Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-10-07

In the passing of j. Ross Clark. who
died In Los Angeles recently, Montana
lost one of its pioneers and one whose
life was closely interviewer with the
development of the West.
]. Ross Clark, brother of Senator w. A.
Clark n of Joe K. Clark, was the last of
three brothers whose activities in this
state are part of Montana's history. He
was born in Connelsville, Pa, in 1850.
j. Ross Clark came to Montana in the
fall Of 1871, and in November of that
year he vent to Deer Lodge. where he
spent about six weeks visiting his
brother, w. A. Clark, and his wife. Later,
he and his brother Joseph had a mail
contract between Missoula and Walla
Walla, and he spent three years in the
western part of the state.
J. Ross Clark used to delight in telling
that the first position he had was that Of
bookkeeper for mis- brother, w. A. Clark,
in 1876. at the old Dexter mill. the first
in Butte. A year later the latter opened
the bank In Butte. n j. Ross Clark be-
came its ~bookkeeper, and he had since
been associated with the bank.
Active In Civic Work
j. Ross Clark was an active citizen
during his years in Butte. The village
was under township organization until
1881, when a charter was obtained and
a full staff of executive officers n
aldermen was chosen. ]. Ross Clark
was elected a member Of the first board
of aldermen. Elections were held annu-
ally in the beginning. He was not q
candidate in 1882 but in the year follow
ing he was again elected a member Of
the council.
Mr.. Clark was a valued member Of a
number of Butte organizations, among
them the Silver Bow club, of which he
was president for two terms.
tn addition tn hie hankinn intarncfu
MIR, Clark was active in mining and
other enterprises. he was married in 1878
to Miss Miriam A.. Evans of Butte, q
sister Of Mrs. Marcus DAILY, Mrs. James
Shields, Mrs. Joseph Lewis and Miss
Martha Evans.
MIR. Clark removed to Los Angeles In
1892 and made that city his home until
his death, but he continued to retain his
business interests in Montana. He dis
posed of his stock in the Clark bank in
| Butte to the heirs of his brother only q
| short time ago.
Visited Three Years Ago
His last visit to Montana was made
three years ago when he was "a years
of age. He spent q month in this state
visited at the home of his sister-in-law
on the DAILY ranch, in the Hamilton
district.
In addition to his Montana interests
Mr.. Clark was associated with his brother
in the building of the Salt Lake, Los An
geles and San Pedro railway, of which
he was q member of the board of di-
~rectors and a vice president, and in
the development of the Los Angeles street
railway system. He was also an investor
in sugar refining plants in the southwest
MIR. Clark is survived by his widow anc
grand son, j. Ross Clark III, in addition
to his nephews and nieces, sons of hi.
brother, Senator w. A. Clark, and hi.
grandnephews and grandnieces.
His brother, Joe K. Clark, who financed
the purchase of the famous Flatheac
buffalo herd and thur assisted mate
rally in the preservation Of this nobl,
Montana animal, died in Portland q
years ago.
MIR. Clark's SON., Walter. lost his life OF
the Titanic when that Inflated shiI
rammed an iceberg and sank On 1T
maiden voyage, April IA, 1912. His daugh
ter, Ella Clark Lee, died in Los Angelo
about four years ago.
Mr.. Clark was a member, at the TIM
of his death, of the Silver Bow club o
Butte. the California, Jonathan Inc 81
ezra Madre clubs OF Los Angeles, n thu
Bohemian club of San Francisco. Thu
funeral was held in Los Angeles.