Illinois: History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. Cass County CHARLES CLARK, restaurateur; Beardstown; is a native of Beardstown; born May 1, 1835; is a son of Charles and Catharine (Schaffer) Clark, and is probably the oldest native resident now living in Beardstown. His father, Charles Clark, a native of London, England, when a young man, came to this county, where he married Catharine, daughter of John Schaffer, of Monroe Precinct. He was book-keeper for Knapp & Pogue, of Beardstown. He died about the year 1836, leaving four children, of whom our subject, and Mrs. Sockmann, of Peoria, are living. Mr. Clark worked on boats on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers as cabin boy for about four years, and at the age of eighteen began learning the cooper's trade, serving his apprenticeship with his step-father, Thomas Elam. After working at his trade with different persons till 1861, he was employed during the war as cook and steward on various steamboats; afterward engaged in various pursuits till 1877, when he opened a restaurant on Main street, Beardstown, where he has since carried on that business, and also a confectionery, with good success. In 1857, he married Miss Staten, who has borne him four children, of who one is living. In 1876, he married Mary McKnight, of Beardstown. Clark Schaffer Sockmann Elam Staten McKnight = England