Clark, David Lewis – 1882-1941

CLARK, GRAY, MCCURDY, RUSSELL

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 3/3/2024 at 11:46:56

D. L. Clark, 59, Dies Suddenly
Member of Pioneer Newton Family Victim of Heart Attack Just Before Noon
Clark Family Active in Newton Since 1856; Prominent In Bank Circles
D. L. (Dick) Clark, 59, third member of a pioneer Jasper county family that came to this county in the early 1850’s, died suddenly about noon today of a heart attack at his home at 716 East Fifth street North.
Mr. Clark was stricken suddenly. He did not go uptown this morning, but he seemed to be enjoying his usual health. He was taken suddenly ill a little after 11:30. Mrs. Clark called a doctor, but he died within a few minutes – of a heart attack.
Pioneer Family
The Clark family long has been identified with Jasper county and Jasper county affairs. The elder Clark, Dick Clark’s grandfather after whom he was named, came to this county in about 1856. He took up land here and soon became a large landholder.
In 1866, Grandfather Clark organized the Clark Banking house, a private financial institution – the oldest financial house to be organized in Jasper county. It continued as a banking house, later known as the Clark national bank, under the management of the Clark family until February of 1926 when it was taken over by the present Jasper County Savings bank. That merger brought together the two oldest financial institutions in the county at that time. The Jasper county bank was organized in 1869.
In Banking Business
Sometime after the organization of the old Clark banking house, the elder Clark took in his son – Jay Clark, the second in the Clark family line and father of D. L. Clark. He became manager of the institution. At a later date, Dick Clark entered the bank and shortly became cashier. When his father, Jay Clark, grew older, the son became the executive officer of the institution.
The Clark family of three generations became one of the best known families in central Iowa. One of the sizeable holdings of the family was the half block on the east side of the square which was sold by Jay Clark to the late F. L. Maytag for the Maytag Hotel and the office building. The old Clark national bank used to stand on the corner of the half block where the Woodbury Jewelry store is now located.
Since the merger of the bank, Dick Clark, as he was familiarly known to hundreds of Newton and Jasper county persons, has been engaged in real estate business. The Clark family, down through the years, has figured in many real estate developments in the community. It figured prominently and actively in the community of this central Iowa city and county over a span of more than 80 years.
Mr. Clark was born Jan. 2, 1882 in Newton and had lived here all of his life, engaging in business and real estate enterprises. Following the disposal of his banking interests in 1926, he was engaged in real estate and insurance up to the time of his death.
Mr. Clark was married to Eva A. Gray of this city in 1910.
He is survived by his wife and by three children, David L. Clark of Hermosa Beach, Calif., Mrs. J___ Russell of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Jay Clark II of Los Angeles, Calif. A sister, Mrs. Ralph McCurdy of Pasadena, Calif., and a brother Jay Clark, Jr., of Worcester, Mass. also survive.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Tuesday, January 14, 1941, page 1 (partially in fold)

Clark Rites To Be Friday
Funeral services for D. L. Clark, 59, who died of a heart attack Tuesday noon, will be held at his home at 716 East Fifth street North Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
Interment will be in the Newton Union cemetery.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Wednesday, January 15, 1941