Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-18
John Norwood Clark, Iowa
City, Oldest Member of That
Order In America
WAS PROMINENT IOWA PIONEER
MIR. Clark Began His Public Life in
This State in 1855 and Has Held
Many Offices of Honor and Trust in
Iowa city-Prominent in FraternaI
Order.


Iowa City, Feb. 1S-John Norwood
Clark, for sixty-seven years mem
Der of the ]. O. @. F. and the oldes
member of the order in America, lie
dead at his home in Iowa City. He diet
late yesterday. at the age of 90 years.
John Norwood Clark was one Of tn,
esteemed pioneers of the state of Iowa
and resided at Iowa City ever since
| Oct. l, 1853. he having come to this
place at that time, and engaged in ths
mercantile business. For many year.
he owned a shoe store. he mafving the
wares offered for sale with his owr
hands,
He was born in Philadelphia July 80
1914. and when lad his parents moved
to Baltimore. Nd, where young Clark
grew to manhood. He was married july
%. 1886 to Miss Jane Sturtevant, OF
Ellicotts Mills. Nd To their union
were born six children. only one now
being alive. Mrs. Amanda Webb. Wild
ow OF the late Colonel S. F. Webb.
Mr.. clArk's life in Iowa City has been
an eventful one. He has held many Of
fees OF honor and trust, and was ever
a faithful servant of the people. He
began his public life in 1855, when he
was city marshal. In 1873 he was elect
ed city treasurer. which Office he held
for q number OF years. In 1s77-79- so
and 81 he served as assessor and was
township clerk for ten years in sue
ctssion, and township trustee for many
years. Beginning In 1856 he served as
an officer OF the election board for
forty years In succession. Always talk
ing a great interest in his work at
hand. and being very methodical
man. Mr.. clark's services have proved
valuable in the later days OF the coun-
ty. He has preserved many papers
and records OF the early day and has
the materiul in his library at home
which throws mich light upon the early
history Of the county and stare.
J. Norwood Clark was known far and
wide for his membership in the I. O.. o.
F.. ne probably being at the time OF
mis- death. the Oldest member OF the I.
O. o. r. IN the United States. Mr..
Clark became a member OF tho I. o. o.
F. in Baltimore on Jan. so. 1897 and as
sacinted himself with Gratitude Lodge
No. 6, on that date. This lodge was ,
the first to erect a building OF It's own
IN the Undced States and at the time
Mr.. Clark Joined the order there was
only ITO lodges in existence. and only
one OF these was in Iowa. Now there
are over 10000 lodges wttf, more than
100000 members.
All during the years since Mr.. Clark
became member OF the /. O. o. F. he
had been an active worker for the good
II the order and it was in this con-
,ection that he became known the ma
ion over. For several years he was
grand master OF the order in Iowa, and
or twenty years he served as grand |
reasurer OF the encampment OF Iowa !
During the later years Of bis life he
las retired from business. and has de-
'oted his time for the most part In l
listing lodges Of the I. o. O. r. thru
ut the west. The veteran member OF
he order was always welcome in the
odge rooms Of the west. and many l
'ie'dSdul SoCl0l 1cakuIcS IidS0 UCcIl lIeI0
there he hns been the guest OF honor.
The sixty fourth anniversary Of the
ay ne Joined the /. O. o. F. was cele-
rated by Kcscausko No. A. OF iowa
aty. at which Mr.. Clarke was the guest
4 honor. On that occasion many OF
he Iowa veteran members OF the or
er were present. and he WAS the recip-
ant OF many warm congratulations.
The records Of Jerusalem Encamp-
rent No. 1. OF Baltimore. Nd. shows
nat Mr.. Clarke became member OF
ratitude Lodge, No. 5. L O. o. F., OF
altimore, Jan. 80. 1887. That he was
limited to Jerusalem Encampment No.
June. s, $780, and received the gold |,
4 rule. and royal purple degrees June
J, 1910.
Mr.. Clark was for many years a
ember of the Masonic order, and was !
with other lodges. He was
lie OF the charter members of Corinth
odge No. :, knights OF Pythias. or
lnized in Iowa City, In 1874. and has :
nee that time been one OF the loyal
or1cers Of the order