Polk Co. IAGenWeb

CLARK, CHARLES J.— Of the firm of Geo. C. Baker & Co., hardware dealers, and manufacturers and jobbers of tinware. Was born in Onondaga county, New York, November 15, 1835, where he lived until 1852. He received all the advantages of a common school education, supplemented by two years of academic study. In 1852 he came west with his parents, and located in McHenry county, Ills., and four years later removed to Fountain county, Ind., where he continued to reside until 1859. He then came to Polk county. In September, 1860, he was married to Miss Calista Kellison, a native of Indiana. Their family consists of three sons and one daughter: John F., Charles J., George Ward, and Clara L. On the breaking out of the rebellion Mr. Clark entered the service as first lieutenant of company A, Tenth Iowa infantry, in August, 1861, and was with that regiment until January, 1862, when he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. Soon afterward, having regained his health, he recruited a company for the Twenty-third Iowa infantry, in August, 1862, and was elected their captain. The following December he was promoted major, and lieutenant-colonel in June, 1863, and remained with the regiment in that capacity until the close of the war. He participated in the following batties: Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, Milliken's Bend, seige of Vicksburg, Fort Esperanza, Texas, and siege of Mobile. Such is the brief outline of the life of one whose career has been marked by enterprise, energy, pure motives and honest effort. He has made himself what he is, a worthy type of independent manhood.