John Clark Spent Years
as Rancher and Board Official

Clark, John, spent his life as farmer & rancher. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. On October 19, 1875, he married Elizabeth "Eliza" Thompson of Valcartier, Quebec Province, Canada. In 1880, Mr. Clark came to Bismarck. Mrs. Clark with 2 small children arrived 6 months later. Mrs. Clark, a member of the Presbyterian Church, was always willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors & others -- a trait of the pioneers. She bore 9 children, John (1883-1884); Andrew (1890-1897); Eleanor Suverly, Mandan, formerly of Livona (1876-1939), raised a family of 10 children; Janie Lee of Rapid City, SD, 4 sons (a grandson studying for the ministry); Curtis Clark of Buffalo, SD, married Sarah Smith & they have 9 children; Susan McDonnell, 413 Second St., Bismarck, 1 daughter Eliza Yvonne, now Mrs. W.W. Donaldson, who resides in Bismarck. Leslie married Gladys Doehle & lives on the old homestead, & they have 1 son, Wayne, a student at Bismarck High School; Mamie Clark, now of Hazelton, Eliza O'Callaghan, Hazelton, has 2 sons, both veterans of World War II & her eldest son, Garry, is serving as Veterans Service officer at Linton (also farming) & James is attending Butler University, Indianapolis, IN.

Mr. Clark on his arrival at Bismarck worked 3 months for Dan Manning & for Frank Donnelly the winter of 1880-1881. During Mr. Clark's spare time, he chopped & hewed logs with which to build a house, placing them on a rise of ground, where Mr. Manning said they would be safe, but in the spring of 1881, the flood waters washed them away causing a repetition of the work. In the latter part of 1881, Mr. Clark squatted on a piece of land on a reservation 10 miles south of Bismarck, where he & Mrs. Clark lived. They celebrated their golden anniversary October 19, 1925. In the winter of 1881, a stirring incident occurred to Mrs. Clark, which was alone for the day. When a number of Indians from Standing Rock Agency & bound for northern parts, stopped at the house. When she saw them coming, she rolled a 300-pound meat block against the door, but this was no obstacle to them & in pushing the block, they loosened the door's hinges & entered. They demanded something to eat. The two small children were so frightened they crawled under the bed. A couple of Indians followed & looked under at them. While Mrs. Clark was preparing the meal & they were standing about the room, one redskin took a knife from his pocket & began sharpening it on his coat sleeve, then Mrs. Clark went to the door & called her husband's name pretending he was near. At this point, an Indian produced a slip of paper & showed it to her; it being a government pass. After they had eaten, they made signs of thanks, & proceeded on their way.

Another incident happened about 1890, when an Indian outbreak was reported to settlers along the river. The people of the community packed a few belongings on their wagons & hastened to Bismarck in the night. Stayed at Custer House, but were able to return home the next day.

Source: Bismarck Tribune via NewspaperArchive.com

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebrated;
Celebrants Have Been Residents of
North Dakota for Past 45 Years

On October 19, 1875, Miss Eliza Thompson became the bride of Mr. John Clark, the wedding being solemnized in Quebec, Canada, and 50 years later, at their home south of Bismarck, the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, with their friends during the day.

5 years after their marriage, Mr. & Mrs. Clark came to North Dakota and have made this state their home for the past 45 years. The story of their life during those years is undoubtedly filled with the stirring incidents that made up the history of North Dakota's development.

9 children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, 7 of whom are now living. They are Mrs. Sherman Suverly of Livona, Mrs. William Lee of Rapid City, SD, Mrs. J.H. McDonnell and Mrs. Garry O'Callaghan of Hazelton, and Mamie and Leslie Clark of the home address. John and Andrew are the sons who are dead. 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren complete the family group.

Mr. Clark was born in 1851 in Quebec and his wife in 1859 at the same place. Their large circle of friends throughout the community extend wishes for many more years of happy married life.

Source: Bismarck Tribune, October 19, 1925
via: Allen & Elaine (Marquart) O'Callaghan
Allen is grandson of Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan

Resident Here 61 Years,
Notes His 90th Birthday

90 years of living, 61 of them in Burleigh County, were celebrated Sunday by John Clark, pioneer Burleigh county resident feted by friends & relatives on his 90th birthday anniversary Sunday.

Mr. Clark came to Dakota Territory in July of 1880 & has lived in this area ever since. He was born in the Canadian province of Quebec in 1851. Here to help him celebrate his birthday Sunday was a brother, William Clark, 81. Still strong & active despite his advanced age, Mr. Clark often recalls the early years of his life in what is now Burleigh County. 6 months after he blazed the way here, his wife & 2 of their children followed him. He chopped down the trees & hewed the logs which make their first log cabin. The cabin was built on a rise of ground near the Missouri river, which he believed would be safe from water. But in 1881, a big flood swept the entire structure away, forcing him to repeat his work. Mrs. Clark, before her marriage, was Eliza Thompson. They were married October 19, 1875, at Valcartier, Quebec. In 1925, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Clark died May 26, 1930.

One incident Mr. Clark recalls occurred in the winter of 1881, on a day when Mrs. Clark was at home alone. A party of Indians from the Standing Rock Agency northward bound, stopped at the Clark home. When Mrs. Clark saw them approaching, she rolled a 300-pound meat block against the door but the obstacle was nothing to the Indians. They pushed the door loose from its hinges, entering the house & demanding something to eat. Mrs. Clark knew there was nothing she could do but satisfy their demands, so she prepared a meal for them. While she was doing this, she noticed 1 member of the party whisk a knife from his pocket & began sharpening it upon his sleeve. Frightened, she rushed to the door & called for her husband, pretending that he was close at hand. Thereupon, the Indians produced a slip of paper & showed it to her; it proved to be a government "pass". After they had finished their meal, the Indians made the "Sign of Thanks" & proceeded on their way.

Late in 1881, Mr. Clark took property 10 miles south of Bismarck, & engaged in farming; he has lived on that farm ever since.

9 children were born to Mr. & Mrs. Clark. 3 have preceded their father in death. Living are Mrs. Jane Lee of Rapid City, SD; Mrs. Susie McDonnell, 413 Second St, Bismarck, ND; Curtis Clark of Camp Cook, SD; Mrs. Eliza O'Callaghan of Hazelton, ND; and Mamie & Leslie Clark, who live with their father. In addition to the children, there are 25 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, & 4 great-great grandchildren.

Source: Bismarck Tribune
via: Allen & Elaine (Marquart) O'Callaghan
Allen is grandson of Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan

Pioneer Resident Observes
91st Birthday Sunday

John Clark, Burleigh County resident for 61 years, was the honor guest Sunday when 15 relatives & friends attended a party in observance of this 91st birthday. The party was held at the Clark home in rural Bismarck, where Mr. Clark resides with his daughter Miss Mamie Clark, & his son Leslie, & the latter's family.

Mr. Clark, who is healthy, active, & able to continue work on his farm, was born in Valcartier, Quebec. He was married in 1875 & 5 years later came to Dakota Territory, where he settled on his present farm. His brother, William, now 82 years of age, joined him here & lives on a nearby farm.

Mr. Clark has 6 children, 27 grandchildren, & 30 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Clark died in 1930.

Among those present at the celebration were 3 daughters, Mrs. James H. McDonnell & family, 413 Second St., Mrs. Garry O'Callaghan & family of Hazelton, & Mrs. W.H. Lee & her son William, of Rapid City, SD. A son, Curtis Clark, of Camp Crook, SD was unable to attend. Other guests were a granddaughter Miss Vonnie Nicholson, Miss Helen Doehle, August Doehle, & William Donaldson, all of Bismarck.

Source: Bismarck Tribune
via: Allen & Elaine (Marquart) O'Callaghan
Allen is grandson of Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan

Another Link Breaks

Another link in the chain binding this region to pioneer days broke Sunday with the death of John Clark, who came to Burleigh County in 1880 and had lived here ever since.

What such a man meant to the life of this nation cannot easily be calculated. Anyone who leaved behind him 25 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren has come closer to founding an American dynasty than did J.P. Morgan, who died recently leaving a great accumulation of money. Mr. Clark met the true definition of "pioneer" which has been laid down by North Dakota newspapers for the guidance of young reporters, but which has been often ignored in the exigencies of headline writing. Technically, a pioneer is one who lived in this state before it was admitted to the Union in 1889. If one wished to split hairs, it might be further specified that he must have reached adult years before that period, for those who were born here before 1889 cannot claim to be pioneers in the sense that they came to a new and undeveloped country and helped with their strength and courage – and their children – to develop it. To have merited the respect and affection of his neighbors by being friendly and loyal to them; to have contributed to the progress of his race and times; to have reared a fine family of American citizens. These are not distinctions to be considered lightly. Mr. Clark had them all and thus he goes to his grave with the dignity of his advanced age and the knowledge that he has made a real contribution to our place and time.

One does not mourn the passing of the very aged with the same poignancy that marks the death of the young and vigorous, but it is well to ponder the records of this man and, in so far as we can, to emulate it. All who do so then may find the same satisfactions which must have come to him when he wrapped the mantle of his couch about him and laid him down to pleasant dreams.

Source: Bismarck Tribune
via: Allen & Elaine (Marquart) O'Callaghan
Allen is grandson of Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan

Pallbearers are J.W. McDonald, Roy Small, Emory Woodworth, Ramus Robinson, William B. Falconer, & James Robidou.

Editor's Note: Manning Township is now known as Missouri Township.