J. H. CLARK
J. H. Clark, who has lived in this section of the state
for almost six decades, is one of the prosperous and popular
citizens of Corydon, where for a number of years he was
engaged in the mercantile business. During the past few years, however, he
has been employed as a traveling salesman for Chicago,
Pennsylvania and Iowa wholesale houses and in this connection
has also won a gratifying measure of success.
Mr.
Clark was born near Fort Wayne, in Adams county, Indiana, on
the 28th of April, 1850, his parents being John and
Elizabeth (Little) Clark.
The father was born in Scott county, Indiana, on the
22d of February, 1817, while the mother’s birth occurred in
Muskingum county, Ohio, in August, 1820. In 1852 they made
the overland journey to the west and on the 24th of
October, 1854, took up their abode among the pioneer settlers
of Wayne county, Iowa, entering land in Union township. Only two houses
stood between Corydon and Chariton at that time, and all kinds
of wild game abounded. The
family did all their trading at Keokuk and Eddyville. In 1858 John Clark
abandoned general agricultural pursuits and embarked in the
mercantile business at Freedom.
A scrupulously honest man himself, he took it for
granted that all people were to be relied upon and thus parted
with his goods with but little security. In a short time,
therefore, he found himself without either funds or goods and
his children were obliged to seek work in the community. He endured all the
hardships and privations of pioneer life and bore his full
share in the work of early development and upbuilding here. His demise occurred
in Page county, Iowa, in 1881, while his wife passed away at
Van Wert, Iowa, in September, 1895. Their children were as follows: Mrs. J. M. Edwards,
who was born in 1837 and resides in Clarinda, Iowa; David,
born in 1840, who passed away in 1900; Mrs. William Barnett,
whose birth occurred in 1843 and who is deceased; Z. T., born
in 1847, who is a resident of Portland, Oregon; J. H., of this
review; John L., who was born in 1853 and makes his home in
Nebraska; Mrs. Isabelle Carver, born in 1855, who is a
resident of Clarinda, Iowa; Mrs. Rosa Rash, whose birth
occurred in 1858, and who is a resident of Derby, Iowa; A. B.,
born in 1860, who is a resident of Ottumwa, Iowa; and Mrs.
Lusetta Searl, deceased.
The four younger children were born in Lucas county and
the older ones were natives of Indiana.
J.
H. Clark was a little lad of two years when the family home
was established in Wayne county, and his youth was spent amid
pioneer conditions and surroundings. He was six years old before he saw a
piece of bacon and eight years of age before he saw an apple. It was also at the
age of six that he saw his first newspaper, The South Tier
Democrat, the first year’s subscription of which was paid for
by his father with a few timber squirrels. Possessing a
retentive memory and a keen sense of humor, he has often given
amusement by his recital of some of the experiences of his
early life. He
was one of a large family of children, who had such a wide
range over which to roam that on Sunday morning his mother was
obliged to send out a dog in order to find them and bring them
in for a bath. Clothing
was extremely scarce, not owing to style, but necessity, and
Mr. Clark has said that among the children there was often not
sufficient cloth to make a respectable tea jacket for a
mosquito. He
also avers that they ate so much mush and cornbread that all
the children had husky voices and that their ears grew
abnormally large. Because
of his father’s unfortunate business venture the children, as
above stated, were obliged to assist in the support of the
family. A good
farm hand at that time received thirteen dollars per month,
but this was paid in orders on stores at Chariton and Corydon
and not in cash. There
was a surplus of cereal and prices were extremely low.
Leaving
the farm, Mr. Clark went to Chariton and there drove a stage
for L. D. Runnells & Company and also for the Great
Western Stage Company. He
traveled in all directions out of Chariton, Indianola, Afton,
Corydon and Garden Grove and carried mail to Last Chance, thus
becoming well acquainted with all the old settlers of Lucas
and Wayne counties. Subsequently
he was for a number of years engaged in the mercantile
business at Corydon, but during the past eighteen years has
been a traveling salesman for Chicago, Pennsylvania and Iowa
wholesale houses, in which connection his excellent
qualifications and his energy have won him success. He has covered
every part of the United States west of Chicago, and, being a
close observer, has gained a comprehensive knowledge of the
country. He
possesses a rich fund of original wit and humor and is
considered one of the best story tellers in Iowa, being in
great demand at all the old settlers’ meetings and the social
and fraternal organizations of which he is a member. He is one of the
men who discovered the musical talent in Blind Boone, the
famous Negro pianist, and encouraged him to go before the
public.
On
the 30th of June, 1870, at Corydon, Iowa, Mr. Clark
was united in marriage to Miss Angeline McVay, who was born
near Sandspring, Iowa, in November 1850, her parents being
John and Betty (Hardesty) McVay, natives of Ohio. They became early
settlers of Jones county, Iowa, and in 1865 took up their
abode in Delaware county, this state. Both passed away at
Corydon, Iowa. Their
children were as follows:
Mrs. Nancy Todd, whose demise occurred in Ohio; H. H.,
a resident of Drakesville, Iowa; Mrs. Jane Tilly, of Kokomo,
Indiana; Mrs. Angeline Clark; Mrs. Edward Lane, of Mercer
county, Missouri; L. P., who has passed away; and Mrs. M. E.
Freeland, whose demise occurred at Mount Ayr. Mr. and Mrs. Clark
have four children, namely:
Merritt W., who was born on the 12th of
August, 1872, and is a photographer of Corydon, Iowa; Mrs.
Hollie Semple, born in 1874, who is a resident of Pasadena,
California; Fred L., whose birth occurred in 1876 and who is a
merchant tailor of Corydon; and Mrs. Bertha Morris, born in
1880, who makes her home at Kahoka, Missouri. All are natives of
Corydon and all attended the public schools of that town, two
of the children being graduated therefrom. All possess musical
talent. While
Mr. Clark has given his children every educational advantage,
he was obliged to learn to write while seated on the floor,
and the only book he used in the schoolroom was a speller. The family home,
which he owns, is a commodious and well appointed residence in
Corydon.
In
politics Mr. Clark is a democrat, while fraternally he is
identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Corydon. He and his family are members of the
Christian church at Corydon.
During practically all of his life he has been closely
identified with the region where he now lives. He is one of its
best known residents and no man stands higher in the
estimation of the people of the community. He has attained
success through the application of perseverance and a good
judgment that have seldom failed to accomplish the object
which he sought, and today he enjoys the results of his well
directed endeavors.