- Biography of John Wesley Clark, 1910 "Lawrence Co Biographical", pg659-660: "CLARK, John Wesley.--The farming activities of LawrenceCounty are increasing in volume and value with the development andimprovement of this locality. The discovery of oil has greatlyadvanced the value of some farming properties, so that the owners oftracts of this class are to be considered fortunate. John WesleyClark, of Section 2, Dennison Township, a successful farmer andstockman, is one of the representative men of his locality. Mr. Clarkwas born in Dennison Township, October 5, 1844, a son of GeorgeWashington Clark, now deceased, who was a farmer and cooper of thetownship.
George W. Clark was born in Kentucky, February 7, 1806, and was therereared on a farm. Losing his father in the War of 1812, he was forcedto help his mother, who moved to a farm in Ohio. There she marriedagain. As he grew up, George W. Clark learned the cooper's trade inOhio, and engaged in its conduct quite extensively. While stillliving in Ohio, he married Mary Drollinger, born in North Carolina,October 26, 1804, but taken to Ohio in girlhood. Ten children werethe result of this marriage, two of whom died in infancy, but foursons and four daughters attained to maturity, and of them all John W.Clark is the youngest. In 1839 George W. Clark came to Illinois,settling in Dennison Township, where he entered 160 acres from theGovernment, at $1.25 per acre. He and his sons cleared this property,and improved it. In the beginning they lived in a log house, butlater built a frame dwelling and there he died. Early in life he wasa Whig, later becoming a Republican, while in religious faith he was aMethodist. His death occurred when he was seventy-four. His wifealso died at about the same age.
The education of John W. Clark was secured in the log schoolhouse ofhis neighborhood, and he was reared on the homestead to very hardwork. As a return for his labor he inherited a portion of thehomestead, and bought out the interests of the other heirs. On June9, 1875, Mr. Clark and Martha Tinsley were married. She was born inKnox County, Ky., October 24, 1857, but in 1862 her family came toDennison Township, where her father, William Tinsley, also a native ofKentucky, became a farmer and carpenter. In 1861 he enlisted in aKentucky regiment for service in the Union army, and served until hewas taken sick, which necessitated his honorable discharge. After hisrecovery and location to Illinois, he once more enlisted and serveduntil the close of the war. While living in Kentucky he married MaryHargus, who was born in Virginia of Irish descent. Of the fivechildren born to the parents of Mrs. Clark, she is the youngest. Mr.Tinsley died when only forty-seven years of age, his early demisewithout doubt being occasioned by the hardships endured as a soldier.He was a member of the G.A.R., a Republican in politics, and inreligious faith a Methodist.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clark continued to live on theirpresent farm. They now have 170 acres, and have a very pleasant home. Mr. Clark has made all the improvements on his property, and helpedto clear a part of it while it was still owned by his father. Mr. andMrs. Clark have had the following children: Sarah Jane (deceased);Essie, Clara, Charles, Manfred and Harley, all born on the presentfarm. In his political life Mr. Clark has been a Republican, and isfaithful in his devotion to his party. He is a member of theMethodist Church, and is liberal in his contributions to its support.He is an excellent farmer, a good business man, and is worthy of theconfidence he has inspired among his neighbors."
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