Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Joseph H. Clark


Portrait and Biographical Album
of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890




JOSEPH H. CLARK. Among the well-regulated farms of Goshen Township, Clay County, that of Mr. Clark's attracts the attention of the passing traveler as the result of persevering industry, good judgment and economical living. In 1878 he purchased it of a "squatter" who had become discouraged and retired to parts unknown. There was upon it a little log cabin 9x11 feet in dimensions, and taking possession of this with his family, Mr. Clark occupied it until he could build a small frame house. He then homesteaded 160 acres and began the improvement of the whole. Upon coming here he had only a little money, simply enough to put up his house and buy a team of horses and a plow. He began breaking the prairie, but .is it was in the month of June when settling here, he could not make very much headway in the matter of crops that year. Tiie following year, however, he was enabled to do better and after a few years more of industry and perseverance found himself the possessor of a good farm, with a commodious frame dwelling, a well-built barn with corn-cribs, granary, an orchard of 400 apple trees and 100 peach trees, besides the smaller fruits, and a growth of forest trees sufficient to keep him in lumber and fuel. If he desired, he might now retire from active labor as he has sufficient of this world's goods to insure him against want in his old age.

Westmoreland County, Pa., was the early home of our subject and where his birth took place Dec. 7, 1839. He attended school for a few years and assisted his parents in the lighter labors around the homestead, continuing a resident of his native county until 1848. Then Samuel Clark, the father, with his wife Dorcas (Knight) Clark, and their seven children, set, out on the long journey to Grant County, Wis., Joseph H. being then a lad nine years of age. He grew to manhood in the Badger State, sojourning there until after the outbreak of the Civil War. On the 11th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, 33d Wisconsin Infantry, as a private and served eight months, being then obliged to accept his honorable discharge on account of illness. Later, however, he determined to have a further hand in the fight, and in February, 1865, re-enlisted in Company C, 48th Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served until the following spring, being mustered out March 24, 1866. In the meantime he had been promoted Corporal, and although always ready for the fray did not have the satisfaction of participating in any active engagement, his regiment being assigned to duty mostly in and around the Kansas frontier.

Upon leaving the army Mr. Clark returned to the old home in Wisconsin and farmed there with his father until his marriage, which occurred Nov. 7, 1867. The maiden of his choice was Miss Sarah J., daughter of Samuel and Susannah Hotinger. This lady was born in Shenandoah County. Va., Aug. 21, 1849, and when an infant was taken by her parents, first to Clark County, Ohio, and then to Clayton County, Iowa. In the latter place they lived many years, but finally crossing the Mississippi, sought the Southwest and settled in the Indian Territory, where they now reside. The parents of Mr. Clark spent their last days in Wisconsin, the mother dying in October, 1886, aged about seventy- seven years, and the father in September, 1889, aged eighty-seven.

There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark ten children, seven of whom are living, the eldest of whom a daughter, Vinnie, is the wife of Albert Brown, a farmer of Garfield Township; Josephine, Rachel, Anna, Hattie, Alary and Charlie remain under the home roof; Idia, born May 14, 1869, died Aug. 12, 1871; an infant, unnamed, born Aug. 22, 1882, died Sept. 4, 1882; Jennie, born Dec. 30, 1887, died March 4, 1889.



(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for Clay County KS AHGP