Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-02
Obituary.

James III. Clark was the son of
Francis and Evaline (Pettit) Clark,
and was born on the Goth day of
January, 1871, in Perry county,
Mo. In. 1849 James HI. Clark's
father moved from Perry county
to what is known as Cook Settle
ment in st. Francois county, Mo.
His childhood and boyhood were
passed on his fathers farm. In
1861, when this country was
aroused by wars rude alarm, he,
in response to his own conviction,
and the loud call of the Southland,
entered the Confederate service.
He was in active service during the
entire war, and displayed that zeal
and vigor that actuated him in
every walk of life. When the war
closed, he accepted defeat with the
bravery of a stole, and was never
heard to utter a harsh word against
those with whom he had battled
for four long years.
In. 1872 he married Mary j.
Whitworth and located in Ironton,
Mo-, as a partner in the firm of
Whitworth, Clark & Co. He was
busily employed in mercantile life
for twenty years. He vas treas
urer of Iron county for two years,
declining a second term of Office.
In 1893 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Cleveland Register of the
Land Office at I%ronton, Mo-, and
made an affable, efficient and
honest official. At the expiration
of his term of Office, in 1897, he re-
tired from active business life and
devoted his entire time to the care
of his farms and his home. By
reason of the war his education
was interrupted, and he acquired
only such as the common schools
gave him. He had a natural turn
for business pursuits, and by the
exercise ofindustry and unswerver-
ing honesty acquired a compe-
tence.
James H. Clark died on the 21st
day of May, 1904, and was buried
in the cemetery neal Ironton, on
May %, 1904. Mr.. Clark lived and
died a Democrat, and the love of
politics never abated amid the de-
mands of varied business rela-
tons. He was a political power
in his community and always re-
sponded to his party's call, with
out demanding the "loaves and
fishes" as a reward.
He loved this beautiful Valley
of Arcadia, and when away from
it turned with longing to his VAL
ley home, feeling with the poet:
"Where'er l roam, whatever realms I see,
My heart, ~untrammelled, fondly turns to
thee"
Mr.. Clark was a firm believer in
God and was a member of the
Christian Church. While strong
in his faith, he had great respect
for the opinions of his friends and
was liberal and charitable in his
views. His pastor, in the con-
clusion of the funeral discourse,
portrayed the true character of
Mr.. Clark in these words: "He
was pure in his life and in his
words; he never INDUCED in bad
language or talked harshly about
his neighbor; he believed in i'm
mortality; his thoughts were pure
and language inoffensive."
This community has suffered
great loss in that his death has de-
prived us of a good citizen, a kind
neighbor, and an exemplary hus-
band. The greatest heritage he
leaves to the bereaved widow is an
unstained name and a character
for truth and honesty.
We pause to-day "amid the
crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
to pen these few thoughts. Words
of eulogy add nothing to his name,
but only serve to call the attention
of youth to a correct life. His
work among men is ended; his
earthly record is complete. His
influence goes on and on. In
many ways the youth of Jul time
may we'll emulate him in the de-
velopment of the best in American
life and character.
"God give us men! A time like this de-
mands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and
ready hands;
Men whom the lust for Office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of Office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor-men who will not lie;
Tall men. sun-crowned, who live above
the fog
In public duty and in private thinking"
Such a man was the subject of
these memoirs. May he rest in
peace. Il.