The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-05-07

Mrs. Clark was laid to rest un
 der the branches of the towerin
 trees which have marked the fina !reSting place Of her husband thes lpast few years and form fittinl : monument for one who spent 4 interesting years helping develol : Skagway
 ] The following biography of Mrs Clark was prepared by Mrs. Eliza beth Selmer who interviewed he several years ago for magazint article on Pioneer Women whici appeared in the Alaska Woman
 Mrs, H. D. Clark, widow of ont of the earliest stampeders to tho Klondike. was born Marion Grang- CT on her grandfather's farm il Waukasha, Wis, in February, 1866 At sixteen She passed the teachers examinations and taught 35 pu- pils in a three months country school. For several years she alternated teaching and attending Normal schools in Milwaukee. I While teaching at Big Ben, Wis. she met Henry D. Clark, who came north in the Gold Rush and was one of the survivors of the Sheep Camp snow slide tragedy. MT Clark soon abandoned prospecting to form a partnership with a boy i.ccd friend, II. E. Nicolai They bought out squatters' and soldiers scripts tc get an 80 acre ranch in Dyea, with a 42-acre farm in Skagway. When, in 1914, President Wilson gave MT Clark a patent for the latter, it became the first patented homestead in Alaska. The men began vegetable farming to supply trains and boats, and the farm was so famous for its rhubarb that National Geographic photo graphed it for an early issue. ! Marion Granger married Mir. Clark in Tacoma, July 5, 1901. and came to Skagway where she spent the next 46 years.
 Homesickness for eastern gar dens caused her to add the culti- vation of flowers, and soon she YVES supplying Southeast Alaska with plants.
 She was a vital part of Skag- ways social and civic life; Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Church Board of the Presbyterian Church for 20 years; the first woman to serve On the School Board and the first woman to serve on a jury in Alaska. She was charter memter of the Skagway Woman's Club and the Library Board. and was responsible for the legislature passing a bill giving Territorial aid to small libraries.
 Beth MT. and Mrs Clark were members of the local company which financed the Engineer Mine" and took an active part in that project. although the Privy Council in London decided against them.
 Mrs. Clark is survived by two daughters: Mrs. Floris Clark Me Claren, noted Canadian poetsss of Victoria, B. C., and Mrs. William Dewar of Skagway, and two grandsons, John and Bruce Mc- Claren.
 Skagway P-TA held tile final meeting of this school year We'd nesday afternoon. Special pro- grams were prepared by the var ious rooms. Sandwiches and cof- fee were served by Mrs. Van Raf ferty, Mrs. Ruth Nelson and Mrs. Pauline Pribbernow, to the 30 members present. New officers were elected, Mrs. Gertrude Belt finger President; Mrs. Pribbernow Vice President; Dorothy Carroll, Sescretary. and Mrs. E. J. Fair banks, Treasurer. The organiza- tion will give party for the graduating class May Is.
 The Plus x Mission School com pleted it's work on April 30 and the boys and girls are enjoying an early vacation.
 Word has reached Skagway of the passing of Edward E. Ray noldson, father of Lyman Reynold- son, wellknown former Skagway resident, in Seattle. Wash.
 Mrs. C. L. Policy was the honor guest at a lovely luncheon given by Mrs. Harry E. Honius Friday afternoon at l o'clock. The af- fair was also handkerchief show CT and Mrs. Policy received many lovely farewell remembrances. The guests were seated at a beautifully appointed table in the dining room and served a two course lun- cheon. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to sewing and conversation. Guests bidden to honor Mrs. Policy were Mes danes Hal Johnson, Peter Dahl Henry Williams, Phillip Olsen, Hal Selby, Frank Ward, John Dodge and Arnold Gutfeld.
 Mrs. Cauturc returned on the last boat after wintering in Van