Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 527.

JOHN W. CLARK

     a general farmer and progressive business man of Sherman county, resides on
his ranch four miles southeast of the town of Kent. He was born in Illinois, May
13, 1861, the son of Robert and Jane (Chapman) Clark, the father a native of New
York, the mother of Kentucky. The parents of Robert Clark were Canadians, of
English descent. He died in Polk county; Oregon, in May, 1901. The ancestry of
the mother were also, Canadians  and English. She passed from earth in 1871, in
Illinois.
   In the latter state our subject was reared and educated, attending the graded
schools of Bloomington. At this time his father was engaged in the livery
business, and purchasing and shipping horses east. He was a skilled horseman and
well and favorably known throughout the state of Illinois. He was a stanch
Democrat, aspiring to no office for himself, but taking a, patriotic interest in
elections.
     To Polk county, Oregon, the family of our subject removed in 1876. The
following year our subject began life for himself, finding various employments
and learning the carpenter's trade. In 1885 he came to Eastern Oregon and, in
1886, filed on a preemption claim in Grass Valley. Here he remained two years,
disposed of the property and engaged in the livery business. This was at Grant's
Station. He exploited the first, daily stage in Sherman county ; running from
Grant to Rutledge. During the spring of 1889 he returned to Polk county, where
for six years he followed the business of a carpenter. Thence he returned to
Sherman county and for four years was engaged in freighting from The Dalles to
southern points of Oregon. He then secured a homestead four miles southeast of
Kent where he at present resides. He rents other land and, in all, cultivates
about seven hundred acres. 
     July 17, 1887, at Grant's Station, Sherman county, our subject was united
in marriage to Jessie E. Harris, born at Goose Lake, Oregon. She is the daughter
of John and Eliza (Smith) Harris. Her father was born on the plains while his
family were en route to Oregon with ox teams. His parents were natives of
Indiana, coming to Oregon in the early 40's. Her mother was a native of
Missouri, coming to Oregon with her parents when a child. Our subject has two
brothers, George, in Portland, and Robert, a Benton county stockman. His wife
has four brothers and three sisters ; Wesley, an east Oregon stockman ; William,
a stock buyer ; Frank, at Grass Valley ; George, with his parents, at Grass
Valley ; Leona, single; Clare, wife of Ray Vinton, of Grass Valley ; Beatrice,
married and living at Astoria. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have one child, Jessie B.,
aged fifteen years.
     The political principles of Mr. Clark are in line with those of the
Republican party. He has been road supervisor and school director, and is a
popular man and highly esteemed in his community.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.