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John W. Clark

John W. Clark has been engaged in the undertaking business since 1887 in Maynard. He also carries a full line of furniture. He has made his home in the county, however, since 1864, when he emigrated from Michigan, settling on a farm on section 13, Harlan Township. He was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., in 1820, and reared to manhood in Allegany County. His parents Andrew and Eunice (St. John) Clark were natives of New York, the father born April 9, 1777, and the mother in 1778. By occupation he was a farmer, which business he followed throughout his entire life. He removed to Allegany County, in 1826, and erected a log cabin in the midst of a forest and gave his attention to the development of the farm. His wife died in March, 1851, and in the month of August following he was laid by her side in a cemetery near their home. In their family were nine children who grew to mature years - Loretta, who became the wife of Benjamin B. Nelson and died in New York; Jared who married and died in Linn County, Mo. in 1889; William who departed this life in New York; Sarah, wife of Daniel Clark, of New York; Andrew, who married, came to this county in 1854, and settled in Harlan Township where his death occurred in 1884; Polly who became the wife of Edward Felt, of Linn County, Mo.; Theresa, who became the wife of Frank Michigan and died in Missouri; Ira, who in 1865 became a resident of this county where his death occurred in 1886; and John W. of this sketch.

Our subject is the only surviving member of the family and therefore the duty of perpetuating their history by written record devolves upon him. As before stated the days of his boyhood and youth were spent in Allegany County, N. Y., whither his parents removed when he was a lad of six summers. He was educated in the district school of the neighborhood and after attaining to mature years was joined in wedlock in that county in 1842 with Miss Mary Barnes, a native of Warwickshire, England, who with her parents Edward and Elizabeth Barnes, crossed the Atlantic to America at the age of twelve years. The family located in the Empire State, where the father and mother both died. Mr. Clark was called upon to mourn the loss of his excellent wife in 1851, her death occurring on the 11th of July in New York. Six children were born of that union - Edward who enlisted for the late war in the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, died at Memphis, Tenn.; Lydia, wife of Charles H. Martin, is living in Concord, N. H.; John C. married and now conducts a livery barn in Fayette Iowa; Thomas who enlisted at Ogle, Ill., in the Eleventh Illinois Infantry, after serving three years, died while returning home on a furlough; Lorenzo is married and resides in Harlan Township, and Frank A. makes his home with out subject.

Mr. Clark was married in 1853, his second union being with Lois Calkins, a native of New York, and a daughter of Joshua and Fannie (Troop) Calkins, who were also born in that State. Her father died in New York, after which her mother removed to Jackson County, Mich. By this second union has been born one child - Henry Alvah, who married Emma Flood, and resides in Maynard, where he is doing a good business at the blacksmith's trade.

Mr. Clark first came West in 1855, locating in Ogle County, Ill., where he engaged in farming. He was afterwards a resident of Linn County, Mo., and from there removed to Mahaska County, Iowa, where he spent two years. We next find him in Jackson County, Mich., where he made his home until 1864, which year witnessed his arrival in this county. He located on section 13, Harlan Township, where he developed and improved a good farm of eighty acres which he still owns. Wishing to lay aside the more arduous duties of an agriculturalist, he removed to Maynard in September, 1887, and embarked in the furniture and undertaking business in which he has already built up a good trade. He carries a full and complete line of furniture and by courteous treatment and fair and honest dealing has secured a liberal patronage. Besides his farm he owns a handsome house in Maynard. Mr. Clark takes quite an active interest in political affairs and is a warm supporter of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the School Board and is a friend to education. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have led useful and industrious lives and won the esteem of their many friends and acquaintances."