Clark, John F.

John F. Clark, a prominent citizen and attorney of Maysville, was born in Henry County, Ind., on September 25, 1846. He is the son of William and Sarah (Abrams) Clark, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Ohio. The father was born in 1811, and was the son of Benjamin Clark, a native of Virginia. He removed from Tennessee to Indiana in 1831, and settled in Henry County, where he engaged in farming until about 1872, when he removed to Madison County, where he died in 1875. The mother was born in 1815, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Abrams, who removed from Ohio to Indiana at an early date. She is now a resident of De Kalb County, Mo., making her home with her children. John F. is the fifth of thirteen children, and was reared on the farm. His education was begun in the public schools, and finished at the Newcastle (Indiana) Academy. After completing his education, he engaged in teaching during the winter months for about thirteen years. In 1865 he immigrated to Missouri, and the same year joined an expedition against the Indians, and crossed the plains to Tougue River. He then returned to his father’s in Indiana. In April, 1867, he came to De Kalb County, and located seven miles north of Stewartsville, where, until 1874, he engaged in farming during the summer and teaching school during the winter. He was then elected as a Democrat to the office of county clerk, and removed to Maysville. He was re-elected in 1878. In 1882 he was elected to represent De Kalb County in the State Legislature, and in 1884 made an unsuccessful canvass for senator from the Fourth District. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, since which he has been practicing law, and is also engaged in the real estate abstract and loan business. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Lavina A. Brooks, who was born in Buchanan County, Mo., in 1849. She is the daughter of William B. and Parmelia Brooks. They have seven children. Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic lodge.*

*Since the above sketch was written death has deprived De Kalb County of one of its truly representative and substantial men, Mr. Clark having died on December 17, 1887, of malarial fever. On the 18th inst. he was buried with Masonic honors.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 554-555.