Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-02-21
HAPPILY MARRIED
FOR SIXTY YEARS
Anniversary Quietly Celebrated
by Col. and Mrs. Clark.
This Aged Couple Have Been Well
Loved Residents of Lancaster
For Great Many Years.

On Monday Col. and Mrs. John g.
Clark celebrated the Goth anniversary
of their marriage. There was no
public celebration bat many of their
friends in and about the city came in
during the day with remembrances for
the elderly couple who have been
residents of the city for SO long a
time and who have made SO many
friendships with people whom they
have come in contact with.
The Colonel in relating some of his
experiences during his life time told
bow he came to Lancaster in the year
1851, having walked all the way from
the site where Minneapolis is now
located. where he had been engaged
in surveying work. With him man
named Freeman, a government con-
tractor, came to Lancaster They
came down across the country to Hud-
son then to Black River Falls and
finally when they arrived in Lancaster
Mr. Freeman found that after paying
and dlscharging his other surveying
workmen he was unable to settle with
Mr.. Clark. However, he offered to
keep Clark with him and give him
his board until he was able to settle
their account Mr. Clark accepted
the offer and when Freeman was able
TO pay him he received something like
$50. Another man who was keeping
hotel here then asked Mr.. Clark TO
give him $50 for which he would give
him % weeks board. Accepting this
offer and others which followed Mr.
Clark has always lived in Lancaster
with the exception of about five years
spent in surveying trips, some time
spent in Legislature and other bust
ness, and about four years that he was
one Of the three territorial
judges of the Indian Territory,
salthough his family has always
lived here. Mr.. Clark has taught
school for short periods, has held
several offices in the court house and
has made his entire life count for the
best Mrs. Clark came to the site of
Lancaster few years before the city
was laid out and bias always resided
here. They were united in marriage
in the year 1852 and have lived in the
house where they are now located for
nearly 60 years. Mrs, Clark had on
exhibition at the home Monday a
| handkerchief which she had made
herself and which she calls her
wedding 'kerchief - 1t is so large
that if it were cut it would make four
good sized handerchiefs such as are
used today. Mr.. Clark has in his
possession pocket note book in which
he has written 1915 names of Lancaster
residents who were sounded as to their
political views in the fall of 1853 and
at that time the colonel and editor
! Joseph Cover with a few others
organized the old Republican Party
in Lancaster. History claims the
genesis of that party to have occurred
in Ripon, Wis. March 20. 1854,
but Mr.. Clark 8 claim seems to sh wv
that such a party was organized in
the fall of the previous year. Joseph
Cover was the man who suggested the
name. Mrs. Clark is now so years
of age while Mr.. Clark is 81 and
both are IN the best of health.
| Mr.. CLARK is gaining in strength
from a recent illness aud hopes to
get out on the street if the mild
weather lasts a little longer. The
Herald extends the wish of many
friends of this aged couple that they
nay live to enjoy many more years
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