IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of Michael Clark
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 11:40:32 -0500

Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Iowa; Acme Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1888, pp 323-324

MICHAEL CLARK is a farmer and stock­raiser, residing upon section 1,
Jackson Township. He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1833, and is a son of
Thomas and Ellen (Smith) Clark. The family emigrated to America in 1845,
settling in Sullivan County, N. Y. In 1848 they came to Chicago, but returned
the same year to New York. At that time there was but one hotel in that now
prosperous city, and the swampy location offered but little inducement for the
family to remain. They remained three years in New York, then went to New Haven,
Conn., and remained until about the year 1854, when they came to this county.
Here the parents lived and died, and were buried in the pioneer cemetery at Mt.
Pleasant. They were pious Catholics, and were the parents of three children, two
of whom died in New York State, leaving our subject the only one to represent a
family whose name has been a familiar one in this county for more than a quarter
of a century. He was married in this county to Miss Annie, daughter of John and
Mary (Cassidy) Courtney, Jan. 4, 1871, Rev. Father Welch, of Mt. Pleasant,
performing the ceremony. Our subject had earned by hard labor with his own
hands every dollar that he paid for his nice farm, which was purchased before
the marriage, and the young bride came immediately to the cosy little cabin
which her husband had built in anticipation of her coming. From the beginning
they have prospered, and their pastures are dotted with herds of cattle, and his
well-tilled fields bring abundant crops. A new frame house took the place of the
cabin in which their married life was begun, and the union has been blessed with
several promising children. The sons are stalwart young men, and the daughters
resemble their mother in both intellect and features. They were named in order
of their birth: James, John, Ellen, Pearl, Mary, Rose, Kate and Sylvester. The
family have ever been reckoned by their neighbors as one whom they can value as
people of intelligence and thrift. As a self-made man Michael Clark is entitled
to credit, and his good wife is an honor to her sex, and the faithful mother of
her happy family of children, all of whom were born on the farm in Jackson
Township.
At the breaking out of the late war our subject joined Company D, 4th Iowa
Cavalry, and for four years braved the shot and shell along with his comrades
under Capt. Spearman. He was in every engagement in which his regiment
participated, and was only in the hospital two weeks during his four years of
service. All honor is due our gallant men who fought to preserve the Union, and
we are pleased to make honorable mention of them. By his gallantry as a soldier,
his integrity of character, and his honorable record as a good citizen, Mr.
Clark is entitled to a place among the best people of Henry County.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm
Henry Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iahenry/index.htm

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• Bio of Michael Clark by "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>