OBITUARY: Lewis B. Clark, 1826-1904, Mitchell County, Iowa Lewis B. Clark Lewis B. Clark was born in Orange Co. N. Y., February 22, 1826, and peacefully passed to his rest at his home in Osage, Thanksgiving evening, November 24, 1904. About 1857 he left New York State and came to Ripon, Wisconsin, when after about eleven years residence he came to Iowa settling at Rockford. In 1883, he came to Mitchell county and settled on the farm across the Cedar river west of Osage. About three years ago he moved into Osage since his health had so far failed as to necessitate a change. At her home in Ripon, he was united in marriage in 1860, to Miss Carrie Orr. Seven children survive, Edwin L. of Boise City, Idaho, Mrs. Nellie Carter, May and Daisy Clark of Osage, Mrs. Bird Tibbits of Chicago, and Ernest of Osage. Three sisters also survive him, Mrs. Ellen Loveless of Crandon, Wisconsin, Mrs. Sallie Osborne of Garnerville, N. Y. and Mrs. Beersheba Hitt of Bridgeport, Conn. The seven grand children left behind, in whom he took a deep interest, were a source of great comfort. Mr. Clark knew what it was to have a hard time almost throughout his whole life. His father died when he was a mere child leaving a widowed mother without means to care for a family of children. He toiled to help support the family and three months comprised his schooling. He came west in the pioneer days and was a mason and contractor, but poor health compelled him to make a change in his work. His wife died in 1887, leaving him a large family of little children to provide for and be it said to his great credit, he kept the family together often in the face of poverty and sickness, and with the help of the daughters (whose sacrifices few can appreciate) made a home for the family, and these faithful daughters have since made a home for their aged father and have cared for him with that tenderness and devotion that is characteristic of the true daughter. Mr. Clark was a man of great intellectual vigor. Himself deprived of advantages he would make almost any sacrifice that his children might get an education, and he studied with them, thus not only storing his mind with useful facts but gathering mental strength. He was a man of strict honesty, of sterling integrity, of firm faith in God, of strong convictions, yet exceedingly prone to throw over others, the mantle of charity, of strong will yet withal a sympathetic tenderness which would scarce permit any severity to the motherless children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark were Baptists from principle, both having been led by a study of the Bible itself to leave the Presbyterian church and unite with the Baptists. He was Deacon and Bible School Supt. in Rockford. At the time of his death he was a member of the Baptist church of Osage. He was a man of prayer; an earnest student of the Word, whose mind was peculiarly hospitable to new truth. To him death had lost its terrors, for he knew Him whom he had believed and was persuaded that He was able to guard that which he committed to Him against that day. The funeral service was held at his late home, conducted by his Pastor, H.B. Steelman, assisted by his former Pastor D. I. Coon of Waverly, who spoke from the words in 11 Timothy 1:12, and who accompanied the family to Rockford where the body was laid beside that of Mrs. Clark. Copyright 2005 - Marilyn Oconnor