Biography of James F. Clark - Henry County, Illinois


JAMES F. CLARK
Among Henry County's citizens who have passed the seventieth milestone
on life's journey is James F. Clark, of Geneseo, who since 1874 has been
engaged in business here as a contractor and builder.  He is now
seventy-six years of age and many men of his years would put aside
business cares but he is still active and enterprising and remains a
valued factor in the world's work.  He was born in Pennsylvania, march
13, 1833, and is a son of John and Margaret (Maxwell) Clark, both of
whom were natives of Pennsylvania.  The father was a farmer by
occupation and devoted his entire life to tilling the soil in the
Keystone state where both he and his wife died and now lie buried.  They
were the parents of eleven children, but only two are now living, the
younger brother being William Clark, a resident of Dallas Center, Iowa. 
There were three sons who served in the Civil War at one time, Samuel,
William and Robert, and Robert held the rank of captain.   William
participated in the Battle of Antietam and Fredericksburg, and at the
last named Samuel McMahan, a cousin of our subject, was killed.<br>
James F. Clark, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the
public schools of Pennsylvania, and soon after completing his studies
learned the trade of carpentering.  He followed that pursuit in his
native state for five years and then came to Illinois in 1856, settling
first in Stephenson County, where he engaged in carpentering for three
years.  He then worked at his trade in the City of Champaign, Illinois,
for three years and it was about that time that he was married and
established a home of his own.

On the 29th of December, 1859, Mr. Clark was joined in wedlock to Miss
Anna Kerr, who was born in Pennsylvania but went with her parent to
Stephenson County, Illinois.  She was a daughter of Alexander and
Catherine Kerr, who came to this state in 1846.  Her father was a farmer
and continued his residence in Stephenson County until his death.  His
wife also passed away there and their graves were made in one of its
cemeteries.  Their family numbered the following children:  Mary Jane,
now the wife of Jesse McKibben, a resident of Stephenson County; Mrs.
Clark; Joseph, who is living in the state of Washington; William, a
resident of Indiana; Cooper, who was in the Civil War and is now living
at the Soldiers Home in Quincy, Illinois; Elizabeth, the wife of George
Johnson, who resides at Gladbrook, Iowa; Frank, who lives in Ridott,
Stephenson County, Illinois.

After his marriage, James F. Clark resided at Lanark, Illinois, for a
number of years and was engaged in building operations there.  He
afterward removed to Annawan, Henry County, where he dealt in butter and
eggs for five years.  He then came to Geneseo in 1874 and for
thirty-five years has been engaged in carpentering and contracting in
this place.  He has erected the greater part of the best and most modern
homes in the city and also built a church in Green River.  He is now the
senior member of the firm of J. F. Clark & Sons, and they employ a
number of workmen.  Mr. Clark's own practical experience has well
enabled him to direct the labors of others and as the years have gone by
he has made substantial progress, winning desirable success and at the
same time contributing to the welfare and improvement of the communities
in which he lived and labored.

Unto Mr. And Mrs. Clark have been born six children, of whom four are
now living.  Mary is the wife of James Siebert, a resident of South
Dakota, and they have four daughters: Mabel, who is now Mrs. Trumb;
Hazel, the wife of Byron Souer, of South Dakota; Myrtle and Ruth, at
home.  Alexander K. Clark, the second member of the family is now
engaged in business with his father.  He married Anna Ogden and has two
children—Mary and Grace.  William D., who is also in business with his
father in Geneseo, married Bertha Bessie and they have five
children—Ferry, Morris, John, Audrey and Shirley.  James F., the
youngest of the family is married and lives in California.  He is an
expert mechanic and a carpenter by trade, having learned the trade with
his father as did his two brothers.

Mr. And Mrs. Clark are both members of the Presbyterian Church, in good
standing and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying in high
measure the regard of all who know them.  Mr. Clark is a fine mechanic,
turning out nothing but the best work and at all times using the best
material, and many buildings erected under skillful guidance stand as
monuments to his ability.  He is, moreover, a man of unquestioned
business integrity and his word is as good as any bond ever solemnized
by signature or seal.  Mr. Clark has built and sold a number of modern
homes in Geneseo and now has a handsome residence equipped with all of
the conveniences of the twentieth-century home.  He deserves much credit
for what he has accomplished for he had no assistance when he started
out in life for himself.  He resolved to make his labor of value to
others and becoming an excellent workman, has always been enabled to
command good prices for his services.  He has long been numbered among
the leading contractors and builders of Geneseo and his worth as a man
and citizen are also widely acknowledged.

Source:  History of Henry County Illinois, Volume II, Kiner, Henry, L.,
Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1910<br>


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