Surnames: CLARK DUNN NYGAARD

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 02/01/1919

Clark, William H. (11 Feb 1849 - 24 Jan 1919)

W. H. Clark answered the final summons at about five o'clock Friday afternoon, Jan. 24, 1919, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, after nearly three months illness. The remains were brought to this village (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) Saturday night and conveyed to the Masonic Temple, and in accordance with one of his last requests the funeral services were held in the lodge room, conducted by the order. Rev. C. H. Linley, rector of Christ Episcopal Church of Eau Claire, of which the deceased was a communicant member, officiated and read the Episcopal burial service, Monday afternoon. Rev. W. W. Perry of Milwaukee, Grand Secretary of the Masonic Order, gave the ritualistic work. The services were attended by a large number of relatives and friends of the deceased, Masons from nearby towns, members of the Eastern, and the Modern Woodmen. Burial was in the Garden Valley Cemetery in the family lot beside his wife and two children, who had preceded him to the Great Beyond.

William Henry Clark was born at Lee, Mass., Feb. 11, 1849, and came with his mother to Wisconsin, settling two and a half miles west of what is now the village of Humbird, Clark County, Wis., in May 1857, his father having preceded them the previous fall. He spent his boyhood on the farm, but his parents realizing the need of an education for their son, and he being anxious to receive it , sent him to Pittsfield, Mass. to attend school. The family was without sufficient means to maintain him at the school, but his own resources furnished the lack, but doing odd jobs. At Pittsfield he attended school two years.

Returning in 1870 and after spending two years teaching, Mr. Clark obtained employment in the general store of Houghton & Wilder, which to the present generation is well known as the Brandstedter Store. He later engaged in the mercantile business himself for a period of years.

Following this he interested himself in life insurance matters and at one time was considered an authority on the subject. He was general agent of a prominent insurance company for several years and also served as president of the Masonic Benefit Association. Mr. Clark supplied much of the data that was used n the organization of the Farmers Life Insurance Association. Finding the insurance lines too strenuous in later years, he took up the work of collecting for magazine companies and continued actively engaged until a short time prior to his death. He had for several years made his headquarters in the city of Eau Claire.

Mr. Clark was united in marriage Aug. 6, 1873, WITH Miss Emma Dunn of Garden Valley. They had four children, two sons dying in infancy. Mrs. Clark Died on Feb. 4, 1913. Two children survive, Mrs. Gertrude Nygaard of Oak Park, Ill., and Carroll of Minneapolis, Minn.; also two grandchildren, Dorrence and Helen Nygaard.

During Mr. Clark's long residence in Humbird, he called it home since 1872, he was particularly interested in civic and education affairs. He served as a member of the school board for several terms and was instrumental in placing the schools in the foremost ranks, inasmuch as quality was concerned, in the state. He was also deeply interested in the Masonic Order. He was the first Mason made in Humbird Lodge F. & A. M., and served the lodge as its Worshipful Master for thirteen years. In 1890 he was elected grand junior warden of the Wis. grand lodge; since 1882 he never once failed to attend the annual communications of the grand lodge. He was also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Black River Falls, the Council at Chippewa Falls, and Humbird Chapter O. E. S. Mr. Clark was a mbmer of the Modern Woodmen for the past twenty-five years, and was affiliated with Mound Camp. Last year a fond hope of Mr. Clark's was accomplished in that his family record was established, making him eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. He obtained his certificate and attended the banquet of the Wis. chapter last June in Milwaukee.

There was not another citizen of our village who had as wide an acquaintance as Mr. Clark His occupation for several years brought him into personal touch with many people and his pleasing manner always established friendships, many of which were lasting until broken by death.