William T. Clark Biography


	This biography appears on page 1390 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WILLIAM T. CLARK, one of the representative business men and 
popular citizens of the thriving town of Bath, Brown county, was born in 
Randolph, Columbia county, Wisconsin, on the 6th of March, 1864, being a 
son of Samuel and Julia (Howse) Clark. and there he was reared to the 
sturdy discipline of the farm, while he received his educational 
training in the public schools. having been graduated in the high school 
at Cambria, Wisconsin, as a member of the class of 1882. At the age of 
eighteen years he began teaching in the district schools during the 
winter terms. while he continued to assist in the work of the home farm 
during the summer seasons, following this plan until he had attained the 
age of twenty-three years, at which time, in the autumn of 1887, he came 
to Bath, South Dakota, as a teacher in its public schools, while later 
on he devoted two winters to pedagogic work at other points in the 
county. In 1888 he opened a hardware store in Bath, and later became 
associated with William Fisk and added a grocery department, while in 
1893 he became sole owner of the business, which is extended to include 
all lines of general merchandise demanded in connection with his trade. 
In 1898 Matthew Kerr became a partner in the enterprise, and so 
continued until his death, three years later, since which time the 
subject has again remained in sole control, having purchased the 
interest of his deceased partner. Mr. Clark carries a stock reaching an 
average valuation of about eight thousand dollars, while his annual 
business has attained an annual average of about fifteen thousand 
dollars. Mr. Clark is also manager of the Farmers' elevator at Bath, the 
same having been purchased in 1901 by a stock company composed of 
farmers in the vicinity, each owning a small block of stock. This 
company ships from its elevator about sixty-five thousand bushels of 
wheat each year and its interests are ably handled by the subject, who 
is himself a stockholder, while he is also the owner of a well-improved 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one and one-half miles southeast of 
the town. Mr. Clark takes a deep interest in political affairs and gives 
his allegiance to the Republican party, being frequently a delegate to 
local and state conventions. Fraternally he is a prominent member of 
Bath Lodge, No. 117, Ancient Order of United Workmen, which he has 
represented in the grand lodge of the state. 

	On the 27th of November, 1886, in his native town of Randolph, 
Wisconsin, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Phelps' who 
was likewise born and reared in that state and they have two children, 
Ruby and Carl.