Carlos N. Clark

CLARK, SANDERS, WRIGHT, HICKS, MCBURNEY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/10/2011 at 17:15:20

CARLOS N. CLARK. Among the citizens of Grundy County who have achieved success in life, we present to the readers of the Record the name of Carlos N. Clark, a popular and public-spirited citizen of Felix Township. He is the son of Moses and Hannah Clark, the former of whom was born in Washington County, Vt., May 18, 1801. At the early age of sixteen years he commenced to work at the carpenter’s trade, which occupation he followed during the summer seasons, while in the winter he engaged in making patterns in a foundry. His death occurred in Wisconsin April 25, 1876. Although not a partisan, he always took an active interest in political affairs and voted the Republican ticket.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Oliver Clark, was born January 3, 1763, and in October, 1787, he married Miss Patience Sanders, who was born September 28, 1769. Their children were: Jessie, who was born November 3, 1788; Oliver, November 23, 1790; Amasa, January 27, 1793; Moses, May 18, 1801; Almira, March 30, 1804; and Elmira, June 16, 1806.

The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Wright, was born March 10, 1806, and died in Augusta, Wis., July 3, 1882. She was the daughter of Medad and Lucinda (Hicks) Wright, the former of whom was a millwright and farmer. In his business transactions he was honorable and successful, and became well-to-do. He was a patriot in the War of 1812, and at his death, in 1866, was mourned by a large circle of warm personal friends. The family of which our subject is a member included the following children: Christopher Columbus, who was born May 11, 1830, and died July 2, 1873; Caroline, who was born February 12, 1832, and died March 1, 1892; Cornelius Oliver, who was born January 1, 1834, and died in November, 1871; Charles Marteman, who was born October 4, 1838, and died November 1, 1886; Carlos N., our subject, who was born April 9, 1840; and Caroline L., January 6, 1844.

The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm in Vermont until he reached his twenty-second year, when he went to Illinois, and in Lee County worked on a farm by the month. In December, 1862, he went to Eau Claire County, Wis., and worked in the pineries during that winter. Afterward he was employed in a sawmill for several months, and then began running rafts on the river. In 1865, having learned the carpenter’s trade, he assisted in building the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River at Clinton. Having continued thus engaged for four years, he returned to the Green Mountain State and remained there until 1866. During that year he removed to Wisconsin, where he followed the carpenter’s trade in the summer and worked in the pineries during the winter.

In February, 1869, Mr. Clark came to Grundy County, and for two years made his home in that county. At the expiration of that time he purchased raw prairie land, which he sold later with profit to himself. He then bought a quarter-section of land, to which he has since added by purchase until he now owns eight hundred acres. Of this amount, one hundred and sixty acres lie in Clay County, Iowa. By steady and intelligent labor he has cleared his land, and has developed it into one of the most beautiful estates in this section. Upon it he has placed all the improvements necessary for the prosecution of agriculture in a first-class manner. He also owns an interest in two sawmills and a large trace of timber land in North Carolina. He is identified with many of the leading enterprises of the county.

The lady whom our subject married on the 3d of April, 1870, was Miss Sarah, daughter of David McBurney. Mrs. Clark was born July 10, 1854, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Edward Cornelius and Charles. The former is residing at home, and has been given the best advantages for obtaining an education, having followed a two-year course of study in the Toledo schools, of Tama County, this state.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894