CLARK, Julius L. - 1890 Bio (1824-1903)

CLARK, LINDSEY, SMITH, CARSON, CORNELL, SHUMAKER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/31/2007 at 21:45:05

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Page 658

Julius L. CLARK is a progressive farmer and representative citizen of Liberty Township, Jefferson County, his home being on section 29. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, on the 7th of April, 1824, and was a son of Robert and Rebecca (LINDSEY) CLARK. He married Rebecca LINDSEY, whose grandfather was taken priosoner and forced into the British service in England, but he escaped and joined the American forces, fighting under Gen. Washington. For some years Robert and Rebecca CLARK made their home in Ohio, but in 1859 left the Buckeye State and became residents of Van Buren County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. Their children were: Madison, who is now living in Ottumwa; Julius, whose name heads this sketch; Elizabeth, who died in Wapello County, in 1881; Joseph, who died in the army in 1862; John, who came to Iowa, but died at Arkansas Post during the War of the Rebellion; Waterman, who was a resident of Elkhart County, Ind., Samuel, who died while in the service of his country during the late war; Caroline, who married W. R. SMITH, of Van Buren County, and died in Crawford County, Kan., in the spring of 1874; and George, who met his death in the engagement at Mobile, Ala. The day before the battle he wrote home "to-morrow we charge Mobile," little thinking that it would be his last message. He left two little boys who grew to manhood waiting for news of a father who never came.

The subject of this sketch, Julius L. CLARK, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the State of his nativity. No event of special importance marked his early career, but on attatining his majority he started out in life for himself, choosing the West as the scene of his future labors. In 1845 he came to Iowa and engaged in the wagon and undertaking business in Van Buren County, continuing operations in that line for a number of years. In 1847 he led to the marriage altar Miss Emeline CARSON, who was born on the 31st of October, 1827. Their union was blessed with nine children, all born in Van Buren County with the exception of the two youngest -- Joseph, born October 29, 1849, is represented elsewhere in this volume; William, born in 1851, died in 1857; Samuel G., born August 8, 1855, is now a prosperous farmer of Edwards County, Kan; Mary Rebecca, born September 1, 1857, is the widow of S. L. SMITH of Durango, Colo.; John Mason, born in 1860, died in 1866; Sarah Ann, born May 9, 1862, is the wife of Oscar CORNELL, a farmer of Pawnee County, Kan.; Nora Jane, born August 13, 1864, is the wife of W. S. SHUMAKER, of Batavia, who was Postmaster at that place under President Cleveland; Thomas Manford, born May 16, 1867, and Amanda, November 25, 1870, complete the family.

In 1850, during the gold excitement in California, Mr. CLARK joined a party numbering one hundred and ten men, who, under Capt. Zachariah Walker, now deceased, made an overland journey with ox-teams to the Golden State. They remained for more than a year, during which time Mr. CLARK engaged in prospecting, but sickness compelled him to relinquish his claim, which afterward proved to be a very rich one. He made the return trip by water, reaching the Isthmus of Panama after a fifty-five days voyage on the Pacific, and on a Mississippi steamer returned to Iowa. On reaching home he resumed his former business, that of undertaking and wagon making, which he continued until 1865, when he purchased a farm on section 29, Liberty Township, Jefferson County, where he has since made his home. For six years, from 1854 until 1860, he was Postmaster of Business Corner. In political sentiment, he is a Republican, and a stanch advocate of his party principles. For eighteen years his neighbors have manifested their trust in him by retaining him as District Treasurer, and it is needless to say every duty has been faithfully discharged. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1847, and in 1859 he changed to the Protestant, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Throughout the community his worthy couple are held in high esteem for their many excellent qualities and their upright lives. They are also numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, having for forty-five years made their home within its borders or in its immediate vicinity.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.