My Genealogy Hound

Edgar Clark, county collector of Dade County, Mo., was born in Benton County, Mo., in 1841, and is one of the prominent citizens of the county. He is the son of John B. and Margaret (Homer) Clark, the former a native of New Jersey, born in 1794, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1801. John B. Clark was of Scotch descent, and was a cabinet-maker by trade. When a young man, or about 1815, he went to Harrisburg, Penn., and was there married to Miss Horner, In 1837 they emigrated to Benton County, Mo., and in 1850 Mr. Clark went overland to California, to seek for his share of the hidden wealth. In 1853 he returned to Missouri and settled, in Dadeville. During about three years of the war he was in Washington, D. C. He died in 1878 at Springfield, Mo., where he had lived three years. He was representative in the lower house from a county in Pennsylvania, and was a member of the State Senate in Missouri from Dade County, being elected in 1866. His wife died in 1877. They were the parents of nine children: Robert A., of Springfield, Mo., engaged in milling; Louisa, widow of Charles Clark, in Warsaw, Benton County, Mo.; Samson S., proprietor of Washington Hotel, in Greenfield; Eliza J., widow of T. S. Switzler, at Billings, Mo,; John B., clerk in pension department at Washington, D. C.; Mary G., wife of James Mackelworth, in Waxahachie, Texas; Charles P., deceased; Edgar; and Margaret A., wife of Charles A. Prentice, in Washington, D. C. Edgar grew to manhood on a farm, and came to Dade County when he was but a lad. July 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company L, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and was in the fight at Prairie Grove, and was also in numerous skirmishes. He was discharged July 2, 1865, at Baton Rouge, La., and afterward returned to Dadeville, Mo., where he commenced clerking in a general store. In 1867 he and E. R. Hughes and E. J. Morris formed a partnership, and the firm title was Morris, Clark and Hughes, thus continuing until 1881, when Mr. Morris withdrew and Mr. Clark and Hughes moved their stock to Everton, and there continued until 1885. Since that time Mr. Clark has been salesman in McLemore Bros.’ store at Everton. In November, 1888, Mr. Clark was elected county collector of Dade County by a majority of 162. In 1870 he married Miss Eliza Morris, a native of Cass County, Mo., born in 1843, and the daughter of Mount Etna Morris. Four children were the result of this union: Joannah, Maggie, Jennie and Edgar C. In his political views Mr. Clark affiliates with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Everton Post No. 369, G. A. R. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Christian Church.