ThomasJ. Clark
THOMAS J. CLARK was horn in Huntsvilletownship, Schuyler county, September 16, 1853. His father, Harrison, washorn in Logan county, Kentucky, February 15, 1811, and he was the son ofAbner Clark. The father of our subject was reared
and married in his native township and residedthere until 1833, when he emigrated to Illinois. He was accompanied byhis wife and child, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Wilgus, and family. Theyowned a wagon together, and each one had his own horse, and in this waymade an overland journey to Illinois and located in Schuyler county. Whenhe landed here his entire wealth consisted in his interest in the wagon,his horse and $150. He lived at Mount Sterling one year, then entered atract of Government land in what is now Huntsville township, Schuyler countyHe wanted a quarter section of land, but that would have cost more moneythan he had, consequently he entered eighty acres, and as soon as he obtainedthe money he entered the remainder of the quarter. As every other settler,he first built a log cabin on the place and commenced to improve his farm.For several years there were no railroads, and he hauled his wheat to Quincy,forty miles away. He commenced very soon to deal in stock, and was verysuccessful both as a stock-dealer and farmer. He continued to purchaseland until he had about 500 acres. Here he continued until his death in1883. His wife was named Lydia Coffman, of Hardin county, Kentucky, bornAugust 3, 1815. Her parents came from Germany, and were early settlersof Kentucky. She died in 1860.Thomas was educated in Schuyler county, andtwo years at Lincoln University. In 1875 he went to Sedgwick county, Kansas,purchased a farm twelves from Wichita and there engaged in farming fortwo years, when he went into Wichita and engaged in the grain business.He remained there two years and then went to McPherson, where he engagedin the same business, there built an elevator and shipped the first carload of grain ever shipped from that station. After two years he returnedto Illinois and purchased the farm where he now resides in Pea Ridge township.It con tai us 240 acres, and is one of the finest in the county.
He was married in 1874, to Virginia, daughterof John S. Anderson. She was born in Huntsville township. Mr. and Mrs.Clark have seven children: Helen, Arthur R., Chester L., John H., Paul,Mary A. and Stanley.
Mr. Clark joined the Cumberland PresbyterianChurch when sixteen years of age, and is an Elder in the church and hasofficiated both as Superintendent and teacher in the Sunday-school. Politicallyhe is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the County Central Committee.In 1890 he was special agent of the Government to make note of the recordedindebtedness of the Twelfth Congressional District. He has served severalterms as Secretary of the Mount Sterling Mutual Insurance Company, whichoffice he now holds. Mr. Clark is well read, keeps posted on all generalquestions, is also, a forcible writer, and is one of the prominent menof the township.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 206-207.
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