Mr. and Mrs. Lige Ryan ~ Lamoni, Iowa
Decatur County Journal
Thursday, May ll, l9l6
WILLIAM CLARK, son of JOSEPH and ELIZABETH CLARK, was born February 2l,
l832, in Belmont County, Ohio, and departed this life at his home near
Pleasanton, Iowa, on April 24, l9l6, being 84 years, 2 months and 3 days
of age.
On May l5, l856, he was united in marriage with MISS ANGELINE KNIGHT and
several years later, with their four children, they came to Iowa where
immediately on landing in their new home among strangers, three of the
children were stricken with diptheria and passed away within three weeks
of each other.A few years later in the year l872, the mother followed
the little ones to their eternal home, thus leaving the father and three
other little ones to mourn their great loss.On May 30, l872, he was
again united in marriage with MISS EDELLA ARNOLD, of Mahaska County, who
preceded him in death August l8, l889.
He spent the greater part of forty years of his life in Mahaska County,
but for the last twenty years has resided in Decatur County, where all
of his children are married and reside except one daughter, and one son
in Mahaska County.MR. CLARK was a man of plain ways and manners, very
conservative and only those who knew him best could estimate his
character and ideals.He was a kind and loving husband and parent, a
good neighbor and friend, always ready to aid those who needed
assistance.He was converted in his early youth and became a member of
the Christian Church, still retaining his membership at the old home
church, Bethel, in Mahaska County.
He departed this life at the home of his daughter and husband, MR. and
MRS. THOMAS WILLIAMS, near Pleasanton, Iowa.Medical skill, loving
attention of children, friends and many kind neighbors was of no avail
against the grim reaper of all mankind, so as peacefully as if he were
going to sleep, he passed into the sleep which knows no awakening until
the angel of the resurrection hands to us again the key of life.
According to the wishes of the deceased and of the family it was decided
to place the father by the children and the companions of his earlier
years.On account of the distance, something over one hundred miles and
inconvenience of making train service, it was decided to make the long
trip by auto.The hour to start was necessarily made early, but not too
early for many kind friends to gather at the home to offer their
assistance and sympathy.Mr. F.S. Stewart, of Leon, took charge of the
service and in a very kindly manner arranged the details necessary for
such a long journey overland.
Those in the funeral cortege were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams, Mr. and
Mrs. John Bibby, Mrs. Frank Williams, all of Pleasanton; Mrs. Lize Ryan,
of Lamoni; and Mr. John Clark, of Decatur City, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Clark,
of Mahaska County; Mr. F.S. Stewart, of Leon, accompanied by J.H. Clark,
driving the hearse across the country to the home of the son in Mahaska
County, where funeral services were held on Wednesday morning at Coal
Creek Church, where interment was made. Rev. Pettit, an old friend of
the family, gave an excellent discourse and the choir rendered beautiful
and appreciative msic, after which the remains were tenderly borne to
the adjacent cemetery where they were laid away to await the final day
of all time.
The immediate relatives near Pleasanton are MR. and MRS. THOMAS
WILLIAMS, MR. and MRS. FRANK WILLIAMS, MR. and MRS. LESLIE CLARK, MR.
and MRS. JOHN BIBBY; others are MR. and MRS. JOHN CLARK, of near Decatur
City; MR. and MRS. LIGE RYAN, of near Lamoni; MR. and MRS. HIGH, of
Doxey, Oklahoma, and MR. and MRS. J.H. CLARK, of Mahaska County.There
are also fourteen granchildren, a sister in Oklahoma, and a brother, MR.
L.C. CLARK, and his son, WM. CLARK, and family, of Unionville, Mo.