H. M. 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. Page 232

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

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HON. H. M. CLARK, whose home is on a farm in Aurora county, South 
Dakota, is one of Mitchell's well known and highly respected business 
men. He was one of the early settlers of the community, and throughout 
his career in the state he has been keenly interested in public 
matters, and everything that tends to the advancement of the better 
interests of the county and state in which he makes his home receives 
his hearty endorsement and support. His participation in public affairs 
has not been confined to his own township or county, but he has 
acquainted himself and been associated with matters pertaining to the 
welfare of the state. 

Mr. Clark was born in Lyme, Grafton county, New Hampshire, December 2, 
1832. His father, William B. Clark, was of English descent and a native 
of Dorchester, New Hampshire' the date of his birth being 1800. By 
occupation he was a blacksmith and farmer. Politically he was an old-
time Abolitionist and took an active part in political matters, and a 
number of the local offices were entrusted to him. He was also a member 
of the Congregational church. He died in his native county in the year 
1867. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Persis A. Morey, was 
also a native of Lyme, New Hampshire, and was born in 1808. She was 
also of English descent, and died at the age of forty-four years. They 
were the parents of a family of four children, only two of whom grew to 
maturity, and of whom the subject of our sketch is the oldest, and only 
son. 

Mr. Clark was reared in his native county and received his education in 
the academy at Thetford, Vermont. Upon completing his course of study 
in this institution he entered a store in his native town as a clerk 
and was thus engaged for four years. November 18, 1856, he was married 
to Alice E. Dodge, also a native of Lyme, New Hampshire. He then spent 
two years in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then returned to Lyme, New 
Hampshire, and engaged in business for himself, opening a general 
store, and conducted the same until the fall of 1868. Selling out his 
business in this place, he then went to Toledo, Ohio, and there 
operated a manufacturing establishment until 1881. The year previous, 
August 22, 1880, his wife, Alice E. Clark, died, and a granite monument 
in Forest cemetery, Toledo, Ohio, marks her resting place. In 1881, on 
account of poor health, he again sold out and came west. Upon reaching 
Dakota, Mr. Clark took land, in company with Woodworth and Cooley, in 
the western part of Davison county, and made that his home for two 
years. He then bought land two miles west, in Aurora county, which has 
since been his home, and since 1896 he has been engaged in the 
insurance and real estate business in Mitchell. He is doing quite an 
extensive business in Mitchell, owns considerable of that city's 
property, still retains quite an amount of real estate in Toledo, Ohio, 
and also owns a large stock farm at his home in Aurora county. In 
politics he is a straight Republican, and on that ticket has been 
elected to several important offices. He was postmaster at Lyme, New 
Hampshire, during Lincoln's administration, and after performing the 
duties of that position for seven years he resigned to go to Ohio. He 
has also held a number of township offices and is at present the 
treasurer of the school district. In 1885 Mr. Clark was elected on the 
Republican ticket to represent his district at the territorial 
legislature. Socially he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, 
holding a membership in the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is also a member 
of the Congregational church. 

In 1883 the subject of our sketch was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
A. Clark, also a native of Grafton county, New Hampshire.