JOHN CLARK1828-

John Clark was born November 13, 1828 in Gunthorpe, Norfolk County England, the son of James Clark and Phoebe Newton.

John came to America when he was 7 years old with his parents and four sisters, Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, and Emily. The family sailed from Yarmouth, England in the spring of 1835 on the ship "Brunswick". With stops in Quebec and Montreal they made their way to New York and probably arrived there sometime in July12. Click here to read John Clark's account of his voyage to America. To America

For the first three years the Clarks lived in Genesee County NY where his father, James, worked for a General Wadsworth. After he had saved enough money the family moved west to Illinois, settling in the town of Kishwaukee in Winnebago County. The town's name was later changed to New Milford

About 1845. John's grandparents, James and Elizabeth (Scheft) Clark, along with two uncles, Samuel and Robert Clark and their families, and two cousins, Jonathon and James Clark, also immigrated to the US, joining them in Illinois. On August 17, 1847 John's father purchased 80 acres of farm land in Seward, township, about 3 1/2 miles from Rockford, IL. In September of that same year he purchased an additional 40 acres adjoining the 80. He built a log home at first then later a larger home as the family grew. John's uncles, Samuel and Robert Clark, also purchased farms nearby and his grandparents lived with his uncle Robert and his wife Susan. His cousins, Jonathan and James Clark, eventually purchased farms of their own. See Index of Surnames for information on the the Clark.

John's parents, James and Phoebe Clark were the parents of 11 children:

Margaret Clark who married 1. Nelson Bates and 2. Wm Withers
John Clark who married Esther Palmer
Elizabeth Clark who married 1. Aurial Butts and 2. Henry Hibbard
Martha Clark, Died young unmarried
Emily Clark, Died young unmarried
Robert W. Clark who married Mary Locke
James Newton Clark who married Eunice Coolidge
Isaac B. Clark who died in the Civil War, unmarried.
Franklin M. Clark who married Eliza Coolidge (sister of Eunice Coolidge)
Newell D. Clark who married Salome Anderson
Doane O. Clark who married Kathleen Broadie

John Clark was married to Esther Palmer in Winnebago County, IL on December 26, 1852. John was a blacksmith by trade. He also repaired and manufactured carriages on his farm in Seward, and later owned shops in Minneapolis. Their five children, Ella, Walter, Frederick, Luther, and Charles were all born in Seward, Il. Esther Palmer had moved to Seward in 1849 with her father and step-mother, and several siblings from Norwich, CT. In 1868. John and Esther were persuaded to move to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Esther's half-sister, Abbie Palmer Woodward, and her husband Jasper had previously moved. See Esther's diaries which describe their move to Minneapolis. Diaries

In 1868 John and Esther were persuaded to move to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Esther's half-sister, Abbie Palmer Woodward, and her husband, Jasper, had previously moved. John opened a blacksmith and carriage making shop again, which he operated until his death. John died on Sept 11, 1902 and Esther died January 2, 1911

Former home of the Clark family in Gunthorpe, Norfolk County, England. A Clark relative visited Gunthorpe in the 1980's, took the two photos of the home and church. He wrote the following on the back of the photo:

"This house at Gunthorpe, England, known as "school house" and used now as a "Holiday Home", was the home of the Clark family in 1830.

The exterior of the church has not changed much since the 1820's - slates have replaced tiles and there is a new porch and an extra south chancel window. The tower with its fine checkered flush work battlements has been repaired often- the date of 1808 at eyelevel near its south-east corner marks one restoration. Just to the west the small headstone to Augustine Andrews who died aged 24 in 1743 has mason's tools shown on it, a hint perhaps that he was engaged on earlier repairs when he died. John Towne's grave is near the porch, and the earliest headstone, to Richard Yeule- 1702, is tucked away against the east wall of the chancel.

Notes by R. J. Steffens, Birken Haward (glass) and John Blatchly, March 1977.