This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CLARK, BRAZELTON, HILL Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/292 Message Board Post: The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., June 27, 1918, page 4 NEWTON CLARK, PIONEER, IS DEAD A telephone message conveying news of the death in Portland Friday of Newton Clark, prominent Hood River pioneer, brought a shock to the general public and grief to his Grand Army comrades. Fond of the out of doors, Mr. Clark spent much time in early days in exploring the mid-Colombia. Newton Clark glacier on Mount Hood was named for him. He is a past commander of the Department of Oregon, Grand Army. A native of Illinois, Mr. Clark participated for four years in the Civil war in Co. K 14th Wisconsin volunteers. He was in 14 battles under General Grant. After the war Mr. Clark and his wife moved to South Dakota, where he built the first frame house in Minnehaha county. For several years he was engaged in surveying the public land of South Dakota. Clark county of that state is named for him. He was a member of the South Dakota legislature. Mr. Clark and his family came here in 1877, locating on a West Side place, a part of which the pioneer owned at the time of his death. He established many of the section lines of the mid-Columbia country. The pioneer was a charter member of the local Ancient Order of the United Workmen, the first fraternal organization established in Hood River. He had been grand recorder of the organization for many years, and for the past several months had been in Portland engaged in fraternal work. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge and Canby Post, G.A.R., of this city. Members of the Masonic lodge and Canby Post participated in the funeral services held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Riverside Congregational church. Mr. Clark is survived by his widow, a son, W.L. Clark, and a daughter, Mrs. W.B. Brazelton, of Portland. Members of pioneer families, G.A.R. men and fraternal brothers of Mr. Clark crowded the Riverside church Sunday to pay their last respects to Newton Clark, 80 year old pioneer. Rev. J.L. Hershner preached the funeral sermon, assisted in the services by Rev. M.L. Hutton. With the exception of E.L. Smith, Mr. Clark was the last of the charter members of Riverside Lodge, A.O.U.W., the first Hood River fraternal organization, granted a charter in 1882. He was a charter member of the Minnehaha Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of Sioux Falls, N.D. A party of the grand lodge officers of the Oregon organization of A.O.U.W. were here for the funeral services. Mr. Clark entered the Civil war as a private, but soon reach the rank of first lieutenant. His command fired the first shots at the battle of Corinth. Because of illness, Mr. Clark’s wife, who is at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W.B. Brazelton, Portland, was unable to attend the funeral. ----------------------------- The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., June 26, 1918, page 1 EVENTFUL LIFE OF NEWTON CLARK ENDS Newton Clark, one of the best-known pioneer settlers of the county passed away Friday in Portland. Mr. Clark suffered a stroke of paralysis shortly before his death and his advanced age -- he was just past 80 -- made it impossible for him to survive the shock. The remains were brought to Hood River Sunday morning and the funeral was held at Riverside Congregational church at one o’clock. The casket was heaped with a great profusion of beautiful flowers. These came from his host of friends and from the fraternal orders of which he had been a member. After a selection by the quartet, Rev. M.L. Hutton read appropriate selections from the Scriptures. Rev. J.L. Hershner then gave a biographical sketch of Mr. Clark, together with a eulogy of his virtues as a soldier, a pioneer, a fraternal brother, a husband and father. Members of Canby Post, G.A.R., then took charge and conducted their impressive funeral service. At its conclusion adjournment was taken to Idlewilde Cemetery. Here the members of Hood River Lodge, A.F. & A.M. held their services. George H. Castner being in charge. Newton Clark was born in Illinois on May 27, 1838. While he was a small boy his parents moved to Wisconsin as pioneer settlers of that state. Mr. Clark grew to manhood there, receiving his education in the district schools and later at the Points Bluffs Institute, where he graduated with high honors. He studied surveying and followed that profession for many years. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Clark moved into the Territory of Dakota, where he took up a homestead two miles from the present city of Sioux Falls. He built the first frame house in Minnehaha county. Politically, Mr. Clark was an active and influential Republican. While a resident of Dakota he was a member of the territorial legislature and made an excellent record in that body. He was chairman of the board of county commissioners in Minnehaha county for a number of years and Clark county was named in his honor. In September, 1861, Mr. Clark enlisted in the 14th Volunteer Infantry, Company K, as private, and was mustered out in October, 1865, as regular quartermaster. He was in 14 of the principal battles under General Grant and served through the western campaign. He also participated in the Red River campaign under General Canby and was with him at the siege of Mobile one peace was declared. Mr. Clark furnished the flag put up on the Vicksburg courthouse when the war was ended. Since the war he has been prominent in the G.A.R. and served one term as department of Oregon. Mr. Clark had served as a grand recorder for the A.O.U.W. in Oregon for 20 years. He resigned at the end of his 20 years service, but had recently been again drafted into service and was holding the office at the time of his death. Driven out of Dakota by a surge of grasshoppers, Mr. and Mrs. Clark drove a team overland to Oregon, arriving here in September, 1877. Here he purchased 160 acres of school land and built a home. From 1878 to 1886 he fulfilled contracts made with the government and surveyed hundreds of acres of the public lands. Much of the land in the upper valley and in the vicinity of Mt. Hood was surveyed by Mr. Clark. He was a pioneer in the ascents of Mt. Hood and one of the mighty glaciers of that peak bears the name of Newton Clark. He was also one of the party of pioneers who made the discovery of Lost Lake. Mr. Clark was a typical pioneer in the best sense of the word. Stalwart, optimistic, full of energy and courage, he was ready to take the lead in any worthy project, regardless of the effort or privation that it might involve. Gifted with a keen sense of humor, he was always a pleasant companion. The ability to recount interestingly his many experiences was also his and his fund of anecdote and experience was inexhaustible. He always took a keen interest in civic and political affairs and was ever ready to serve his country in peace as well as war. On October 14, 1860, at North Freedom, Wisconsin, Mr. Clark married Mary A. Hill, a native of Scotland. She survives him, as do also two children, Mrs. W.H. Brasselton of Portland and W.L. Clark, of this city. -------------------------------- The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., June 26, 1918, page 4 NEWTON CLARK The memory of Newton Clark will be cherished by all who knew him. He was the kind of man whom it is good to know, for he possessed those qualities of virile, active, courageous manhood which prompt admiration and regard. Few names have been linked more closely with the early history of Hood River than that of Newton Clark. A pioneer by right of heredity, a natural leader and endowed with a keen, aggressive mind, it was inevitable that he should be found at the forefront in every worthy endeavor. As a soldier, a pioneer, and explorer and a citizen his record was true blue. In Hood River, where the greater part of his life was spent, the name of the Newton Clark has been written to deeply upon the hearts of his friends to be soon forgotten. ----------------------------------- The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., June 27, 1918, page 2 NEWTON CLARK Most of the newer residents of Hood River Valley did not know him as they should. They would have profited by a friendship with Newton Clark. He was a man without ostentation but as solid as was ever born. A soldier, and a fighting one, for four years of his early manhood, and then a frontiersman, he experienced life as men of the following generations could not. It was a privilege to hear him recount tales of the days of the past. As everlasting as the hills and mountain crags he loved were the principles and rugged honesty of Newton Clark. He was loyal to the things he believed in and fought untiringly for their accomplishment. But few men knew that Mr. Clark had passed the age of 80 years. He walked with erectness and his step was firm. News of his death brought a shock of grief to all here last Friday. His comrades, men who knew him best, and loved him, and the families of pioneers, heard the sad news with pains of deepest regrets. Another of our pioneers has gone on the long trail, and we will miss him. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.