clarko
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
ORVILL CLARK is one of the pioneers
of Douglas county and resides now on his place about a mile south from
Waterville, where he settled in 1884. He has improved the farm well
and in addition to raising diversified crops, has given his attention to
raising horses.
Orvill Clark was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
on May 18, 1838, the son of Elias S. and Mary A. (Fletcher) Clark, natives
of New York and Canada, respectively, and descendants of old colonial stock.
Mr. Clark was educated in the public schools of his native state and at
the age of nineteen, went to work for himself. He operated his farm
in Michigan until 1878, then started to California to seek his health.
He got no farther than Laramie, Wyoming, and there remained for one year.
Being improved, he returned to Michigan, sold his property and journeyed
to Colorado. After tilling the soil for sometime in that state, he
went on to San Francisco and thence made his way to Spokane. It was
on March 30, 1884, that Mr. Clark took his present place by a squatter's
right and since that time he has been one of the steady laborers for progress
and development of this county. Mr. Clark has four brothers and two
sisters, Albert, Andrew C., L. Frank, Russell A., Mrs. Adeline Raymond,
and Mrs. Mandany M. Petty.
At Stockbridge, Bingham county, Michigan,
on September 4, 1859, Mr. Clark married Miss Adeline Carr, a native of
Wheatfield, in the same county. Her parents were William and Mary
Carr, descendants from early colonial stock. The fruit of this union
is Scott E., born in Wheatfield, Michigan, now a farmer in Clinton, that
state; Floyd B., born in DeWitt, Clinton county, Michigan, also residing
in that state; Flora A., born in Gilford, Michigan, now living in this
county, the wife of Michael McGrew an engineer. Mr. Clark has held
various offices in places where he has lived and is a man of energy and
good judgment.
It is of interest in an article of this kind
to note that Mr. Clark had a full share of the trials and adversities with
the struggling pioneers contemporary with him, in opening this country
and securing a support for himself and his family. Provisions could
only be had in Spokane, one hundred and fifty miles distant. Other
places nearer were simply little supply points where goods were brought
to from Spokane and other places on the railroad and the prices were greatly
in excess of those ruling in Spokane. Consequently men of limited
means could do no better than to take their rigs and make the trip to Spokane,
whence they freighted their supplies to their claims. Mr. Clark had
his part in this and it would take thirteen days and nights to make the
journey and while out he never slept in a house. Those days are past
and now he has the prosperity that his wise labors deserve.
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