Macoupin County
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Biography - GEORGE H. CLARK

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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