Ross Clark

CLARK HEWITT

Posted By: Susan Coleman (email)
Date: 8/12/2004 at 19:22:09

Ross Clark was born on May 20, 1882. He was the son of Eugene and Emma Hewitt Clark. His birthplace was the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hewitt, who lived on a farm one half mile north of the Union Cemetery. At that time it was called Sumner Cemetery. The Hewitt home was the stage coach stop where the mail for the area was left. Ross moved with his parents when he was two years old, to a farm south west of Livermore. He and his brothers and sisters attended school in Delana Township. When not in school, they and the neighbor childen herded their cattle on the open prairie. There were no fences then and there were many swamps or sloughs. When Ross was yet a small boy, the Clarks moved to a farm south of Livermore. After finishing the rural schools, he went to Livermore High School.
He later served as janitor at the school for six years. Ross became a member of the Presbyterian Church in 1904 and continued as a member for 76 years. When he became of age, he joined the Masonic Lodge in 1911, the Order of the Eastern Star at Livermore. While serving as Worthy Patron of the Chapter, he became quite well acquainted with the Worthy Matron, Sister Lulu Winkle. On October 13, 1912, they were married in the Winkle home. Lulu Dell was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Winkle. Two children were born t the Clarks, a son Donald in 1913 and a daughter Gwendolyn in 1914. In 1920, they moved to a farm southwest of Livermore.
In 1922, they moved to a farm on the east edge of Livermore. The Clark family lived there for 25 years, all of that time delivering bottled milk in Livermore and to the Creamery in Bode.
In 1947, they moved back to the Clark farm. Ross built a small house west of the large one for Lulu and him, Don and and wife Vera moved into the other house. Lulu passed away June 21, 1953. That summer, she had been presented her 50 year certificate and pin from the Order of the Eastern Star. Ross continued to live on the farm. On April 18, 1957, he married Jessie Leighton from Salem, Oregon. She was born in Livermore, but went west with her parent when she was quite young. Jessie passed away on August 1, 1971. Ross stayed on the farm for some time. he then moved into Livermore with is son Don and wife. Don passed away January 12, 1975. Ross and his daughter-in-law Vera, then moved back to the farm where Ross resided until his death on June 25th, 1980. Ross was the oldest resident of Livermore at the time of his death.