Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 386.
 
HON. JOHN F. CLARK

     Hon. John F. Clark, a member of the thirty-fourth legislature of Oregon,
has long been an outstanding figure in legal circles of Oregon City and is also
one of its well known abstractors. A native of Lawrence county, Missouri, he was
born in 1860 and in both the paternal and maternal lines traces his ancestry to
the colonial epoch in American history. His parents were P. F. and Margaret Jane
(Marsh) Clark, the latter a native of North Carolina and a descendant of a
Huguenot family. P. F. Clark was a Kentuckian and left the south in his youth.
During the Civil war he enlisted in Company A, of the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry,
winning the commission of first lieutenant, and afterward joined the Grand Army
of the Republic. In 1874 he brought his family to Oregon, settling in Polk
county, near Salem, and there spent the remainder of his life. He attained the
advanced age of ninety years, passing away in 1921, and had long survived his
wife, who died in 1896. To their union were born four children: Elizabeth, who
married J. A. Cochrane and is deceased; Caroline, who became the wife of J. N.
Gibson and has also passed away; Addie E., a teacher in the Highland school at
Portland, Orgeon; and John F.
     The last named attended the public schools of Missouri and received his
higher education in McMinnville College, which awarded him the degree of Master
of Arts in 1888. Before completing his course he was an instructor in the
college and after his graduation continued as an educator for three years,
teaching also for two years in Polk county and for one year in Amity, Yamhill
county. On the expiration of that period he became identified with the machinery
business, managing a branch house, and in 1894 came to Oregon City. At that time
he opened an abstract office and afterward incorporated the business, which he
has since conducted under the style of the Clackamas Abstract & Trust Company.
This is the oldest abstract company in Oregon City and throughout its existence
the firm has borne an unassailable reputation for efficiency and reliability.
For some time before the inception of this business Mr. Clark had been reading
law and in September, 1897, was admitted to the bar. He has practiced in Oregon
City for thirty years and the court records bear proof of his power as an
attorney, showing that he has successfully handled many important cases. His
office is situated in the Oregon City Bank building and his clientele has
assumed large proportions.
     In 1892 Mr. dark married Miss Nina A. Latourette, who was born near Oregon
City and died in 1893. She was a daughter of L. D. C. Latourette and a member of
a family that was established in this part of Clackamas county in 1845. Mr.
Clark's second union was with Miss Olivia Jacobs, to whom he was married in
1897. She was born in Ohio and about 1888 came to Oregon with her mother, Mrs.
John Jacobs, settling in Portland. Mr. Jacobs had passed away in Ohio. Mr. and
Mrs. Clark have a daughter, Margaret, who is the wife of G. J. Park and a
resident of San Bernardino, California.                    
     A strong republican, Mr. Clark is an influential figure in Oregon politics
and for three terms was secretary of the county central committee. In 1927 he
took his seat in the lower house of the general assembly of Oregon and gives
deep thought to the measures brought before that law-making body, supporting all
progressive legislation.  He was a school director and for three terms has been
one of the councilmen of West Linn, of which he was also fire chief. At one time
he was assistant fire chief of Oregon City and aided in organizing its Chamber
of Commerce. He maintains an office in the Oregon City Bank building but has
lived in West Linn since 1902 and takes a leading part in community affairs.
Along fraternal lines he is identified with the Masonic order and both he and
his wife are connected with the Eastern Star, of which he was a patron for four
terms. At Oregon City he became a charter member of the local lodge of the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has held all of the chairs in the Odd
Fellows lodge, also belongs to the Encampment, the United Artisans and the
Woodmen of the World. At all points in his career Mr. Clark has been actuated by
a keen sense of duty and honor and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his
fellowmen.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.