Clark, John (1821-1907)

CLARK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 15:55:49

John Clark
Oct 29, 1821 - Nov 3, 1907

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.563)
JOHN CLARK, occupying 300 acres of land on section 18, Garner Township (No. 75, range 43), is one of the well-known influential pioneers of the county, coming here in May, 1853. He was born at Ansty, Leicestershire, England, October 29, 1821, the second son of James and Rachel (GOODMAN) CLARK, natives of the same shire. The parents were married in the house in which he (the father) was born, and there they resided all their days. The dwelling was built by Mr. CLARK, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
As he grew up, Mr. CLARK, our subject, became a mechanic and also learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for many years. He was married in the city of Leicester, England, July 7, 1845, to Rachel SMART, who was born in that city, April 2, 1827, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (BAYLIS) SMART. Her parents lived there at the time of the above marriage, but eventually, with most of their children, moved to Barrowden, Rutlandshire, and thence to Baltonsburg, Somersetshire, where Mr. SMART engaged in fancy dyeing, and resided until death. A number of years afterward Mrs. SMART, with all her children excepting one, emigrated to the United States, settling in Utah, and three weeks afterward Mrs. SMART died, as a result of the fatigue of the journey.
In January, 1851, Mr. CLARK, with his wife and two children, sailed from Liverpool to New Orleans, arriving there after a nine weeks' voyage. In two or three weeks he, with his family, went up to St. Louis, but returned to New Orleans to pass the following winter. In the spring of 1852 he went again to St. Louis and began work at his trade. In the spring of 1853 he moved with his family to Keokuk, and then across the State of Iowa, by ox team, having to ford many rivers and other streams, sometimes carrying his family, one at a time, upon his back across the streams. Coming to Pottawattamie County, he engaged in shoemaking in Council Bluffs. In 1867 he bought his present farm, which had been in cultivation some time, but had no permanent improvements; there were only the log cabin and a rail fence. Here Mr. CLARK has judiciously expended a vast amount of labor and money, with the result of making a fine residence and a splendid farm. The dwelling, built in January, 1874, cost $2,000.
Mr. CLARK has served as Justice of the Peace for several terms, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. He is a Democrat, although formerly a Republican, voting for LINCOLN for his first term. He has had seven children, of whom five are living, namely: Alam; Joseph, who was born in England, is married, has one child, and lives near his father; Rachel Elizabeth, wife of S. A. WINCHESTER, living on section 18, Garner Township, and has four children: she also was born in England; John Thomas, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, lives in Mills County, near Henderson, Iowa, is married and has one child, a son; Henrietta, wife of William WRIGHT, lives in Boomer Township and has one son and three daughters; Henry James, who is married and lives near his father, on section 18. Mr. and Mrs. CLARK have lost two children by death: their third child, a babe, died in New Orleans when five days old; and Hezekiah Baylis, the youngest, died when three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. CLARK made a visit to their native country in December, 1881, returning the following May, being only thirteen days on the way from Liverpool to Council Bluffs.

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.93, Garner Twp.)
P. O. Council Bluffs, was born in England in 1821; son of James and Rachael (Goodman) Clark, both deceased; his father was a weaver. Mr. Clark has three brothers and one sister, all married and livingin England. There our subject received his education in select schools, and was apprenticed as a shoemaker, which trade he followed in England, and continued in this country till 1867, when he located on his present place and became a farmer, which occupation he still pursues. Mr. Clark was married, in 1845, to Miss Rachael Smart, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smart, both deceased. Mrs. Clark has one sister and three brothers in Utah, and one brother in England. Mr. Clark came to America in 1851, and lived till 1853, in New Orleans for a short time, and the remainder of the time in St. Louis; he then came to Council Bluffs, his original intention being to join the Mormons at Salt Lake, but disapproving of some of the practices of the church he stopped here. His farm consists of 300 acres, about eighty of which are under cultivation, eighty acres pasture, and the remainder timber. Mr. Clark conducts general farming, and also has quite an apiary. December 22, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Clark made a visit to England, the voyage occupying nine days, whereas their first voyage, some thirty-one years previous, occupied over two months. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark are A. J., farming in Boomer Township; Rachael E., now Mrs. Winchester, of Garner Township; John T., at home; Henrietta now Mrs. Wright, of Boomer Township; and Heury J., at home. One son died when young. Mr. Clark takes an active part in educational matters; he was Justice of the Peace four years; is a member of the "Patrons of Husbandry," and in politics is a Democrat.