The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-31


James Hervey Clark, who died
last evening at Excelsior, after
long residence on t the 81, shores
most adventurous life in his earlier
days. AS pioneer, miner, traveller,
soldier and politician he has seen more
of the vicissitudes of fortune and been ;
exposed to more danger than falls to
the lot of the average citizen. His
later life was as peaceful and pleasant
as his early days were dangerous and
He died one Of the most honored
citizens of Excelsior and 1nourned by a
large family q!Iyo He was the e. father TO. Of
Walter Baker, Mrs. Frank Dimond,
Mrs. George Fitch, Mrs. Horace Booth,
Miss Ella Clark, Hervey Clark, Of Gull
man, Ala, and Will Clark of California,
ty-one grandchildren and one great
grandchild. agEs1- -
Mr.. Clark was born May 81, 1880, at
Manchester, Bennington county, vt.
Six years after his birth the family
moved to western New York, where
young Clark received his education.
With one dollar and six shillings in his
pocket he started for the great west at
the age Of II. A lumber raft took him
Cincinnati and, by steamer, he Travelled
to st. Louis. .si ,4.,.-. E. p.
Misfortune seemed to be awaiting Mr..
Clark in the west, for mo sooner had
he arrived and begun to. earn his way
than cruel employer beat him out of
his first wages. Undaunted by this he
attacked opposition again, engaging as
boatman on the Illinois river for some
time, landing fnually at Dixon, ILL.,,
from whence he travelled on foot to
wheat TO chicago overland,' a distance
Of eighty miles. aa:Therf he cut wood
near Joliet, drove a team and later as
sisted in building the Illinois canal. AL
tho Illinois was then on the fringe of
civilization he determined to 60 further
west and ?. ID did 50: y..., xtn.,
miner" He took the overland trail
in the spring Of 1s49 together with a
cousin and j ohm Coriell. They suffered
many privations in crossing what was
then a barren country Mr.. Clark was
; overcome by thirst one day and fell
unconscious by the wayside. His COM
panions were compelled to leave him,
but shortly afterward found water and
were able to restore him. It was then
found that he had drunk sulphur water,
and a dangerous chemical reaction took
place in his stomach The three sur
vived the horrors Of the alkali fields,
the heat and the thirst and reached the
Feather river, down which they trav-
eled until they reached the Sacramento
First they worked for $12 day at
gold. Mr.. Clark was chosen to take the
gold east, and succeeded after perilous
adventures. ~ -.
Minneapolis next tempted Mr.. Clark
The family separated, some going tc
Knox and others to De Kalb counties il
Illinois. Mr.. Clark came to the St.
Anthony hamlet on the, upper Missis
sippi river, which he reached in 1851
From here he went to Excelsior, where
he lived from 1854 to, 1860, when the
family returned to Illinois and settled
at Galva. IT.
Z. Farming was poor business in those
days with wheat at 30 cents bushe
and corn at 10 cents and even less
With the outbreak ofathe civil war Mr.
Twelfth regiment Of mounted infantr,
the rank Of ie% leu aaa.u His detach
ment helped to drive Longstreet ava
Z at Knoxville, after which the command
marched 232 miles over the mountain
to Mount Sterling. Mr.. Clark was wit
Sherman in the Georgia campaign. 81
lanta, was sent north, recovered an
again joined his regiment.
After the war he returned with tn
entire family to Excelsior, which ha
since been his home. He was electe
to the legislature in 1870 and 1877 an
has held about every office in the tow
and village, discharging all his dutie
to the eminent satisfaction Of his fe
| low citizens.