WILLIAM CLARK
July 7, 1828 - Mar. 19, 1918
July 7, 1828 - Mar. 19, 1918
OBITUARY
William Clark, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Westerville, was born July 7, 1828 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the famous battle ground, and died Tuesday evening, March 19, 1918. He would have been, therefore, at his next birthday, ninety years old. His father before him lived to the unusual age of ninety-four years. Mr. Clark's parents are buried in Otterbein Cemetery.
In 1840 Mr. Clark's parents moved from Gettysburg to Delaware County, Ohio, and in 1850 the family came to Westerville that the children might attend college. And here William Clark has spent the greater part of his life. His brother James A. Clark was graduated from Otterbein in 1859, and John, Thompson, and George completed a part of the college course here but when the war broke out they joined, with that large company of Otterbein men who have brought high honor to the college, the armies of the Union. Indeed five of the sons of this family were with the armies at one time. James A. Clark was Superintendent of Schools at New London, Ohio, for many years. John was Superintendent of schools here for a time, and Thompson was a teacher in, and for many years county examiner for, Delaware county.
At his country's call Mr. Clark joined the patriotic corps known as the Squirrel Hunters to protect the state from Morgan's threatened raid. He was discharged from this service March 4, 1863 and four months later he enlisted in the National Guard and was color bearer in the 133rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Among his treasured papers is his honorable discharge signed by the beloved Lincoln.
By trade Mr. Clark was a carpenter. As such, he was a workman who needed not to be ashamed, for in this trade he carried out his ideals of perfection and of justice to his fellow man. Many homes in Westerville and the surrounding country bear evidence of how well he wrought.
For a number of years he was the superintendent of the Franklin County Fair, and when the present state fair grounds were laid out he had charge of the construction work and its beauty and excellence is a lasting monument to his memory.
At a prayer meeting held in his home by Rev. S. F. Daugherty, D.D., when he was pastor of the United Brethren church here he expressed a desire to accept Christ as his Savior. His religion was not outspoken but the Golden Rule was his creed. He had an interest in everything that pertained to the advancement and up building of Westerville, and the welfare of humanity everywhere. In the last election on the issue of statewide prohibition, when he was scarcely able to leave home he was taken to the polling booth by a friend, saying that he wanted to strike one more blow at the liquor business, and with a feeble hand that had to be guided in its movement, he registered himself again as opposed to the disreputable saloon.
The long years of his retirement made necessary by his affliction, made his home mean everything to him, and it is there he will be missed the most. He ever shrank from public life and his whole career might be summed up in Gray's beautiful lines:
"Along the cool sequestered vale of life
He kept the even tenor of his way."
Mr. Clark was twice married. To the first union there survives one son, John __ Clark ________, ____ leaves a widow and one surviving son, William L. in the home, and three brothers survive him from the family of ten children.
Public Opinion - March 28, 1918
|
