River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-12-18
BY Lloyd Goble

1t is q human weakness to accept
without question the things that come
to US day by day. We accept the fresh
air, the sunshine, and the cool water
that quenches our thirst with little
feeling Of obligation on our part. Sci
dom, indeed, does the beneficiary
make inquiry concerning the benefac-
tor, much less spend time in offering
thanks. A time comes, however, when
we are wholly or in part deprived Of
the good things accepted as matter
Of course. Then we are startled and
ask with concern about our loss. We
are ready then to give recognition and
sincere thanks for the good fortune
enjoyed.
Mr.. Clark's resignation from the fac
ulty of the Normal school startles Us
with a feeling of an almost elemental
loss. For twenty-eight years he has
labored in our midst, working whole
heartedly and ably for the institution
and for the welfare of the boys and
girls in Wisconsin and neighboring
states. So sure and constant has been
his service that we can hardly con-
template the School without his pres
ence. AS the end of his service APP
proaches, we feel keenly our loss and
offer to him our tribute. In doing so
it is fitting that we inquire concerning
that part Of his life that proceeded
his service with us. That and the por-
tion we know so we'll will, when join
ed with q third, constitute a goodly
period of usefulness. May that third
be long years Of pleasant retirement
with fruitful trees to yield him their
bounty.
Mr.. Clark was born February 20,
1852, in Clarendon, New York. He
received his elementary training in his
native state in the schools of Claren-
don and Rochester. 1t was his lot to
follow the migratory stream that has
ping now and then, as did many anoth-
er, till the current swept him onward.
He attended high school in Saginaw,
Michigan, from 1865 to 1868. In the
latter year he came to Wisconsin, and
for four years lived on a farm in
Green County.
In 1872 Mr.. Clark was a student in
Northwestern university, at Evanston
Illinois. He enrolled in 1875 as a
student in the Whitewater Normal
school, from which institution he was
graduated in 1879.
Mr.. Clark'S enviable record as a
teacher began in the public schools
of Horizon, Wisconsin, where he was
Principal from 1879 to 1883. He spent
the next three years in the Tomah
public schools, and the years 1886
1889 in the public schools of Sparta
After this service, he spent two
years at Baraboo, Wisconsin, as Sup
erintendent of the city schools and
Principal of the high school.
The opportunity to serve as High
School Inspector came to Mr.. Glars
in 1891, and in this capacity he spent
one year. The work of high-school
Inspector enables one to get a compre-
hensive view of the educational work
in the State, to study its needs, tc
give inspiration to those in need OF
help, and to gain enthusiasm from
others.
In 1892 Mr.. Clark came to River
Falls as Teacher of Mathematics. He
has remained as the Head of the De-
partment continuously since that
time, and in all the years has enjoyed
but one brief leave of absence. He
has served the Institution under every
president but one; he has observed
almost every phase of its upbuilding
and has had large share in its de-
velopment. Through the gradual IS
of the School, he exercises a very po-
tent influence, and will continue to
do so for very many years. 1t is safe
to say that no teacher in the normal
schools of Wisconsin has been more
widely or favorably known. His
children have been reared in oul
midst. He and Mrs. Clark have been
Unidentified with the important move
ments in the welfare of the commune