1879 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery.

Rev. Clark married a second time to Eliza J. Brown on May 22, 1866. She was a native of Kentucky. Eliza and Simeon had a son: Simeon W. Clark. Mrs. Clark came to Dubuque with her parents in 1835, they were very early people in Iowa. Her mother lived until the late 1800’s. Eliza had a son, George H. Brown who manufactured brooms. George had been born in Dubuque April 1, 1848. Growing up and learning a trade there, he manufactured brooms in Chicago for several years. George arrived in Farley in Sept. of 1879 where he continued his trade of making brooms
Simeon died at the age 83 in Farley in June 1884.

The History of Farley, Welu Publishing, Copyright, 1996.