Milo P. Clark
was born in Masonville, N.Y., Nov. 30, 1824, son of
Joseph A. and Eleanor (Foster) Clark, natives of New
York. He was educated in the district schools of that
day. At sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the
carpenter's trade, and worked seven years for one man. In
1848 he came West, settling first in Dubuque, Ia. Here he
followed his trade. In the fall of 1849 he went to St.
Anthony, Minn., and built the first frame house in the
place. In March, 1850, he started with a company overland
for California. They numbered seven, but when they
arrived in Independence Rock they divided, Mr. Clark
starting alone with his horse. He contemplated overtaking
another party, some five or six days' travel ahead. It
took him two weeks to overtake the party, in the meantime
losing his horse and being obliged to leave his clothing
and continue, with his provisions, on foot. He traveled
sixty miles a day in this manner. The party were misled,
and traveled some miles out of the way. The entire
journey occupied nearly four months. In California our
subject worked at his trade nearly a year. In June, 1851,
he returned by water to New York, and thence to Dubuque.
In February, 1852, he removed to Clayton County, and
entered 176 acres on section 31, where he now resides. He
has since enlarged his farm to 400 acres, and also owns
160 acres in other parts of the county. He was married
May 20, 1849, to Mary Ann Lunbeck, of Ohio. They have had
five children - Jacob, Mary and Seth. Amy E. died at
twenty-seven, and James in infancy. Mr. Clark has a fine,
comfortable home, is well-known throughout the county,
and is one of the representative pioneers of this
section. He is a Republican in politics. P.O., Elkader. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1133 |
