Clark B. Core

CORE, KAUFFMAN, ROBISON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/22/2010 at 04:54:16

CLARK B. CORE

A well spent life always brings its reward—if not in material success, in the good will, the confidence and high regard of those among whom the individual's lot is cast. To Clark B. Core, however, has come both the respect of his many friends and the substantial rewards of his intelligently directed labor, and now after long connection with farming and stock raising interests he is living retired in Forest City, where his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to the office of city councilman. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1865, a son of Elias and Mary J (Kauffman) Core, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1869. In that year they removed to La Salle county, Illinois, where they purchased a farm between Ottawa and Streator, upon which they continued to reside until called to their final rest.

Clark B. Core was reared under the parental roof and in his boyhood days attended the public schools near his father's home. When twenty-one years of age he started out to earn his own living but did not leave the old homestead, his father employing him as a farm hand for three years. During that period, in the fall of 1887, he and his brother Skiles invested in Iowa land, purchasing three hundred acres in Hancock county, a half mile south of Forest City, and in the spring of 1888 the two brothers made their way to their newly acquired possession. Clark B. Core remained for a month and then returned to the old home in Illinois and operated the farm through the summer of 1888. In the spring of 1889, however, he took up his abode in Hancock county, Iowa, but as he was not married at that time, he spent the three succeeding winter seasons at the old homestead in Illinois.

It was on the 18th of February, 1892, that Mr. Core wedded Miss Dorothy Robison, then a resident of La Salle county, Illinois, but a native of England. They began their domestic life upon the Iowa farm and have since been residents of this state. His brother Skiles has never married and has always made his home with Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Core. They called their place the Fairview Stock Farm and while residing thereon made a specialty of handling live stock. They bred thoroughbred Percheron horses and in that business were very successful, raising some of the finest stock to be found in the state. To their three hundred acres of land was added an adjoining tract of one hundred and ninety acres, making theirs a farm of four hundred and ninety acres, and later they purchased still another tract of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1912 Mr. Core and his brother retired from active farming and removed to Forest City, where they have since lived. They had long been recognized as prominent representatives of agricultural and stock raising interests, and the careful management which they displayed in the conduct of their business affairs brought to them deserved and well merited success.

In his political views C. B. Core has always been a stalwart republican and for eight years he served as a school director. In the spring of 1916 he was elected a member of the city council of Forest City and is proving an able representative of the aldermanic board, exercising his official prerogatives in support of various plans and measures for the general good.
To Mr. and Mrs. Core have been born two children: Glen M., who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hancock county; and Mary J., who is a sophomore in the high school. The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Core was made the occasion of a delightful reception and banquet. One evening a messenger arrived at their home bearing a note which read:

"Tomorrow at eleven,
A teamster, true and tried,
Will drive up with his bob-sled,
To take you for a ride.
No questions ask—the driver's steady,
So wrap up warm and be all ready."

This of course indicated to them that something was going to happen but they knew not what. At the appointed hour they were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. K. Maben, where complete arrangements for the celebration had been made, even to preparing the veil and the bouquet for the bride. The occasion was made a most enjoyable one by its informality and good cheer. Pictures were placed about the room representing the bridal couple in all phases of life and the guests were asked to write poems concerning them. The following gives an account of their life work and is a fitting memento of a celebration that will never be forgotten by any in attendance:

"As unto the bow the cord is,
So unto the man is woman,
Tho she bends him, she obeys him,
Tho she draws him, yet she follows,
Useless each without the other."

Lines from "Hiawatha's Wooing,"
Form the basis of this legend,
Form the meter of this story;
Founded 'tis on facts, not fiction.

Far back in the latter eighties
From the country to the eastward,
Far beyond the Mississippi
Came a youth, who, with his brother,
Bought a farm of many acres—
Later named it Fairview Stock Farm,
In the fertile Lime Creek Valley
With its stream of sparkling water,
Bordered by a mighty forest.
Rolling prairies west and southward
Near the town of Forest City.

Not much wealth this youth brought with him
Measured in the terms of money,
But a wealth of brawn and muscle,
Common sense, grit and ambition.

On this farm to meet the payments
Toiled he with strong hands and steady,
Boarded with the wife and husband,
Who had come to share his dwelling.

Sometimes when the snows of winter
Lay upon the peaceful valley,
On the fertile Lime Creek Valley;
When the crops had all been gathered,
Housed from cold the swine and cattle,
Horses resting from their labors,
East he journeyed to his people,
Father, mother, sister, brothers,
Stayed with them throughout the winter,
Making glad his aged parents.

In the country of his boyhood
At the home of John, his brother,
Dwelt a jolly English maiden
Young and fair, with figure graceful.

As he fondly gazed upon her
To himself he thought and pondered
She is not an idle maiden,
She is not a useless woman,
Hands are skillful, fingers nimble.
Heart and hands they work together,
She, to me, is queen of women.

And before the winter ended,
Ere he for his home departed,
She had listened to his pleading
Promised ever to be faithful,
Until he could come to claim her,
Come back during the next winter,
Take her to his home and fireside
Near the town of Forest City.

Then, there came the time of planting,
Long, but happy days of springtime.
Even the wild bird's song seemed sweeter,
As he listened to its singing,
Listened to its warbling love songs.
In his soul a transformation
Proved that life was well worth living
Proved the truth of the old adage

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Thru the long, hot days of summer
Still he toiled, tho often weary,
For he found by keeping busy
Shorter seemed the time of waiting.

Autumn passed; the yellow cornfields
Yielded him a golden harvest,
Which in time was stored for feeding,
Everything for winter ready,
For he was a thrifty farmer.

Quickly now, he started eastward,
Crossed again the Mississippi
Reached the old home of his boyhood,
Found the maiden for him waiting,
Found that she had grown more lovely
With the days of anxious waiting.
So on February eighteenth,
Five and twenty years today 'tis,
They were joined in holy wedlock,
Pledged their lives for worse or better,
Took the vows to love and honor,
Always to obey each other.
In a fortnight they departed,
Braved the later days of winter,
To their home arrived in safety,
To their home near Forest City.
Humble tho it was, she changed it
To a place of joy and comfort;
Welcome gave to guest or stranger,
Hospitality unbounded.
Well-cooked food and plenty of it,
Always filled the spacious table.
Tho she missed friends of her girlhood,
Oft was lonely, she complained not,
Always cheerful, always busy,
She ere long made lasting friendships.

Much she found to keep her busy,
Washing, mending, scrubbing, baking,
Many hungry mouths to cook for.
Often with no girl to help her;
Burdens bearing without number,
Burdens that at times seemed heavy,
And along with all the others,
Took to board the district schoolma'am.
Then for rest and recreation
Calmly did the family sewing.

Many a sick-room has been brightened
By her gifts of flowers or dainties.
Flowers, she saves not for the casket,
But gives them also to the living.

In all public enterprises
They always took an active interest,
Always have been generous givers,
But for themselves few luxuries getting
Until they could well afford it.

As the years kept coming, going,
Soon the farm had all been paid for;
Other acres have been added,
Other buildings been erected,
Prosperity has blessed their efforts.

For twenty years they toiled together,
Twenty years on Fairview Stock Farm,
Then they rented it and left it,
Bought a home in Forest City,
Where they live in peace and quiet,
Enjoying fruits of honest labor.

Two happy-hearted children
Came to bless this worthy couple,
Early learned from both their parents
Honest work is not degrading,
Work well done is not disgraceful.

Glen is now a prosperous farmer,
On the prairie to the southward,
Where another home he founded
With a neat and tidy helpmate.

Mary, now a high school maiden,
Is the skillful chauffeur
Guides the Paige with steady muscles,
Drives it smoothly without friction,
Saves her mother countless footsteps,
The result of careful training.
Cheers her many wintry evenings
As they work with hook or shuttle,
While the father, now a member,
Honored member of the Council,
Needs must leave his pleasant fireside,
Go whenever duty calls him
To attend the Council meetings,
Where he speaks with words of wisdom,
Aims to keep the wheels of progress
Turning in the right direction.

Long-time friends today have gathered
With sincere congratulations,
S'prised them with a silver wedding,
At the homestead of a neighbor,
At a large and roomy farm home,
Farther on, in Lime Creek valley;
Wishing them a pleasant voyage
As they journey down life's pathway,
Down the hill of life together,
Hoping ere the journey's ended,
Ere their life work is completed,
By loyal friends again surrounded
Will celebrate their golden wedding.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 129-134.