Henry H. Clark, M.D., a well known and prominent physician of McGregor, has been local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for almost eighteen years. Though he conducts a large general practice he is especially qualified in surgical cases, to which he is often called from distant points. He was one of the organizers of the State Board of Health, having been appointed by the Governor. In this capacity he served for thirteen consecutive years and acted as President for one term. Also on the State Board of Medical Examiners he served from the time of its organization until 1892, when his term expired.

The members of the Clark family have been from early days prominent and influential citizens in Pennsylvania, where the first representatives settled on coming from Scotland. Our subject's paternal grandfather was James Clark, an attorney-at-law and a leading politician in the Keystone State. His son, J. K., the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of farming. In 1852 he went to Illinois, where he made settlement, and continued his former vocation in Stephenson County. His wife, Helen (Wolf) Clark, was of German descent, being a daughter of John Wolf and a native of Susquehanna County.

Dr. H. H. Clark was born in Centre County, Pa., October 12, 1843, and spent his boyhood up to the age of twelve years in that state. Coming west with his parents to Illinois he there continued his education in the public schools, supplementing the same by a course of study at the Rock River Seminary in Mt. Morris. In the fall of 1866 he entered the Medical Department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1870, and spent some time acquiring a practical knowledge of his profession in Mercy Hospital, Chicago, in the capacity of House Surgeon and House Physician. It was in 1870 that the Doctor came to McGregor, where he opened an office and conducted his large and paying practice. He has always continued his studies and has taken an active part in medical matters, being at the present time a member of the North Iowa Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and the American Health Association. In 1893 he was elected delegate to the International Medical Convention held in the City of Mexico in that year, and his long trip to that picturesque and noted metropolis was a very pleasant and profitable one.

In the summer of 1862 Dr. Clark enlisted in Company G, Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, a part of the famous Wilder Brigade. He participated in fifty-two engagements, among which we mention the important battles of Atlanta, Chickamauga and Jonesboro, and he also served through Sherman's entire campaign. After three years of valiant and capable service in defense of the Stars and Stripes he was mustered out at Chapel Hill, N. C., and then returned to his medical studies, which had been thus interrupted.

In politics he is a true-blue Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Beezer Lodge No. 135, A. F, & A. M., Clayton Chapter No. 27, and Honorius Commandery No. 8, K. P.

In the fall of 1871, Dr. Clark married Miss Judith, daughter of Judge Downing Baugh. The latter was a native of Kentucky and settled in Iowa at an early day, locating at Mt. Vernon. Later he came to McGregor and occupied an influential place in local affairs. He was prominent as a Mason and stood high in the legal profession. Mrs. Clark's mother, who was a native of Ohio, was before her marriage Miss Sophronia Davis. A family comprising four daughters and two sons has blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Clark, and the family circle is as yet unbroken. The two eldest daughters, Alice May and Florence Lillian, are now students in Northwestern University, at Evanston; Harry H.; Maude Geneva, a student in the high school; William Clarence and Ethel Baugh complete the number.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs. 480-482
~transcribed by Becky Teubner

Jacob Clark

Jacob Clark. The following sketch is of one of the best known men of Marion Township, Clayton County, who has lived there nearly all his life, and is identified with the various interests of the neighborhood. He is at present residing upon the old homestead, which he purchased in 1883. It contains two hundred and three acres of valuable land, which he is cultivating in a most profitable manner; he is regarded as one of the enterprising agriculturists of the county.

Our subject was born in this county, December 30, 1854, and is the son of Milo P. Clark, whose history will appear in full on another page in this volume. Young Jacob remained under the parental roof until 1881, when he left home, and going to North Dakota purchased a quarter-section of land in addition to renting four hundred and eighty acres in partnership with a friend. They worked together for twelve months, when our subject disposed of his landed interests in that state and returned to the old homestead. A year later he purchased an adjoining farm. As before stated it is a tract comprising over two hundred acres, embellished with all the suitable farm buildings and a comfortable residence. The fields are well tilled and each year yield a good return for the care expended upon them.

Jacob Clark was married in 1876 to Miss Caroline Larson, a vative of Iowa County, Wis., her birth occurring June 10, 1854. Her parents were Jacob and Johanna Larson, natives of Norway, whence they emigrated to the United States. They are now making their home in or near Avoca, Wis., where they are engaged in farming. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born the following named children: Arthur J., Roy A., Warren A., Joseph A. and Millie F.

Mr. Clark has been the recipient of many offices of honor within the power of his fellow-citizens to bestow, and has served as Road Supervisor, School Director and Township Trustee, of which position he is still the incumbent, and while living in Dakota was elected Justice of the Peace of his community, but refused to qualify, as his private interests occupied his entire attention. In religious affairs he worships with the United Brethren Church and is active in all good works in his community. The political relations of our subject are in accord with the principles of the Republican party, for whose candidates he at all times casts his vote.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs. 494-495
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

Clark, Milo P.

Milo P. Clark. The name which heads this sketch is one long and worthily identified with Wagner Township, and no history of this immediate vicinity would be complete without a biographical review of the life of Mr. Clark. From a perusal of this necessarily brief and incomplete record, it will be seen that from earliest youth to the present time his days have not been uselessly or idly spent. He is a man of more than ordinary energy and force of character, and one much respected in business circles.

Joseph A. And Eleanor (Foster ) Clark. The father of our subject was a native of Schenectady County, the above state, whence he removed when quite young to Pine Hill. There he was married and spent the active years of his life in farm pursuits and as a dealer in lumber. He died aged eighty-three years in Bennettsville, N. Y.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Simon Clark, was born in one of the New England States, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Allen. They were very worthy and respected people and departed this life while residing on Pine Hill, when past their eightieth year.

Mrs. Eleanor Clark was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., and was the daughter of Nathan and Eleanor ( Wilson ) Foster, was born in the Empire State. She reared a family of thirteen children and died when in the sixty-eighth year of her age in her native state.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the district school near his home, and remained under the parental roof until attaining his sixteenth year, when he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpenter. April 28, 1848, he came to this state by the water route and followed his trade in Dubuque for the succeeding two years, when, having caught the gold fever, he went overland to California. He remained in the Golden State twelve months and not finding things just as he had expected, returned to his home in this state by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

In 1852 Mr. Clark rented what is now his present fine estate, and erected there a rude log cabin in which he lived with his good wife until their means would permit of their building a more substantial and commodious structure, which they did seven years later. In this the family made their home for five years, when Mr. Clark built his present comfortable residence. Our subject has been an active, hard-working man, devoting much time to financial matters and now having achieved success, is enjoying life in a most comfortable way. He and his wife, who has been his companion for forty-five years, occupy a cozy home where they are surrounded by many warm friends.

Prior to his trip to California, in 1849, Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Mary A. Lundbeck, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 24, 1820, and was the daughter of Jacob and Amie ( Loder ) Lundbeck, natives of New Jersey, whence they removed to Ohio in a very early day. By a previous marriage our subject's wife became the mother of two children, Hannah and Joseph A., both of whom are married.

To Mr. and Mrs. Clark there have been granted the following named children: Jacob, Mary and Seth. The last named married Anna Embertson, and is living on the old homestead, of which he has the entire charge. The original of this sketch since 1861 has voted with the Republican party. He is very popular with his fellow-townsmen, for many years was Justice of the Peace, and in fact has held most of the township offices. Mr. Clark comes of a family well known in this county, and he himself has perpetuated the excellent record of the Clark family. He is well read and intelligent man, and ever since coming here has practiced medicine.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 473-474
~transcribed by Suzanne Terrell