William D. Clark

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: CLARK, MOORE, MELICK, PLANK, FRANCIS, PUMPHREY, SPRAKER, GROFF, THOMAS, FREEMAN, HUFF, MCMORRIS, MARQUAND, STAFFORD, HOWARD, POTTS, PECK, HORNER, PITTS, WARFIELD, DRUM

 

WILLIAM D. CLARK is an extensive farmer, owning 255 acres of valuable land, located on section 8, Sidney Township. His farm is highly cultivated, and all of its appointments are remarkable for order and elegance. His residence is spacious and tasteful, and the barns and out-buildings are commodious and well stocked with all the modern applicances for scientific farming. He was born in Fayette County, Pa., Dec. 21, 1832, and is the son of THOMAS and HANNAH (MOORE) CLARK. Thomas Clark was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 20, 1798, and died in Ohio in 1854. His wife, also a native of Pennsylvania, was born Nov. 4, 1802. Left a widow with nine children, by the death of her husband, she came to Champaign County, Ill., feeling that the West with its broad prairies and the spirit of enterprise that pervaded its atmosphere, offered more favorable inducements for the advancement of her young family. She purchased land, and with the intelligent and energetic assistance of her sons, successfully conducted the farm for many years. The following are the names of her children: MARGARET, the wife of Robert MELICK, living in Perry County, Ohio; JOHN, who has twice been married to cousins by the name of PLANK, also living in Perry County, Ohio; MARY A., formerly the wife of Isaac FRANCIS; WILLIAM D., the subject of this sketch; JAMES P., married to a Miss PUMPHREY, living in or near Lincoln, Neb.; SARAH, the wife of D. A. SPRAKER, living in Montana; THOMAS J., who married Miss Augusta GROFF, is living in Council Bluffs, Iowa; ORPHA J., the wife of J. D. THOMAS, living in Shenandoah, Iowa, and HANNAH, deceased, formerly the wife of William FREEMAN. Her two sons, Thomas and James, served honorably in the War of the Rebellion. She is now in her eighty-fifth year, and after passing through many trials, the inevitable accompaniments of pioneer life, is peacefully spending the evening of her life in the home of her son, William D. Clark. On the 21st of October, 1873, William D. Clark was united in marriage with Miss MARY J. HUFF. She is a native of Ohio, and was born Oct. 22, 1840, in Coshocton County, and is the daughter of MANQUILA and ELIZABETH (MCMORRIS) HUFF. Her mother, who is still living, was born in Ohio, May 8, 1818. Her father was a native of Virginia, born Nov. 18, 1810, and died march 16, 1887. The following are the names of their children: MARTHA A., wife of Thomas MARQUAND, living in Kansas; LUCINDA, the wife of John MARQUAND, also living in Kansas; GEORGE W., married to Elizabeth STAFFORD, living in Ohio; SARAH W., the wife of David B. HOWARD, living in Lincoln, Neb.; CATHERINE M., the wife of P. B. POTTS; CELIA Z., the wife of Henry PECK; BENJAMIN F. married Miss Anna HORNER of Iowa; JAMES W. married Cora PITTS; EMMA E., the wife of Charles WARFIELD, and SPENCER E., married to Louie DRUM. The six latter all reside in Illinois. William D. Clark and wife have reared an interesting family of four children: their names are: LENA M., born Aug. 24, 1874; EMMA A., born Jan. 27, 1876; THOMAS A., born Nov. 22, 1879, and WILLIAM A., born Jan. 8, 1882. Mr. Clark, who is possessed of great executive ability, and integrity of character, has satisfactorily filled several official positions in the township. He has been Collector for three terms, and has also been Assessor. Both himself and his wife are highly esteemed members of the Methodist Church. He is a most honorable and worthy citizen and in politics is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.