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LEWIS DELANCEY CLARK
The family represented by this pioneer business man of Elsinore comes of old eastern pedigree and the genealogy
is traced back to the colonial era of our country's history. The paternal grandfather, George Livington Clark,
a native of the vicinity of Utica, N. Y., and a farmer by occupation, was a direct descendant of George Livingston
Clark, an Englishman by birth, education and ancestry, and the founder in the new world of a long line of posterity
indissolubly associated with the early development of our nation. Himself a tiller of the soil and a man of fine
parts, the original immigrant left to posterity the record of a stainless character and honorable existence devoted
to family and country. In the fervor of his patriotism tradition has it that he displayed unusual zeal in behalf
of the land of his adoption.
The family of George Livingston Clark consisted of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, among them
a son, Joseph Sidney, who was born in Oneida, N. Y., in 1829, and passed away January 6, 1900, at the age of seventy
one years His was a life of toil on the frontier. As migration turned toward the west he followed the "star
of empire" in its course. While still young in years he settled in the lake region of Wisconsin and developed
a home in Dodge county, where his son, Lewis D., was born December 18, 1851. About 1858 the family loaded their
household necessities into a "prairie schooner" and with a team of oxen for motive power they, in company
with others numbering eighty five persons and sixteen wagons, drove slowly through the southern part of Wisconsin,
across Illinois and into Missouri, where they engaged in the stock business in Cooper county. Two and one half
years were spent in Missouri and in 1861 they went north as far as Iowa, settling at Knoxville, Marion county.
The wife and mother, Adaline Elizabeth (Baker) Clark, who was born in Providence, R. I., in 1832, now makes her
home at Guthrie Center, Guthrie county, Iowa, and has two children still living. The marriage of the parents took
place in Watertown, Wis., February 23, 1851.
When about ten years of age Lewis D. Clark became identified with agricultural work in Iowa and there he attended
the country schools. Although reared to familiarity with agriculture be had a preference for business pursuits
and as soon as he started out for himself he learned the tinner's trade, which he followed for five years. Later
he engaged in the hardware business for eight years. Upon disposing of his holdings in Iowa he came to California
in 1885 and settled at Elsinore, where ever since he has conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment. The
business is the oldest in the place and the proprietor has a reputation for energy of character, courtesy of manner
and honesty of commercial transactions. When he came here he found a hamlet of insignificant proportions and little
apparent promise. It has been his privilege to witness the gradual development of the town and to aid in its material
upbuilding. Through his service as a member of the school board and in other capacities he has been instrumental
in advancing the permanent welfare of the community. His interest in local advancement has been continuous and
his pride in civic growth steadfast. Since 1873 he has been a Mason and since removing to the west he has held
membership with the blue lodge at Elsinore, whose philanthropies have been the recipient of his generous contributions.
While still a resident of Iowa and a business man of that state, Mr. Clark was united in marriage at Newton, October
6, 1875, with Miss Mary Allie May Hardesty, who was born in Ohio December 18, 1854, the daughter of an Ohio couple,
both now deceased. Mrs. Clark passed away February 23, 1908, and was buried in the Elsinore cemetery. Six children
blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark. The eldest, Harry Richard, born at Mitchellville. Iowa, July 22, 1876,
married Miss Clara E. Maloon and resides at Los Angeles. The second child, Beatrice Zora, born at Guthrie Center,
Iowa, April 20, 1882, has charge of the home since her mother's death. Alfred C., an electrician, was born at Guthrie
Center April 28, 1884, and Delancey Sidney at Elsinore March 9, 1887, the latter being now a carpenter at Chino,
Cal. The younger daughter, Adaline May, born at Elsinore March 3, 1889, is the wife of John Coulter Neblett, a
native of Tennessee, now living in Riverside. The youngest member of the family circle, Wallace Irwin, born at
Elsinore November 8, 1897, is now a student in the local schools.
From:
History of Riverside County, California
With a Biographical Review
History by Elmer Wallace Holmes
And other well known writers
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California 1912
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