Union County, SD Biographies.....Northrup, Clark 1827 - 
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Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897)

CLARK NORTHUP, a fine specimen of the early settler who has in his composition
the stuff that characterizes the true pioneer, was born in Erie county, N.Y.,
near Hamburg, August 15, 1827. His boyhood was spent in his native county until
he was ten years old, when his parents moved to Pokagon township, Cass Co.,
Mich., where his father William Northup, and mother Eunice (Clark) Northup,
entered a farm of government land upon which they resided until their deaths.
Such education as our subject received was obtained in the common schools of
that day, which was supplemented with a couple of terms in the select school. He
remained home till twenty-three years of age, when he went overland to
California in company with four others, starting February 27, 1850, with ox-team
and five yoke of cattle. The trip was long and wearisome and taxed their courage
and strength to the utmost. They arrived in Sacramento City August 26 following,
having been six months on the way. In California he engaged in mining and
packing goods into the mountains on mules for a period of eight years, and on
one of their trips through the Humboldt desert their cattle gave out on account
of poor forage and alkali water. They were compelled to stop several days to
recruit their stock, and one old ox, being unable to go farther, they left
behind; but before leaving, Mr. Northup paid $1 for a bunch of hay which he
placed by him when they bade the faithful animal goodbye. In 1858, he took a
ship at San Francisco for return via the Isthmus of Panama, which he crossed and
reshipped to New York; he was twenty-two days and a half on the return trip.
After he came back he settled in Michigan and took up farming until his
departure for Dakota. In 1861, he went to Pike's Peak, Colo., on a gold-hunting
expedition, where he stayed one year, at the expiration of which time he came
home; but he subsequently returned there, it becoming necessary that he do so in
order to settle up a partnership arrangement. In his mining experiments he has
been fairly successful.

   In 1860 Mr. Northup was married to Miss Mary Cook, and he came to Dakota in
company with his wife and three children, settling first on land a mile from his
present location, buying fifteen acres first and subsequently entering eighty
acres on which property he now lives. He resided on the first place where he
located in Union county for twelve years. The record of the children is as
follows: Minnie, now Mrs. H. J. Muhs, resides in Akron, Iowa; Clara, now Mrs.
Cannon, resides in Elk Point; and Major resides at home with his parents. He has
served one term as county commissioner and one term as justice of the peace, and
always voted the Democratic ticket until a few years ago when he joined the
Populist movement.

    Mr. Northup has rather a varied experience in life, and one which does not
fall to the average man. He is a man hardy and and courageous, and no danger
ever appalled or labor tired him. He is true to his convictions, and his career
has been that of an honorable, upright man. He is well preserved for his age,
considering the years of privation and hardship which has been his lot, and he
is widely and favorably known and respected by all who have the pleasure of his
acquaintance. Frugal and industrious, he has gotten together a competency to
tide him and his wife to the shore from which all must embark to the life
beyond. He has been a good husband and indulgent father. Mrs. Northup is a lady
of more than average intellectual ability. She is a model housewife, wrapped up
in the affairs of her household, and the kindest of mothers.

   John Northup, a brother of the subject of this sketch, and the only other
living representative of this branch of the family, emigrated to California in
1852, and has since resided there. His home is in Amador county. During late
years he has devoted his time to fruit culture and probably has one of the
finest orange groves in that section of the country; he also raises various
other kinds of small fruits. He has made a success of the business and has
gathered quite a competency for his declining years.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF 
Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and
Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with
the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History
and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be
Preserved in History.

ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO.
GEO. A. OGLE & CO.
Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers.
1897.


Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON.

A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
generations.—MACAULAY.


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