IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.


Milo P. Clark
Wagner Twp.

Milo P. Clark

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
transcribed by Sally Scarff and Marlene Chaney

 

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