Robert W. Clark

CLARK, LAURIE, POTTS, HARDEN, HOLLO

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 7/15/2009 at 07:31:30

Robert W. Clark, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Thompson, is a native of Kentucky, born July 25, 1851, and is a son of Robert and Marion (Laurie) Clark, who came to this country from Scotland —their native land— in 1840 and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they spent two or three years. The father was a machinist by trade but also followed farming and on leaving Cincinnati removed to Kentucky, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some time. Later he became a resident of Cumberland county, Illinois, where he purchased land and followed farming until life's labors were ended in November, 1882. The mother of our subject had passed away in September, 1855.

Robert W. Clark was reared and educated in Cumberland county, Illinois, and he remained with his father until he attained his majority, in the meantime becoming thoroughly familiar with all kinds of farm work. He then engaged in farming on his own account. Coming to Iowa in 1881 he located in Jasper county, where he engaged in the operation of rented land for a few years, and then purchased a farm, whereon he lived for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Hancock county, Iowa, where he farmed on rented land for nine years, and then became the owner of ninety-four acres of land four miles north of Thompson in Winnebago county, which he improved and cultivated for four years. On selling that farm he again rented land for two years and afterward bought, his present place of fourteen acres inside the corporation limits of Thompson. Owing to an accident which required the amputation of his right leg, he has been compelled to abandon extensive farming operations. He is a stockholder of the Town Mutual Telephone Company.

In September. 1874, Mr. Clark married Miss Emily Potts, by whom he has had five children, namely: Ruth, now the wife of C. E. Harden, of Buffalo Center, Iowa; Frances, at home; Bessie, a trained nurse now connected with the Central Hospital at Chicago, Illinois; Lewis A., a farmer of Cass county, Minnesota; and Maggie, who married H. F. Hollo and died in September, 1912.

The family attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Clark and daughters are members, and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Thompson. Mr. Clark also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and casts his ballot with the republican party.

~History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, pg 64-65