George Clark Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 680-681

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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GEORGE CLARK, an honored and highly respected agriculturist residing on 
the southeast quarter of section 11, Aurora township, Aurora county, 
South Dakota, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1835, and is a son of James 
M. and Mary (Cole) Clark, the former of Scotch-Irish descent, the 
latter of Pennsylvania Dutch. The father, who was a blacksmith by 
trade, moved to Indiana with his father when our subject was eighteen 
months old and located in Hancock county, where he turned his attention 
to agricultural pursuits. Later he engaged in brick moulding in 
Indiana, and afterward lived in several different places, as he was of 
a roving disposition. He died when our subject was sixteen years of 
age. The mother then returned with her family to Pennsylvania, but 
after living there for two years George went to Greenwood, Indiana, 
where he bound himself out to learn the mason's trade. Having 
thoroughly mastered the business, he formed a partnership with his 
preceptor which lasted eight years. 

In the meantime Mr. Clark was married, in 1861, to Miss Eliza H. 
Dorsey, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Edward L. and Francina 
(Musgrove) Dorsey. Her father was a wagon maker by trade. To the union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Clark two children have been born, namely: George 
Edward and Laura Bell. Mr. Clark purchased a house and lot in 
Greenwood, where he and his wife began housekeeping. In 1864 he 
contracted a severe cold, from the effects of which he has never fully 
recovered, and as he was forced to give up working at his trade, he 
embarked in merchandising at Greenwood, trading his house and lot for a 
store. His health grew steadily worse, and the doctor told him he would 
not live a year, but this prediction was not verified. The physician, 
however, has been dead many years. 

Selling his store, Mr. Clark went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1872 
and as his health grew better he worked some at his trade. He bought 
property in that city and continued to reside there until coming to 
Dakota about seven years ago. During Mr. Clark's residence in 
Minneapolis, and while suffering from severe illness, he became 
converted to faith in Christ; a forceful vision seen while in a trance 
so powerfully moved him that he since that time has been an earnest and 
sincere Christian. On account of his health he has traveled 
considerably, and spent one season in the pineries of northern 
Minnesota as assistant cook in a camp. He has also visited North 
Dakota, Montana and Utah, and spent one winter in Los Angeles, 
California. During his residence in Minneapolis, he conducted a grocery 
store for some time and became the owner of some valuable property in 
that city, but in 1892 he traded all but four lots for the southeast 
quarter of section 10 and the southwest quarter of section 1 I, Aurora 
township, Aurora county, South Dakota. Here he and his family have 
since made their home, and he attributes his success in his farming 
operations to his son, who now owns a half interest in the business and 
has taken complete charge of the farm. At first they engaged in sheep 
raising, but as the wolves destroyed many of their flock that business 
proved unprofitable, and they are now quite extensively engaged in 
cattle raising. The son is a man of excellent judgment and good 
business ability, and is meeting with most gratifying success in his 
labors. Although their Dakota home is not as pleasant and picturesque 
as their Minneapolis residence, the family is just as happy, and have 
made many true and warm friends since locating here. 

During the time of his residence at Greenwood, Indiana, Mr. Clark 
united with the Methodist Episcopal church and has ever since taken an 
active and prominent part in church work. For two years he has been 
superintendent of the Sunday school at the Evangelical church near his 
home, and is now president of the Young Peoples' Society. At heart he 
is a Prohibitionist, but as there is no organization of the party in 
his locality he casts his ballot in favor of the men and measures of 
the Republican party. His support is never withheld from any movement 
which he believes calculated to advance the moral, social or material 
welfare of his community.