Mark W. Clark, one of the most highly respected and honored
agriculturists and stockmen of Macoupin County, resides on his well improved
property which is widely known as "Stony Brook Stock Farm," and which
consists of 180 acres situated in sections 2, 10 and 11, Gillespie township.
He was born on a farm in Honey Point township, Macoupin County, Illinois,
August 5, 1851, and is a son of John J. and Melvina (Huddleston) Clark, and
a grandson of Samuel Clark.
Samuel Clark, who was a native of
Kentucky, came to Illinois in 1829, locating in Macoupin County and
immediately engaged in farming, at which he proved very successful. He
participated in the Black Hawk War. He was the father, of six boys and two
girls, namely: Margaret (Christie); James; Robert; John J., our subject's
father; Benjamin; Joseph; Samuel; and Susan (Estabrook), of Christian
County, Illinois. Samuel Clark died in Macoupin County in 1838.
John
J. Clark was born in Logan County, Kentucky, March 7, 1822. In 1837 in
company with his parents he came to Illinois and here began the occupation
of farming. Being left an orphan shortly after his arrival in this region,
he was forced to fight his own way to the goal of success. Although he
started in a somewhat lowly station in life, his successful career placed
him high in the business circles of his county. Mr. Clark was deeply
interested in the advancement of his county and during his lifetime did much
toward the promotion of various business enterprises which served to benefit
the community. He conducted his business affairs with remarkable shrewdness
and skill and accumulated considerable land, owning at one time 600 acres,
which he divided among his children before his death, which occurred April
12, 1902. Mr. Clark was a great home lover and spent little time elsewhere;
in his trips to town on business, he spent as little time away from his
family as possible. In politics he was a Republican; he did not hold office
or have aspirations in that direction, but performed every duty of a
patriotic citizen. His wife, Melvina Huddleston, was a native of Kentucky
and the estimable daughter of John and Nancy Huddleston, who were pioneers
of this region. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of the following
children, namely: Lee, of Gillespie township, Macoupin County; Mark W.;
Harriet (Crawford), who resides in Gillespie township, Macoupin County;
Mack, who resides in St. Louis, Missouri; Cora (Willson), a resident of
Brushy Mound township, Macoupin County; Schuyler, a resident of Santa
Barbara, California, where he is the proprietor of a hotel; Nettie (Smith),
a resident of Gillespie township, Macoupin County; and Mead, of Santa
Barbara, California.
Mark W. Clark was reared and educated in
Macoupin County and early took upon himself life's duties, engaging in
farming and raising stock. He has for many years been a large raiser and
shipper of cattle, sheep and hogs. Mr. Clark still does some shipping but
nothing in comparison to that of former years, when he shipped on an average
50 cars per year, and as high as 14 cars in one day, his shipments going to
Buffalo, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Jersey City. At present he devotes much
of his time to the raising and breeding of Shropshire sheep, usually having
about 250 on hand. A fourth of our subject's farm is covered with timber.
The remaining portion of his farm is largely devoted to the producing of
corn, hay and oats, most of which is fed to his stock.
Mr. Clark is
a member of the Republican party, has served in the capacity of highway
commissioner for two terms, as school director for 20 years, and is at
present serving as township central committeeman. In fraternal circles he is
a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 535-537.
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