Clark S. West Biography

	This biography appears on pages 734-735 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CLARK S. WEST was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 9th 
of May, 1841, and is a son of Louis and Amanda (Husbrook) West, the 
former a native of the Empire state and the latter of Vermont. They 
were married in New York and the father engaged in conducting a hotel 
and was also employed as a machinist, possessing considerable 
mechanical ability. In 1854, however, he removed westward and purchased 
a farm in Mitchell county, Iowa, becoming owner of one hundred and 
sixty acres which he secured from the government and which he 
cultivated and improved throughout his business career. He was engaged 
in the lumber business for a time at Carpenter, but his last years were 
spent in honorable retirement from labor and in the enjoyment of the 
fruits of his former toil. In politics he was an active and influential 
Democrat and he acceptably served in a number of county offices, 
including those of supervisor and assessor. His wife, a most estimable 
lady, held membership in the Christian church and both Mr. and Mrs. 
West passed away in Iowa. In their family were four children: Warren C. 
married a Miss Musser and after her death was again married, his home 
being now in Eldora. He had two children by each wife. Henry P. is 
married and resides in Saint Ansgar, Iowa, and by his first wife he had 
one child and by his second wife had two children. He deals in real 
estate and is also engaged in the butchering business. Francelia became 
the wife of John Crandall and after his death married D. C. Beldon, who 
is auditor of the Moore County Transcript, of Austin, Minnesota. Their 
family numbers four children.  

	Like the other members of the West household Clark S. West of 
this review received good educational privileges in his boyhood days. 
He remained with his father until twenty-six years of age and then 
started for Dakota, settling in Yankton county. He possessed at that 
time cash capital of nearly seventy-five dollars and a team of horses. 
Flour at that time sold for seven dollars a hundred pounds and the 
first mower which was placed on sale brought one hundred and thirty-
five dollars. Mr. West secured one hundred and sixty acres of 
government land which was entirely wild and unimproved. He built a log 
house with a dirt roof, but has since replaced this pioneer dwelling by 
a nice farm residence which was erected in 1875. In 1883 he built a 
good barn. Trials and difficulties were encountered by him and the 
other pioneers, for in the decade between 1860 and 1870 grasshoppers 
frequently destroyed the crops and in 1881 Mr. West lost five thousand 
dollars in a great flood, when the Missouri river broke over her banks 
and spread across the country. He had forty head of cattle and horses 
destroyed at that time and his wheat crop was entirely ruined. Such 
things would have utterly discouraged many a man of less resolute 
spirit, but he has persevered in the task which he has assigned himself 
of making a farm and winning a competence in Yankton county and his 
perseverance and labors have at length gained their reward. He now has 
about eleven hundred acres of land, including property in Iowa, and he 
likewise has town property in this state. He has raised graded cattle, 
carried on general farming and for twenty years has successfully 
conducted a dairy business. In September, 1863 Mr. West was united in 
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Van Osdel, a daughter of Abraham Van Osdel, 
and a native of Minnesota. Two children graced this union. A. Louis, 
the eldest, married Ida Harris and is a successful agriculturist of 
Yankton county. They have had five children, one of whom is deceased. 
The younger son, Jesse C., is still with his father and ably assists in 
the cultivation of the home farm. Mrs. West is a member of the 
Congregational church and the family is prominent socially, the 
hospitality of the best homes of this portion of the state being 
extended to Mr. West, his wife and sons. Fraternally he is a Mason and 
politically a Republican, active in support of the party. He has been 
honored with public office and for eight years he served as justice of 
the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. In 1870 he 
was elected to the state senate and proved a capable member of the law-
making body of the commonwealth. He has also been active in school 
work. His life has been guided by principles that in every land and 
clime commend admiration and his course has made him an honored and 
valued representative of his adopted country.