Clark, Gilbert W.

CLARK, DEBORD, WALKER, CATES, ALLBEE

Posted By: Donna Lindauer
Date: 3/11/2026 at 18:59:56

The Malvern Leader
Malvern, IA
Thu, Sep 20, 1934

Randolph's last veteran of the Civil War, Gilbert W. Clark, passed away Tuesday, September 11, at the home of his daughter, J. H. Walker. Mr. Clark was a charter member of the G.A.R. Post at Randolph and his death marks the final passing of that organization in the community.

June 1, 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army and was assigned to Company "B". 65th Illinois Infantry. He saw three years of active service and was discharged at Chicago in 1865. He accompanied the forces of General Sherman in their famous march to the sea. During the close of the war he was taken a prisoner but fortunately was soon exchanged and so escaped the hardships, privations and sufferings endured by some of the prisoners of war.

Gilbert W. Clark was born in Berriand, Michigan, November 14, 1845. When a child he moved with his parents to Mercer County, Illinois. Here he grew to manhood and enlisted in the service. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Merrinah Ann Debord. In 1877 he moved with his family to Shelby County, Iowa.

In the early eighties he came to Randolph, then a new village. "Gib" as he was best known was a carpenter and many of the houses and barns built in an early day in this community were an evidence of his workmanship. Randolph was his home for 31 years. He and his wife moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado where they resided until her death in 1920. Since then he has spent the greater part of his time in California.

He always considered Randolph his home, returning each Decoration Day to visit his comrades and share with them in honoring their dead. He and Edward Blakely, another member of the G.A.R. Post in Randolph, had been comrades in service. It was a keen disappointment to "Gib" that as the lone representative of the veterans of the Civil War he could not represent his comrades at the services this last May. He was here but not able attend.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Four sons preceded him in death. The two daughters living are Mrs. J. H. Walker of Randolph and Mrs. R. E. Cates of Bancroft, Nebraska. There are 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Sharing with the family in their sorrow is a sister, Mrs. Mary Allbee, Superior, Nebraska and two brothers D. W. Clark, Hastings, and Eldridge Clark, Reynolds, Illinois. He had a brother who served in the Civil War. Mr. Clark was an honorary life member of Lodge No, 1143, B.P.O.E. at Fort Morgan.