Unknown County IL Archives Biographies.....Clark, John 1758 - 1833
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 August 9, 2008, 10:35 am

Author: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary

CLARK, John, pioneer preacher, was born at Petty, near Inverness, Scotland, 
Nov. 29, 1758; son of Alexander Clark. In 1778 he shipped as sailor on a 
transport, transferred his services to a privateer, and in 1779 sailed as mate 
on a merchantman. He. was pressed for the British navy and promoted 
quartermaster, but deserted and shipped on the merchantman Hero, which was 
captured by the Spanish, and he was imprisoned at Havana for nineteen months. 
On being released he was again pressed but escaped by swimming to shore, a 
distance of two miles, finding himself near Charleston, S. C. He taught school 
in Georgia, and joined the Methodist church. Subsequently he visited his old 
home in Scotland, and returned to Georgia about 1789, where he preached, and 
was ordained a deacon by Bishop Asbury in 1794. He refused to accept his 
salary of $60 on one occasion, because it was the fruit of slave labor. In 
1796 he travelled on foot from Georgia to Kentucky, where he preached and 
taught school, and in 1798 settled in Illinois. The Lemens, early Baptist 
ministers in Illinois, were trained by him in languages and theology. About 
1807 he made a missionary excursion to Louisiana, making the journey of 1200 
miles in a canoe, and in 1820 visited the Boones in Lick county, Mo., being 
the first preacher to go so far west. He died near Coldwater, Mo., Oct. 11, 
1833.

Additional Comments:
Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans.
Vol. I-X. Rossiter Johnson, editor. Boston MA: The Biographical Society. 1904.

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