Macoupin County
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Biography - HI. O. CLARK

The livery business engages the attention of Hi. O. Clark, who formerly devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits in which he met with success. He is one of Macoupin county’s sons, his birth having occurred in Gillespie on the 9th of November, 1863, his parents being John J. and Melvina (Huddleston) Clark. When a lad of seven years the father migrated from Kentucky to Illinois with his parents, who located on a farm in the vicinity of Gillespie, in 1829. There the father devoted his attention to farming until his demise, which occurred before he had attained middle age. John J. Clark, who was the fourth in order of birth of the eight children born unto his parents grew to manhood on his father’s farm, obtaining his education in the district schools. The other members of the family were as follows: Margaret, James, Robert, Benjamin, Joseph, Samuel and Susan, the wife of James Estabrook of Morrisonville, Illinois. When old enough to begin his independent career as an agriculturist, John J. Clark purchased forty acres of land and after clearing disposed of it and purchased an eighty acre tract. He was a successful farmer and at one time owned four hundred and sixty acres of land in Gillespie and Brushy Mound townships. During the latter years of his life he divided his holdings among his children and removed to Gillespie, where he passed away in 1903 at the age of eighty-one. The mother had died ten years previously. She was a daughter of John Huddleston and a native of Kentucky, whence she came to Illinois with her parents, who were among the pioneer settlers of Brushy Mound township. There the father acquired government land which he cleared and improved, he and the mother continuing to make their home on the farm until they passed away, at a ripe old age. Their family consisted of Samuel, Melvina, Lydia, Elizabeth, Melinda, Ellen and Robert. John J. Clark was one of the highly respected and esteemed citizens of Macoupin county. In matters of religion his views coincided with the principles of the Universalist church, with which denomination he is affiliated.

To Mr. and Mrs. John J. Clark were born six sons and three daughters: Lee, who is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Mark W., who is living in Gillespie township; Ariet, the wife of Eugene Crawford, of Gillespie; Me., who is living in St. Louis; Cora B., the wife of George Wilson, of Brushy Mound township; Hi. O., our subject; Schuyler C., a resident of Underwood, Washington; Nettie B., the wife of George Schmidt, of Gillespie; and Meade, who is living in Fresno, California.

The early years in the life of Hi. O. Clark were spent on the farm where he was born, his education being pursued in the district schools of the vicinity. Just prior to his marriage his father gave him some financial assistance, enabling him to purchase eighty acres of partially improved land. Here he located and for eleven years successfully engaged in the operation of his farm. In 1903 he sold his place and removing to Gillespie went into the livery business with which he was identified for six years. Disposing of his interests there, he came to Carlinville, in August, 1909, where he has followed the same business. His stable is thoroughly equipped with a fine line of vehicles and a good grade of horses, which are well kept, enabling him to accommodate his patrons with attractive turnouts.

On the 24th of February, 1892, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Kate Combes, a daughter of Edwin S. and Julia (Snyder) Combes. Mrs. Clark was born in Hilyard township, this county, her parents being among the pioneer settlers of that vicinity. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Combes: Mary, Kate, Grace, Lloyd and Carrie, all of whom are living, as are the parents. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Clark spent their latter years in Macoupin county, having attained a ripe old age at the time of their demise. They had two sons and a daughter: Edwin, Daniel and Carrie, the wife of Abraham Richards. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been blessed by the birth of one son, Lloyd O.

Mr. Clark is an ardent advocate of the principles of the republican party, and has served as road commissioner and school director. Although he has been connected with the business circles of Carlinville but for a brief period, it has been of sufficient length for him to manifest those qualities which will enable his business to develop and prosper.


Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 478-479.


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