Seth Clark Seth Clark-That the opulent natural resources of Clayton county have not lacked appreciation on the part of the native sons of the county is clearly demonstrated by their continued association with the county and its varied interests, and it is specially pleasing to find such a large and vigorous percentage of such citizens who are here effectively aiding in maintaining the county's prestige as a center of agricultural industry. Such a substantial and honored citizen is Mr. Clark, who owns and operates the fine old homestead farm on which he was born and reared and which is one of the well improved and valuable landed estates of Wagner township. Here he has resided from the time of his birth and in progressiveness, civic loyalty and worthy achievement he has signally honored the name which he bears and which has been indissolubly linked with the history of Clayton county since the early pioneer days, in fact, for more than fifty years. Such are the sterling citizens who specially merit recognition in this publication. On this present farm, in section 31, Wagner township, Seth Clark was born on the 17th of August, 1860, and he is a son of Milo P. and Mary (Lundbeck) Clark, the former of whom was born in the State of New York and the latter in Ohio, their marriage having been solemnized in the latter state, on the 20th of May, 1849. Upon coming to Clayton county, about the year 1852, Milo P. Clark obtained one hundred and seventy-six acres of government land, in what is now Wagner township, where, with characteristic vigor and progressiveness, he set himself to the task of reclaiming a farm from the virgin wilds. The measure of his success was large in the passing years, and he eventually became the owner of a valuable domain of four hundred acres, all but twenty-five acres of which is now owned by his son Seth, of this sketch, who was the third in order of birth in the family of five children, of whom the first, Amy E., died in childhood; Jacob is now a substantial citizen of Hancock county, this state, his home being in the thriving little city of Britt; Mary is the wife of Jacob Gehring, of Marion township, Clayton county; and James E. died in infancy. Milo P. Clark was one of the influential and honored pioneer citizens of Clayton county at the time of his death, which occurred March 27, 1901, and his devoted wife soon followed him to the life eternal, so that in death they were not long divided, Mrs. Clark having passed away on the 23d of September of the same year. Seth Clark was reared to manhood on the fine old homestead of which he is now the owner and is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his early educational discipline. He gained an enduring appreciation of the value of honest toil and endeavor and his long and intimate experience has made him a most practical and scientific agriculturalist and stockgrower, for he has from his youth been closely associated with the work and management of the home farm, of all of which-three hundred and seventy-five acres-he has been the proprietor since he was forty-one years of age, the property having come into his possession through direct bequest on the part of his honored parents, the memories of both of whom are held in enduring veneration in the county that represented their home and stage of effective activity for many years. Politically, the father was a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party. He whose name initiates this article is likewise unfaltering in allegiance to the Republican party, and he has been loyal and progressive in the supporting of measures and enterprises that have contributed to the social and material welfare of his home community and native county; the while he has maintained the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem. He has served six years as trustee of Wagner township, besides having held minor offices of local trust. On the 2d of January, 1887, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Annie Embretson,-who was born and reared in this county, where her parents settled in the pioneer days, both having been born in Norway. She is a daughter of Lars and Jane (Nelson) Embretson, representative of that fine Scandinavian element of citizenship that has contributed much to the development and up-building of Clayton county. Her father became one of the pioneer farmers of Wagner township, where he continued to reside until his death and where his widow still maintains her home. Of their children the first-born was Embret, who is deceased; Mrs. Clark was the second in order of birth; Nels operates the old homestead farm in Wagner township; Lena is the wife of Martin Severson, of North Dakota; Knute is associated with his brother in the control of the fine farm developed by their father, as is also Ole, and the widowed mother likewise remains on this place, which is endeared to her by the hallowed memories and associations of the past. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have two children-Alvin and Joel. Alvin is associated in the work and management of the home farm, and on the 18th of April, 1914, he wedded Miss Helen Landsgard, who likewise was born and reared in this county. Joel is successfully associated with agricultural pursuits in Boardman township. The attractive home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark is one of the fine rural residences of Clayton county, is known for its generous and unostentatious hospitality, and receives mail service on rural route No. 3 from Elkader, the county seat. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; page 72-74 |