The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-25

of Ohio. Mr.. Clark was reared on a
farm, and when five years of age ac-
companied his parents to Missouri.
He received a good public school ed
ucation and then attended the Edin-
burg College for two terms. In
October, 1851, he came to Decatur
county and entered intos the mer-
camille business at point two miles
south of Leon, where he traded ex'
tensively with the indians. When
the present city of Leon was laid
out in 1853 Mr.. Clark was one OF
the very first settlers. erecting the
first business house in the new town. /.
In this building he was employed as
clerk by Switzer, Davis 81 Co., who
carried a, stock of dry goods, grocer
les, boots and shoes. He remained
with this firm for about three years
and then moved to Decatur City,
where he engaged in business with
Mr.. Cleveland as partner. In 1858
he sold out to his partner, and took
Il a contract with Major & Russell,
government contractors, to furnish
them with 500 yoke of oxen, and he
travelled all over the southern part
Of the state in buying the cattle.
When the civil war broke out he re-
cruited a company and was elected
Second Lieutenant of Co. G, Third
Missouri Cavalry. He served for five
months and was obliged to resign
on account of ill health. After re-
turning home he engaged in buying
horses for a time and in 1869 he
opened livery and feed stable in
Leon, in which business he continued
for nearly twenty-five years, until
had always taken very active part
in building up the city and county,
and was one of the organizers of the
Exchange Bank of this city.
He was married at Decatur City
in 1856 to Elizabeth A. Conrey, who
was born in Edgar county, Illinois,
in 1887, and who for fifty-six years
has been his devoted companion, be-
ing now seriously i'll with grave fears
entertained for her. To them were
born six children, Willard p, Ollie
T., Oakley c., Frank H., Ophie N.
and Sarah F.
- Mr.. Clark was a member of the
Masonic and I. O. o. F. lodges, the
r. A. M, and the Knights Templar,
and fer many years had been a men,
ber of the Methodist Episcopal
c!lurch.
x Mr. Clark was a quiet and unas-
suming man, but was man who was
true as steel, one who had befriend-
cd hundreds of men, and no one III
distress ever appealed to him in
xain. He was q life long democrat.
o1x in
the affairs of the state and nation,
and only the day before his death
he visited at this Office and we had
friendly chat with him over poll
tics, as he was greatly interested in
the coming national campaign.
Funeral services were held at th.e
IA. f. church on Saturday morning
at 10 O'Clock, and the large number
who attended testified to their love
and esteem of him. The floral Of
ferings were most beautiful and pro-
fuse. There was brief address by
Rev. Guy j. Fansher, pastor of the
church, and the choir sang the
hymns "Abide With Me-" and Men
delssohn's Consolation" The
knights Templar had charge of the
final services, carrying out the beau
tiful and impressive burial service
at the church and acting as pail
bearers and escort of honor as the
remains were born to their resting
place in the Leon cemetery, where
the final services by the Knights
were concluded. The Masonic lodge
also attended the funeral in q body.
The bereaved wife and children
have the entire sympathy Of tho en-
Tire community IN their great and
a1shiRg lon