Representative John Clark View All Years

HON. JOHN CLARK.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare and present suitable resolutions respecting the life, character and public service of the Hon. John Clark, late a member of this House in the Tenth General Assembly, begs leave to report the following:

The subject of this memorial was born December 9, 1817, at Oxford, Massachusetts, and died August 2, 1906, at Albia, Iowa. He emigrated to the Hawkeye State in 1841, seven years before the commonwealth was admitted into the Union, and he continued his residence in the “beautiful land” until his death. He was a pioneer of unfailing energy, of invincible determination, of intrepid courage. In the years of his earlier vigor he was actively interested in every enterprise which promised to promote the welfare or to enlarge the happiness of his people. No man in southern Iowa contributed more than he to the erection of schools, to the organization of churches, to the foundation of homes, and to the establishment of the enlightened civilization now so uniform throughout the State. His convictions were always positive, but he so tempered his judgments with charity that he rarely offered offense. He was a man who estimated modestly his own merits, but his countrymen recognized his peculiar qualifications for the public service, and he occupied many official positions of trust and responsibility. In all the avenues of activity in which he was engaged his labor was conscientiously performed, and every confidence reposed in him was faithfully redeemed. And so he came to the evening of life with love, honor, obedience, troope of friends to accompany his old age. His days were lengthened beyond four score years and they were full to overflowing of efficient service and its rich reward. And when the grim messenger beckoned him to his eternal home, he lifted his voice to the Savior who died that he might be redeemed, and he said with the tender trustfulness of a little child:

“Thy will, not mine, be done.”

The world was better for his having lived in it, and his earthly pilgrimage was an acceptable preparation for the higher sphere into which he has entered.

Resolved, That the foregoing memorial be entered upon the Journal of the House and that an engrossed transcript thereof be presented to the bereaved family of the deceased.

N. E. KENDALL,

N. J. LEE,

L. F. SPRINGER,

Committee.

Adopted February 23, 1907.