Eli P. Clark's 79th Birthday

CLARK, BARNARD, SHERMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 11/14/2011 at 15:40:42

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 21, 1926

ELI P. CLARK'S 79TH BIRTHDAY

All the old timers remember Eli Clark who lived in this town at an early day and in whose memory a tablet has been placed on a tree just across from the high school which says that "Eli P. Clark planted this tree.."

Mr. Clark reached his 79th birthday November 25 and B.J. Ricker sends us a clipping from the Los Angeles Times which we are glad to present to readers of the Herald.

"Congratulations and tokens of esteem were extended by his many friends yesterday to Eli P. Clark, Los Angeles pioneer, capitalist, builder of the first electric street railways here, the Clark Hotel and numerous other enterprises, on the anniversary of his seventy-ninth birthday.

With his family he was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. W.K. Barnard, 600 Columbia street, Pasadena, during the afternoon at a birthday and Thanksgiving party in his honor.

Among the many to send tokens of esteem for his years of services, counsel and financial help was the board of directors of the Congregational Church Extension, representing forty churches; the Better America Federation; trustees of Pomona College; the directorate of the Young Men's Christian Association, as well as many personal friends and associates in the business and club circles of Los Angeles.

Mr. Clark is still active in business circles, appearing daily at his office. On Wednesday he attended meetings of three boards of directors.

He was born near Iowa City, Iowa, educated at Iowa College and in 1875 crossed the plains with his team, requiring almost three months to reach Prescott, Ariz., where he served as Territorial Auditor for five terms and became a close friend of John C. Fremont, then Governor of Arizona.

After his arrival in Los Angeles, Mr. Clark and his brother-in-law, Gen. M.H. Sherman, formed the company that is now the Los Angeles Railway. He later severed his railway connections and devoted his time to private investments and church and college activities, in which he always has been deeply interested."