The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-06-05
MANKAro FREE Press.
FRIDAY. JUNE 5. 1895.
OBITUARY.

A few days since the peo pie of Hebron and
vicinity were called TO mourn the death OF Mr.
Curtis Clark, very aged man who had en-
deared himself TO the hearts OF young and old
by his beautiful character and graceful deal
ings with all. He was the father Of Mr.. John
Clark, of Hebron, and grandfather Of Mr.. VIM.
e. Clark, of this city. He was born In the vii.
lage OF Paulet, Rutland county, Vt, Nov. 30
lIse, being thus well on towards ninety-three
years OF age at his death. Mr.. Clark was q
clothier by trade In the days before the max.
ing OF cloth had been given over 70 factories
Early in life he married Electa Meacham, and
soon after moved across Lake Champlain to
the village OF Crown Point, N. Y. where he
lived about four or Ave years. He then moved
to Lewis, Essex county. N. Y, where he en-.
gagged In agriculture as well as the work OF
his trade. In 1885, when he was forty-four
years OF age, he moved to the town OF Maine
Cook county, ILL.,, near Chicago, and gave his
attention wholly to farming. In the year 1862
at the age of seventy. he set his face towards
the billiards. of Minnesota and settled In He
bron, our near ncighbor.
Mr. Clark had eleven children, six of whom
are still living. His wife died In 1899, but he
never lacked the kindest attentions from his
children. Three OF his children are living In
California, where he made two visits during
the last twenty years, the last one being OF
about nine years. Although every comfor,
was afforded him there and all persuasion
brought To bear on him to induce him 20 re
main I'm California, he was nevertheless deter
mined to return to Minnesota, which no did
about three years ago He was told that he
could not live In such climate as this. but hi
replied, Enthusiastically, ~ am not goInl
there to live, l am going there to die"
Four generations after him were represent
ed at the funeral, Mrs. Durham, of Hebron
who Is his grandchild being also grandmoth
or. He had great-grandchildren I'm California
also. MIR. Clark was characterized by bright
quick mind, a most cheerful disposition, AM
great physical agility. Always ready with
kind christian sympathy, good natured ant
keen wit he carried sunshine with him every
whore, while his broad intelligence and sount
judgement commanded the greatest respect
lie was a most profound, practical believer n
christianity. In early life he Joined the Con
gregational church OF his native place, .anI
In every place he lived, except perhaps I'm Cal
ifornla, he was deacon In the local church
Years ago when the temperance movement
began, and men Of high standing In the churct
drew back from its logical outcome, which wa
total abstinence, he knew no hesitation bu
from the first boldly embraced and advocated
its most thorough principles. The most prom
Inent impression made by Mr. Clark ut Tn,
close of his life was that OF cheerfulness AM
hopefulness. He was sunshine itself, even II
his old age His presence was peace and re
rreshment In the house of his son, hmsel
also aged. Even the children OF the neighbor
| hood were drawn to his sick-bed
The funeral discourse which was delivere,
| by Rev. II. A. Bushnell, of MankatO wa
drawn from the WORDS OF the wise man, ~
hmry head Is u crown of glory if IL he foun'
| IN the way Of Righteousness" Nature hersel
contributed To make the scenes of burial mos
harmonious with his life, for the last word
were spoken In the grove that surrounded hi
dwelling, under q clear sky of a lovely Ma!
| day while the air was redolent with the fra
GRANGE OF opening buds, and musical with tn
songs of many birds 1t was just as the funer
al of such christian should he. Sunshin
was everywhere, even I'm the hearts of the liv
Ing present, and its splendor flooded the gray,
where we laid him on the very brow of tn,
bluff that overlooks a broad tract OF the val
ley of the Minnesota, "A ut type, I'm its beauty
of the greener valleys AMI brighter river O
the land of his eternal inheritance, wher
they need not the light OF the sun"