George H. Clark, postmaster of Piasa and one of the well known
merchants of Macoupin county, is a native of the town where he now lives
and comes of one of the honored pioneer families of Illinois. His eyes
opened to the light of day March 7, 1852, his parents being Edward B.
and Nancy (Parker) Clark. The father was born in Logan county, Kentucky,
October 25, 1824, and the mother was born in September, 1834. The
grandparents on the maternal side were George and Cynthia Ann (Rhoads)
Parker, the former of whom was a native of Virginia.
Howard
Clark, the grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, was born in
Logan county, Kentucky, and married Eliza Jane Wilson. He removed with
his family from his native state in 1828, driving by team to Jersey
county, Illinois, where he located on government land near Brighton. He
there engaged in farming until 1858, when he retired and moved to
Brighton, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was very
prominent in the community, being a man of high character and
acknowledged business ability. In his family were five children: Edward
B., the father of our subject; Hezekiah C., James and William, all of
whom lived at Brighton and are now deceased; and Isaac W., who is also
deceased. Hezekiah, James and Isaac served in the Union army at the time
of the Civil war. Hezekiah and James returned home at the close of the
Rebellion, but Isaac disappeared and is supposed to have died in a
southern prison.
Edward B. Clark received his education in the
public schools and was reared on his father’s farm in Kentucky until
eleven years of age, when he came to Illinois. When he arrived at the
age of twenty-one he entered eighty acres of government land in Shipman
township, near Piasa, to which he added by purchase, until he became the
owner of two hundred and thirty acres of good land in this county. He
was prominently identified with the upbuilding of the county and was
known as a man of unusual public spirit and progressiveness. He died on
his farm in 1891. The mother of our subject is still living and makes
her home at Upper Alton, Illinois. She is a daughter of George Parker,
who was born near Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia, and came to Illinois
about 1835, settling in Macoupin county. To the union of Edward B. and
Nancy Clark nine children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch
is the eldest, the others being: Charles M., who died at the age of
twenty-five years; Eliza Jane, who married W. O. Denny, of Shipman
township, and is now deceased; Emma Alice, who became the wife of E. C.
Denny, of Shipman township, and is also deceased; Fremont, who is now
engaged in farming in Shipman township; Irvin P., who is a railroad
conductor and makes his home at St. Louis, Missouri; Minnie, who is now
living at Alton, Illinois; Edwin B., who died at the age of thirty-two
years; and Lelia, who is the wife of J. Bowden, of Alton, Illinois.
After receiving his preliminary education in the public schools
George H. Clark pursued his studies further at the State Normal
University of Normal, Illinois. He continued with his parents and
assisted in farm work until twenty-one. He then began teaching school
and for five years successfully devoted his attention to this vocation
in Macoupin and Jersey counties. In 1878 having decided to enter the
mercantile business, he purchased the general store of C. B. Wilson at
Piasa and has ever since been identified with mercantile pursuits. In
1900 he disposed of the grocery department of the store and in 1908 sold
the implement stock. He has since given his attention with the
assistance of his wife to handling drugs, shoes and hardware. In 1900 he
and his brother Irvin P. purchased a large grocery stock at Galesburg,
but disposed of it after managing the business for four years. Mr. Clark
was appointed postmaster of Piasa by President Arthur about 1881 and
held the office for ten years. He was again appointed by President
Roosevelt in 1907 and has since continued to act as postmaster to the
general satisfaction of the people of the community. The office is now
under civil service rule and it is probable that Mr. Clark will continue
to serve in his present position as long as he desires to do so.
On the 16th of October, 1879, he was married to Miss Jennie Price, a
daughter of Evan and Ann (Lewis) Price, both of whom were natives of
Wales. They came to America after their marriage and settled at Alton,
Illinois, where Mr. Price engaged in mining. He and his wife both died
when their daughter Jennie was in her infancy, the other members of the
family being: Mary, who is the wife of John Blotna, of Fosterburg,
Illinois; Rebecca, who is the widow of William Armstrong, of Kemper,
Illinois; Anna, the deceased wife of William Powers, of Glenwood,
Michigan; and Henry, who was adopted on the death of his parents into
the family of Henry Hankhouse, of Alton, Illinois, and took the name of
Hankhouse. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Charles P.,
the eldest, is now engaged in the general merchandise business at
Fidelity, Illinois. He married Cora James, of East St. Louis, and they
have two children, Irma and Kenneth. Victor W. is engaged in the produce
commission business at St. Louis. He married Mae Morgan, of Shipman
township, Macoupin county. Myrtle, the youngest of the children of Mr.
and Mrs. Clark, died at the age of eighteen months.
In politics
Mr. Clark gives his support to the republican party. He served as
township clerk of Shipman township and for fifteen years filled the
office of school treasurer of the township. He is a firm believer in the
authority and inspiration of the Bible and attends the Baptist church of
Piasa, being also a valued member of the Masonic order and of the
Knights of Honor. In the course of an active life he has always been
loyal to every trust and in a community where he has been known since
his boyhood, his promise is accepted without question. This speaks
higher than words in his praise, as a reputation for sincerity and
integrity is more to be desired than great riches secured through
questionable means.
Extracted 18 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 161-163.
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