Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-02-20
Col. and Mrs. Clark Have 50
Years of Welded Life.
BOTH WELL PRESERVED
Event Made Merry BY Gathering of Host
of Relatives and Friends Last
Evening.


the 50th wedding anniversary Of Col.
and Ms. John G.. Clark, two we'll
known and esteemed residents of this
city. Cards announcing the happy
occurrence and including invitations
to it's celebration, were issued to
the relatives and most intimate ac-
quaintances of the venerable couple.
The beginning of an acquaintance
which developed into marriage, was
made at the Barnett House now the
Lancaster House in this city, when j.
G. Clark first met Miss Minerva Pep
per of Mineral Point. To them were
born two children, Mrs. Alice Tiel OF
Sacramento, Cal, and William OF this
city.
We give herewith a brief review of
the work of our illustrious townsman
attaining the position which he now
holds:
John G. Clark, was Born near Jack
sonville, H., July 31st, 1925. Being
deprived of both parents early in life
and thus thrown on his own resources,
the story of his early years consists
of a succession of struggles with the
world. In 1S47 ne was graduated
from Illinois college with the degree
of B. A.. and in 184S came to Hazel
Green, Wis, and engaged in mining.
During the next four years he was
employed as government surveyor IN
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and MIS-
souri,. In the winter of 1S5O-51 Mr..
Clark was a teacher in the public
schools of this city and in 1852 was
married as stated above. In 1858 he
was elected Deputy Clerk of the Cir
cult court, and IN 1854 was elevated
to the Circuit Court Clerkship
and twice succeeded himself in that
capacity. In 1860 be was sent to the
legislature and in 1861 was admitted
to the bar. At the outbreak Of the
Civil wal he was n of the first to
offer his services. For a short time
he was assistant commissarY general
of Wisconsin, and later became first
lieutenant in the Fifth Wisconsin In
fantry, serving in these capacities I'M
til 1868, when he was appointed pro-
vost marshal Of the third district of
his state with the rank of captain.
In February, 1865 he was commits
stoned colonel and served as such I'M
mustered out in 1866.
While Colonel he was sent with his
command to Missouri and thence
north on the plains among the Sioux
Indians. With his first regiment he
participated in the battle of Williams
burg, in those around Richmond in
1862, and in those of Antietam and
Fredericksburg. In 1867 he began
the practice of law and has continued
it ever since. Col. Clark also served
several years as Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court of Oklahoma Ter
territory, and a glowing tribute from
the Daily Times-Journal of Oklahoma
City follows:
Cards are out announcing the gold
en- wedding of Judge and Mrs. John
G. Clark at their home at Lancaster,
Wis, February 10, 1902. Judge and
Mrs. Clark are we'll known to all Ok
lahoma City residents who lived here
prior to 1898, Judge Clark having
been the first Judge for the Third Ju-
dicial district. The office then, as
now, was no sinecure, the labor con-
nected with it being enough for three
Judges. The work during Judge
Clark's incumbency, however, was
chaotic. New questions arose for
which there was no precedent; three
sets Of laws were in force; the attor-
neys represented the practice in forty
four states, three territories, Canada
and Arkansas; every attorney was
walking or his ''uppers" and was
frenzied over any delay in turning
loose the fees by delay in disposing Of
court cases. Tle attorneys wouldn't
permit tie Judge time to look up law
points or prepare a decision. They
fretted and fumed and called the
court names But throughout the
entire storm period Judge Clark was
not once moved to depart from the
path of duty. He conceived it to be
duty to do right whatever he had to
do. He was laying the foundation,
and faulty construction was not to be
thought Of. But in spite of all the
annoyances thrown in his way by
thoughtless and incompetent attor-
neys, and the gravity OF the several
entirely new legal propositions that