CLARK, Wickliffe Martin 'Major' 1828 - 1905

CLARK, PATRICK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:28

"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Tuesday, June 27, 1905
Front Page, Columns 3 and 4

Obituary.

Wikliffe (sic) M. CLARK,

was born in South Orange, New Jersey, May 18, 1828, and died at his home in Fairfield, Iowa, Saturday, June 24, 1905, at 10 o'clock p.m.

He was married to Miss Ella PATRICK in Fairfield, 1858. His wife, one son and two daughters survive him.

Major CLARK has been a familiar personage to all citizens of Fairfield for more than a half century. He came of a large family and was the only one to wander from the old home between the cities of New York and Philadelphia, in the ground made historical by the battles of the Revolutionary war. Trained at the trade of shoemaker, he came west long before the Civil war. He was at the Falls of St. Anthony when the first settlements were begun, which have grown into the great cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. He was at Springfield, Illinois, when Abraham Lincoln was a young and rising lawyer, and had many reminiscences of the greatest American. He came to the little frontier viliiage (sic) of Fairfield in 1853 and opened a cobbler's shop along with Asa Scott in a little frame building, which stood where McElhany's store is now.

Mr. CLARK was a man of great natural abilities, of the keenest penetration and a ready flow of picturesque language. He had the tenderest heart and the widest range of feeling and sympathy, and he was one of the best companies man ever met. He was an enemy to no one, except sometimes to himself. And his failings grew out of his great feeling. He was too good a companion to save himself and make the best of the talents God had given him.

Major CLARK played a great if inconspicuous part in the history of great times and great men.

In the fierce times of the slavery conflict, which led to the Rebellion, he was a devoted and very active and influential republican, a friend and co-worker with James F. Wilson who was the coming man of Iowa republicans. He devoted himself day and night unsparingly to the struggle for freedom. Iowa was in those days pro-slavery and Jefferson was one of the reliable democratic counties. That the county was turned into the columns of Liberty and the state was made safe for Lincoln, was in no small part due to the quiet, effective, and never ceasing labors in season and out of this Fairfield shoemaker.

Tradition says that in more than one crisis of the life and death struggle, when the highest and dearest things were at stake, and when the fate of men who become famous was trembling in the balance, the keen intellect and calm judgment of Major CLARK mapped out the course that the others followed to glory and fame, in the redemption of the nation.

In those early days the Clark & Scott shoe shop supplied the place at the club and Forum. It was the meeting place of the choicest spirits of the little town. And the Major presided over its deliberation, led on its debates and we may be sure he directed all its forces into the right channels. Whatever his services, he never asked any reward for them.

In 1864, when the votes of the soldiers in the field were taken in the national election, he was sent as a commissioner to receive and count the votes of the Iowa regiments. This was the only office the state ever gave him and he asked none. For many years he was constable of the township, performing his duties intelligently and faithfully, notwithstanding his years.

He was a kind husband and father and a devoted friend, ever faithful to those he loved. Many, many are they who will miss his familiar face, and to some, Fairfield will never be the same without him. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the family home conducted by Rev. Thomas Osborn.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, June 28, 1905
Page 7, Column 2

Death of Another Old Citizen.

Wickliffe M. CLARK died in this city about 9:30 Saturday evening. June 2d he suffered the fracture of a leg by a fall in his home and had been confined to his bed since. Last week complications ensued which caused his death, although the injured limb seemed to be healing as rapidly as could be expected in one of his years. Mr. CLARK was a native of South Orange, N. J., and was born April 14th, 1828. He came west in 1851, after living a year in Illinois, came to Fairfield and has since made his home here. June 4th, 1857, he was married to Ella PATRICK, who survives him. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are living--Anna R., for many years a teacher in the city schools, Elizabeth G., general delivery clerk in the postoffice, and J. Frederick. Mr. CLARK was a man of more than average ability, an ardent republican, and for more than fifty years took an active part in the political affairs of the county. He was the holder of the first certificate of land issued by the Jefferson County Library association and was for more than twenty-five years a constable of Fairfield township. Only one member of his family survives him, Rev. George W. CLARK of Hightstown, N. J. Few men were more widely known in Jefferson county than "Major" CLARK, and there are many old friends who will regret his death. Funeral services were held at the home yesterday afternoon under the direction of Rev. Thos. Osborn, assisted by Rev. J. H. Condit and Rev. Alex. Corkey.

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

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA, in Lot Old.P.093. Wife Mary Ellen 'Ella' PATRICK died in 1917 and is buried with him.