The state herald., 1892-05-13
.:ss 3 !
lad wsalthissk so1Hod ia1 3 I0vVI;
hS was londor ond IN tnspirAflon -,


to accentuate the obstacles he
surmounted. He was known rs 'tho
colored orator of the West" he had
taken high rank in the Masonic order
he had dabbled actively and influen-
TALLY in politics, he had risen to posi-
tion of influence. Yet the father OF
this man was slave. Alexander was
born Feb. rs, 1896, in Washington
county, Penn. His father was the
son OF his master, an lrishman of
the name OF George Darncr.
The boy Alexander had few oppor-
tunities for systematic study, and at 10
he was working in barber shop in
Cincinnati. Here he attended school
in dcsultory way until October, 1s41,
when he became bartender on the old
steamer George Washington. But life
on the river did not suit him, and in
1912 he settled in Muscatine. then n
raw frontier town, and opened n
barber shop, which he conducted
until 1865. lie had been frugal all
these years, and so when ill-hcalth
mcnaccd him he had little capital
saved up with which to embark in n
more active avocation. He bought n
little town property, leased timber
lands, contracted to supply steamers
on the river with wood, speculatcd
here and there when opportunity
offered to earn an honest penny-and
so came finally to n position of inde-
pendcnce bordering on aflluencc.
k~ ,f ,,n,.
which arst called young Clark into
:. sainsasG is enli<ted In ie0a In the
= 81 Iowa colored cavsffyand received
the appointment OF scrgeaut-msJf.bu
was refused muster on account Of
physical disability. Deferred from go
most active agents in the West in
gathering recruits for the army.
In 1869 he was appointed by the col
ored State convention delegate TO the
National Republican convention of his
race at Washington, and by this latter
organization he was appointed chair
man Of the committee charged with
the duty of bringing to the attention
of Congress the claims OF colorcd
soldiers and sailors TO nn equality with
their white copatriots In the matter OF
pensions and bouniics. Another honor
bestowed upon him in this convention
was his appointment as n member OF
the committee to wait upon President
Grant and Nicc-Presidcnt Colfax to
tender TO them the congratulations of
the colored people of the United States
upon their election.
In 1863 he was Vicc-President OF the
Iowa Republican convention, and from
then on he was usually delegate and
could generally be heard upon the
floor ut some time during the delibcra-
tions. In 1879 he was appointed by
tn. Republican State convention u
delcgate.at-large TO the Philadelphia
convention which nominated Grant and
Wilson. Following this other political
honors were nt one time OF another
thrust upon him, but his first rccogni-
tlon from the President came In 1879.
when he was appointed Consul at Aux
Cages. llayti. lie declined the position
owing TO the smallness Of the salary,
remarking TO friends that III he cru ID
not live as well while an officer OF the
United States he would rather remain
u private citizen and retain his self
respect"
The wife Of Alexander Clark was
Miss Catherine Griffin, OF mixed Afri-
can and Indian blood, TO whom he was
welded nt Iowa City in isis, and by
whom he has had five children.
Late In life he studied law and grad.
uated from the law department of the
Iowa State University. In fact, the
prodominailng characteristic OF the
man was his indomitnble determination
not 10 be ,lwarted In the achievement
Of nny end by nge. lie wanted TO MI
every sphere open TO him-to blaze out
the way that other members OF his race
coming after might find tho struggle
not so hard. In this he was largely
successful, for he will be remembered
M n most upright man and citizen and
his example will long remain to afford
encouragement 10 other sclf.rellant,
ambitious member OF his race.