Clark, William Henry – 1857-1933

BUGG, CHANEY, CLARK, RHODES

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 1/24/2015 at 17:36:30

Funeral Service Held For Rev. Clark Mon.
Former Negro Slave Died Saturday Following Long Illness
Rev. W. H. Clark, former negro slave, passed away at his home in this city Saturday, following an illness of declining health over a period of several years. During the past year or more he has been bedfast.
Rev. Clark was born in slavery and knew the hardships of his people in the early days. After his freedom he advanced by hard work and study to one of the leading ministers of his denomination and during his many years of residence here in Colfax he won the friendship and admiration of all who knew him.
In his later years he felt unable to carry on his work of preaching and retired in a small acreage where he lived and continued active in the community until he was forced to his bed by his last illness.
Funeral services were held Monday from the Bethel Baptist church and was largely attended by his many friends here and from other parts of the state. Burial was made at the Colfax cemetery.
The Reverend Mr. William Henry Clark was born in Charsville, Virginia, Almar county, January 29, 1857, and passed away in this city Saturday night, December 9, 1933 at 10:40, at the age of seventy-six years.
He joined church at an early age in the state of Virginia. He came to Iowa quite young and in later years he entered into the ministry and has pastored in many churches in the state.
He was united in marriage to Miss Susie Rhodes and they lived happily together for forty-three years to the end. To this union there were five children born, Annabel, James, Oberten, Elmer and Eddie, all of whom have preceded him by death. He was a resident of Colfax for thirty-three years and has been ill for the past three years.
Rev. Clark was a patient sufferer and his last words were, “I am just waiting on the Lord.”
He leaves to mourn his loss, a loving wife; one sister, Lettie Bugg of New York City; a grandson and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Commodore Chaney of Newton, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Source: The Colfax Tribune, Colfax, Iowa; Thursday, December 11, 1933