CLARK, Benjamin E. - 1912 Bio (1848-1934)

CLARK, JONES, SMITH, HUDSON, CUDDY, WITHAM, MCCALL, BARGER, HALE

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2005 at 17:28:36

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 458-459

B. E. CLARK

“Prominent among the citizens of Linby is B. E. CLARK, who has been conducting a general store in that town for the last six years. He was born near Dodgeville, ten miles north of Burlington, in Des Moines county, Iowa, November 15, 1848, his parents being John Milton and Mary (JONES) CLARK. The father was born and reared in Hamilton county, Ohio, and was of English and Dutch ancestry, his forefathers having come to Ohio from New York at an early day. The mother was born near Norfolk, Virginia, and was of English ancestry. Their marriage occurred in Indiana, after which they went to Des Moines county in 1846, where they resided two years, at the end of this time coming to Jefferson county and locating on a farm, two miles south of Linby. This was their home until 1880, when they removed to Kansas, where Mr. CLARK passed away in 1884. Mrs. CLARK is now eighty-four years of age and is still enjoying good health, residing at the home of her son B. E. CLARK, who is one of six children: Mary, who is the wife of David SMITH, a liveryman of Linby; Margaret, the wife of Ollie SMITH, an agriculturist of Abingdon; Elizabeth, who was married to John HUDSON, also of Abingdon; John Allen, a retired merchant of Mount Pleasant, who is now engaged in the real-estate business; and Matilda, who became the wife of Theodore CUDDY, a land agent of Hedrick, Iowa.

B. E. CLARK spent his early years upon the home farm, attending school and assisting his father until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the Iowa Central University at Pella, Marion county. He attended this institution for two and a half years and then took up teaching, a profession which he followed for a period of twenty-three years, the last three years of which were spent in Kansas. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in the Sunflower state and spent the next thirty-three years of his life in agricultural pursuits, returning to Jefferson county in 1905 and opening the general store at Linby which he still conducts. In his various activities Mr. CLARK has always aided the advancement of his community, having worked according to aggressive and modern methods which have been so prominent in the educational and industrial development of the county.

Mr. CLARK has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Lydia Catharine WITHAM, of Mitchell county, Kansas, and to them five children were born, namely: James Walter, who is a graduate of the Osborne County high school and the Washburn College of Topeka, and at present is city attorney of that city; Leah, who is the wife of Samuel McCALL, a retired farmer of Downs, Kansas, who is at present in the service of the United States postoffice; Chloris, the wife of William BARGER, an agriculturist of Osborne county, Kansas; Oland, who is a student at the medical college of Topeka, Kansas, from which institution he will graduate in 1912; and Mary, who is residing in Topeka. Mr. CLARK’s second marriage occurred in 1904 to Miss (sic - Mrs., widowed) Elizabeth HALE, of Osborne county, Kansas, and to them one child has been born, Magdalene, whose birth occurred February 14, 1908.

In politics Mr. CLARK is an ardent socialist and devotes all of his leisure time to the study and the advocacy of socialistic principles, firmly believing that the best form of government would be one which would provide for a more equal distribution of labor and wealth. He is strongly opposed to any and all secret orders and has severed his connection with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Having known the advantages to be derived from an advanced education himself, it is his desire and purpose to give each of his children equal advantages in that line. Mrs. CLARK holds membership in the Methodist church and both are well known in their community as being upright and honorable and ready at all times to support any movements from which benefits to the community might accrue.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.