Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

HENRY H. CLARK, M. D., a well known and prominent physician of McGregor, has been local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for almost eighteen years. Though he conducts a large general practice he is especially qualified in surgical cases, to which he is often called from distant points. He was one of the organizers of the State Board of Health, having been appointed by the Governor. In this capacity he served for thirteen consecutive years and acted as President for one term. Also on the State Board of Medical Examiners he served from the time of its organization until 1892, when his term expired.

The members of the Clark family have been from early days prominent and influential citizens in Pennsylvania , where the first representatives settled on coming from Scotland . Our subject's paternal grandfather was James Clark, an attorney-at-law and a leading politician in the Keystone State . His son, J. K., the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of farming. In 1852 he went to Illinois , where he made settlement, and continued his former vocation in Stephenson County . His wife, Helen (Wolf) Clark, was of German descent, being a daughter of John Wolf and a native of Susquehanna County .

Dr. H. H. Clark was born in Centre County , Pa. , October 12, 1843 , and spent his boyhood up to the age of twelve years in that state. Coming west with his parents to Illinois he there continued his education in the public schools, supplementing the same by a course of study at the Rock River Seminary in Mt. Morris . In the fall of 1866 he entered the Medical Department of the Northwestern University at Evanston , Ill. , from which he was graduated in 1870, and spent some time acquiring a practical knowledge of his profession in Mercy Hospital , Chicago , in the capacity of House Surgeon and House Physician.

It was in 1870 that the Doctor came to McGregor, where he opened an office and conducted his large and paying practice. He has always continued his studies and has taken an active part in medical matters, being at the present time a member of the North Iowa Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and the American Health Association. In 1893 he was elected delegate to the International Medical Convention held in the City of Mexico in that year, and his long trip to that picturesque and noted metropolis was a very pleasant and profitable one.

In the summer of 1862 Dr. Clark enlisted in Company G, Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, a part of the famous Wilder Brigade. He participated in fifty-two engagements, among which we mention the important battles of Atlanta , Chickamauga and Jonesboro , and he also served through Sherman 's entire campaign. After three years of valiant and capable service in defense of the Stars and Stripes he was mustered out at Chapel Hill , N. C., and then returned to his medical studies, which had been thus interrupted. In politics he is a true-blue Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Beezer Lodge No. 135, A. F, & A. M., Clayton Chapter No. 27, and Honorius Commandery No. 8, K. P.

REV. MARK COONEY is an able educator and the President of St. Joseph's Catholic College , of Dubuque . A native of the Emerald Isle, he was born in Longford, and in his native land began his education, there attending school until 1883. In that year he crossed the Atlantic to America , making the journey in September, and landing in New York at the close of the same month. He came at once to Iowa , taking up his residence in Dubuque , and for one year he served as pastor of the Catholic Church in Farley, Dubuque County .

On the expiration of that period Father Cooney was appointed a professor in St. Joseph 's College, of Dubuque , in which position he served for four years. When that time was passed he was promoted, becoming Vice-president of the college, and in 1890 he was made President, which position he yet fills. This is a school for boys, and under the able management of Rev. Father Cooney it has prospered, being now in a thriving condition. There are at present one hundred and twenty boys in attendance, and they receive thorough training in all departments. In addition to the common and intermediate branches they also teach philosophy and the higher mathematics. Father Cooney is recognized as one of the most energetic and competent educators of the state and is well fitted for the work which he now has in charge, and St. Joseph 's College under his management is meeting with splendid success.

PATRICK F. CUNNINGHAM of Farley, Taylor Township , Dubuque County , was for many years engaged in railroading, and is now living on his beautiful two hundred and forty-acre farm, adjacent to the village. Mr. Cunningham was born in King's County , Ireland , in 1834, and resided in his native land until he had reached the age of eighteen years when he emigrated to America . He first located at Johnstown , Pa. , where he resided until 1858, being engaged in work for the railroad. In the last mentioned year he came to Dubuque County , locating in Farley. He had secured contracts to build the Dubuque Southwestern Railroad which he completed and afterward became roadmaster, superintending the construction of bridges and buildings. He remained with this firm until 1879, when he engaged with the Chicago, Northwestern Railroad, for whom he contracted and built fully fifteen hundred miles of road in Illinois, Iowa, Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming, He continued actively engaged with that company until the year 1888, when he retired.

In 1860 Mr. Cunningham was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Clara Andrews of Jones County , Iowa , by whom he had had four children, all of whom are still living. Fred L., Frank, Annie M., wife of Nicholas F. Mathews, of Dubuque and Joseph. The eldest son, Fred, became a partner with his father in the contracts which the latter took during the last years he was in business, and in the summer of 1892 became superintendent for all the track-laying on the World's Fair grounds, in Chicago . After the death of Mrs. Cunningham, our subject married Miss Catherine H. Fitzgerald, of Farley. They are the parents of seven children, only three of whom are living: Mary, Kittie and Fitz R.

When our subject came to America , a brother, John, accompanied him. The latter is a resident of Chicago at the present time. His two sisters, Maria and Ann, live in Des Moines , the former being the wife of John Fleming, and his youngest sister, Kate, is now deceased. Politically, Mr. Cunningham is a stanch Democrat, and has served for one term as Supervisor of Dubuque County, being one of three officials in that capacity. Since January, 1892, he has served as a Chairman of the Board. Religiously, our subject is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

MELL H. CUSHING, proprietor of the North Star Livery Stable, and a dealer in undertaking goods of Dubuque , is a native of this city, his birth having occurred on the 29th of May, 1860 . His father, James Cushing, was a native of Massachusetts , and in an early day came to Dubuque , where he is now doing business as President of the Northwestern Vinegar Company, His wife bore the maiden name of Emma Masterman. The family was early founded in America , and the grandfather of our subject, Joshua Cushing, was a native of Massachusetts .

The gentleman whose name heads this record spent his boyhood days in his native city midst play and work, and acquired his education in the public schools. He began his business career in his father's employ in the vinegar works, and at the age of twenty-two became a partner in the enterprise which was then carried on under the firm name of James Cushing & Son. The connection was continued for two years, after which our subject withdrew and embarked in the dairy business on his own account, continuing the same for one year. In 1885 we find him in Lincoln , Neb. , where he established vinegar works, conducting the same for two years, when, on account of ill health, he sold out and returned to Dubuque .

In November, 1886, Mr. Cushing was once more at home in his native city, and in December he began business as proprietor of a livery stable, which he has profitably conducted up to the present time. His business has steadily increased, and he now keeps on hand seven head of good horses and a number of fine turnouts. As he always tries to please his customers, and is straightforward and honorable in all his dealings, he receives from the public a liberal patronage which is well deserved. In 1893 he also opened an undertaking establishment, which is well equipped with the best goods found in that line. He employs an expert undertaker and owns a fine hearse. Mr. Cushing was married on the 8th of May, 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Belle Nowlin, of Dubuque, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Merrill) Nowlin, one of the early settlers of this county. Three children grace their union, a son and two daughters, Mary E., Mell H., and Martha. The family has a pleasant home at No. 89 Seventeenth Street .

Mr. Cushing exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, and in the spring of 1891 he was elected on an independent ticket as Alderman of the Third Ward, overcoming the usual Democratic majority of six hundred by a majority of three hundred and eighty-one. This fact certainly indicates his personal popularity and the confidence and high regard reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Socially, he is connected with Julien Lodge No, 12, I. O. O. F., and with Apollo Lodge, K. P.