BIOGRAPHIES: Alton L. CLARK, Town of Sherman, Dunn County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: James M. Richmond 12 March 2001 ==================================================================== Alton L. Clark, a retired farmer residing in the town of Sherman after a long career of useful industry, was born in the town of Springvale, Fond du Lac County, Wis., Jan. 23, 1850, son of Chester R. and Jane (Newman) Clark The parents were born in New York State, the father on July 31, 1814, the mother on July 26, 1818. In 1843, some time after their marriage, they came to Wisconsin, settling in hitewater, where they spent two years. It was at the end of that time that they moved to Fond du Lac County, where they pre-empted 80 acres of wild land. In 1856 they came to Dunn County, settling in the town of Rock Creek, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Clark was the first to pass away, her death occurring on Feb. 10, 1878; Mr. Clark died on July 10, 1899. They were the parents of six children: Harriet, who died in 1861, at time of her death being Mrs. John Shepard; J. Newman, now living in the town of Rock Creek, Dunn County; Milton C., of Fall Creek, Eau Claire County; J. Daniel, who died in 1920; Alton L., of Section 9, town of Sherman; and Bertine P., who resides at Doliver, Iowa. Alton L. Clark was about six years old when he came with his parents to Dunn County. He was educated in a log schoolhouse in the town of Rock Creek, and remained at home with his parents until he was 22 years old. During his last years he worked the farm for his father. In March, 1874, he came to the town of Sherman and homesteaded 80 acres of wild land on Section 4, building a small frame house on it. In course of time he developed that farm and erected on it two good sets of buildings. When he came to the town of Sherman he traveled across the country with an ox team, there being no roads. Three years later he bought a horse team. The place was 11 miles north of Menomonie, and all supplies and mail had to be brought from there through the woods, often on foot. On March 15, 1874, Mr. Clark was married at Eau Claire, to Hattie Hart, who was born in England, not far from London, (in Bedfordshire) on May 5, 1848. Her parents were Charles and Sarah Hart, the father being a shepherd by occupation. Her mother was present at the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. the family came to America when Hattie (Mrs. Clark) was five years old, or in 1853, settling first near Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Hart rented a farm for 16 years. In 1869 they came to Dunn County and to the town of Rock Creek where they took a farm, and where both parents died many years ago. Mrs. Clark proved a good helpmate to her husband and they worked together successfully to build up a rural home. There was plenty of wild game, but for some years their neighbors were few and far between. In 1892 Mr. Clark bought an 80- acre tract in Section 16. On Aug. 26, 1896, on returning ome, he found his wife dead. It was a severe shock, as they had passed 22 happy years together, and had been the parents of six children, born as follows: Eugene E., March 22, 1875; Elmer A., Oct. 24, 1876; Clarence E., June 10, 1879; Charles C., Aug. 8, 1881; Oscar H., May 9, 1883; and Hatttie S., Dec. 3, 1886. Elmer A. died July 27, 1899, and Oscar H. on March 16, 1903. Clarence E., who is a farmer in the town of Sherman, operating 240 acres, married Mamie Jones and has five hildren, Alton, Bernice, Guy, Myrtle and Clinton. Hattie S. married Frank Steies and lives near Chetek in Barron County, She has five children, Leonard, Ethel, Howard, Lawrence and Erving. Eugene E. and Charles C., who are unmarried, in 1913 bought the old homestead from their father, but in 1920 they sold it and bought 160 acres on Section 9, where they now reside. They also own two 80-acre tracts besides, making 320 acres in all. When their father sold the homestead to them he moved to Section 13, where he bought an 80-acre tract, which he still owns and on which he resided from the fall of 1913 to 1920. He also owns the 80-acre tract in Section 16 that he bought in 1892. He is now living with his sons Eugene and Charles. They have 150 acres under the plow and the farm has been brought into good condition. It is five and a half miles southwest of Wheeler and six miles southeast of Boyceville, from which latter place the family receive their mail. Mr. Clark has always been a Republican politically but votes according to his own judgement in local elections. He has erved his town on the side board and for years was clerk of his school district. During his life he spent one winter in the lumber industry, that season logging on the Chippewa River. The Clark family are of the Baptist faith. In early days a Rev. Mr. Holden used to hold meetings in the district schoolhouse and a Sunday school was organized and maintained, of which Mrs. Clark was superintendent for many years up to the time of her death. Source: The 1925 "History of Dunn County", page 762