THE OLDEST GONE.
Death of Phil. Clark, Johnson County's First White Settler.
Phil Clark died at his home on the Newport Road, this morning, aged eighty-eight. Though ailing long, he has breasted summer's heat and winter's storms, for these many years, and now, with unexpected suddenness, this once sturdy oak topples over, with scarcely a half-day's warning, for he was around as usual, last night. Phil Clark was the first white settler of Johnson county, and his name will live forever in the county's archives.
A wife and one married daughter survive him. An extended memorial notice will appear in these columns later.
--Iowa City Daily Republican, Sept. 11, 1891, page 4, column 4.
In 1836, Philip Clark and Eli Myers, pushing their way on horseback from some point in Indiana, across the broad prairie plains of Illinois, and crossing the Mississippi to its sunset side, came by invitation of John Gilbert to his trading post, on the river. The sound of their axes ringing out the passive woods were the first sounds to the keynote to the coming tide of civilization. Of the two men who laid the foundation of this prosperous county, one is taking his sleep in a distant land, the other still lives within our midst.
Their plowshare was the first to overturn the virgin sod of Johnson County.
--C. W. Irish, Twentieth Annual reunion and picnic of the Johnson County Old Settlers Association, held at Graves' grove, Thursday, August 18, 1886.
History of Johnson County Iowa by Clarence Ray Aurner (Published 1912), pages 20-22, Pioneers and Pioneer Experiences:
With the increase of settlers came divided opinion as to the location of a town site which in time would become the county seat. One party favored a location west of the river and they were determined to name their town Osceola. The other party, under the lead of Gilbert and Clark favored a town east of the river and they selected upon Indian land in what is now section twenty-two East Lucas township for a town site and obtaining consent of the Indians they built thereon a small cabin and employed John Morford to live in it and hold the claim for them when the Indians should sell and vacate the land. After the treaty of 1837 the town site became government land and Clark traded his farm located in 1836 for the Morford claim and proceeded to lay out a large town, giving it the name of Napoleon. A court house was built and on July 4, 1838 Napoleon became the county seat of Johnson County. Philip Clark, after the location of the territorial capital at Iowa City, converted the town of Napoleon into a farm and for many years was one of the foremost farmers and businessmen of the county. In the spring of 1850 Clark gave his brother-in-law power of attorney, left his wife and son and his great farm of 740 acres in his keeping and made his way to the gold mines of California. Clark worked the mines until 1857 and on horseback made his way from Sacramento to Iowa City to find his wife estranged, his great farm sold and his home destroyed by the villainy of his trusted agent and friend. After a long struggle he regained possession of his property. Some years later he sold it and obtained land in Newport township. Though partially blind and much bent with age he remained active in mind and body until his death at his home on September 10, 1891 at age 87.
Death of Phil. Clark, Johnson County's First White Settler.
Phil Clark died at his home on the Newport Road, this morning, aged eighty-eight. Though ailing long, he has breasted summer's heat and winter's storms, for these many years, and now, with unexpected suddenness, this once sturdy oak topples over, with scarcely a half-day's warning, for he was around as usual, last night. Phil Clark was the first white settler of Johnson county, and his name will live forever in the county's archives.
A wife and one married daughter survive him. An extended memorial notice will appear in these columns later.
--Iowa City Daily Republican, Sept. 11, 1891, page 4, column 4.
In 1836, Philip Clark and Eli Myers, pushing their way on horseback from some point in Indiana, across the broad prairie plains of Illinois, and crossing the Mississippi to its sunset side, came by invitation of John Gilbert to his trading post, on the river. The sound of their axes ringing out the passive woods were the first sounds to the keynote to the coming tide of civilization. Of the two men who laid the foundation of this prosperous county, one is taking his sleep in a distant land, the other still lives within our midst.
Their plowshare was the first to overturn the virgin sod of Johnson County.
--C. W. Irish, Twentieth Annual reunion and picnic of the Johnson County Old Settlers Association, held at Graves' grove, Thursday, August 18, 1886.
History of Johnson County Iowa by Clarence Ray Aurner (Published 1912), pages 20-22, Pioneers and Pioneer Experiences:
With the increase of settlers came divided opinion as to the location of a town site which in time would become the county seat. One party favored a location west of the river and they were determined to name their town Osceola. The other party, under the lead of Gilbert and Clark favored a town east of the river and they selected upon Indian land in what is now section twenty-two East Lucas township for a town site and obtaining consent of the Indians they built thereon a small cabin and employed John Morford to live in it and hold the claim for them when the Indians should sell and vacate the land. After the treaty of 1837 the town site became government land and Clark traded his farm located in 1836 for the Morford claim and proceeded to lay out a large town, giving it the name of Napoleon. A court house was built and on July 4, 1838 Napoleon became the county seat of Johnson County. Philip Clark, after the location of the territorial capital at Iowa City, converted the town of Napoleon into a farm and for many years was one of the foremost farmers and businessmen of the county. In the spring of 1850 Clark gave his brother-in-law power of attorney, left his wife and son and his great farm of 740 acres in his keeping and made his way to the gold mines of California. Clark worked the mines until 1857 and on horseback made his way from Sacramento to Iowa City to find his wife estranged, his great farm sold and his home destroyed by the villainy of his trusted agent and friend. After a long struggle he regained possession of his property. Some years later he sold it and obtained land in Newport township. Though partially blind and much bent with age he remained active in mind and body until his death at his home on September 10, 1891 at age 87.
THE OLDEST GONE.
Death of Phil. Clark, Johnson County's First White Settler.
Phil Clark died at his home on the Newport Road, this morning, aged eighty-eight. Though ailing long, he has breasted summer's heat and winter's storms, for these many years, and now, with unexpected suddenness, this once sturdy oak topples over, with scarcely a half-day's warning, for he was around as usual, last night. Phil Clark was the first white settler of Johnson county, and his name will live forever in the county's archives.
A wife and one married daughter survive him. An extended memorial notice will appear in these columns later.
--Iowa City Daily Republican, Sept. 11, 1891, page 4, column 4.
In 1836, Philip Clark and Eli Myers, pushing their way on horseback from some point in Indiana, across the broad prairie plains of Illinois, and crossing the Mississippi to its sunset side, came by invitation of John Gilbert to his trading post, on the river. The sound of their axes ringing out the passive woods were the first sounds to the keynote to the coming tide of civilization. Of the two men who laid the foundation of this prosperous county, one is taking his sleep in a distant land, the other still lives within our midst.
Their plowshare was the first to overturn the virgin sod of Johnson County.
--C. W. Irish, Twentieth Annual reunion and picnic of the Johnson County Old Settlers Association, held at Graves' grove, Thursday, August 18, 1886.
History of Johnson County Iowa by Clarence Ray Aurner (Published 1912), pages 20-22, Pioneers and Pioneer Experiences:
With the increase of settlers came divided opinion as to the location of a town site which in time would become the county seat. One party favored a location west of the river and they were determined to name their town Osceola. The other party, under the lead of Gilbert and Clark favored a town east of the river and they selected upon Indian land in what is now section twenty-two East Lucas township for a town site and obtaining consent of the Indians they built thereon a small cabin and employed John Morford to live in it and hold the claim for them when the Indians should sell and vacate the land. After the treaty of 1837 the town site became government land and Clark traded his farm located in 1836 for the Morford claim and proceeded to lay out a large town, giving it the name of Napoleon. A court house was built and on July 4, 1838 Napoleon became the county seat of Johnson County. Philip Clark, after the location of the territorial capital at Iowa City, converted the town of Napoleon into a farm and for many years was one of the foremost farmers and businessmen of the county. In the spring of 1850 Clark gave his brother-in-law power of attorney, left his wife and son and his great farm of 740 acres in his keeping and made his way to the gold mines of California. Clark worked the mines until 1857 and on horseback made his way from Sacramento to Iowa City to find his wife estranged, his great farm sold and his home destroyed by the villainy of his trusted agent and friend. After a long struggle he regained possession of his property. Some years later he sold it and obtained land in Newport township. Though partially blind and much bent with age he remained active in mind and body until his death at his home on September 10, 1891 at age 87.
Death of Phil. Clark, Johnson County's First White Settler.
Phil Clark died at his home on the Newport Road, this morning, aged eighty-eight. Though ailing long, he has breasted summer's heat and winter's storms, for these many years, and now, with unexpected suddenness, this once sturdy oak topples over, with scarcely a half-day's warning, for he was around as usual, last night. Phil Clark was the first white settler of Johnson county, and his name will live forever in the county's archives.
A wife and one married daughter survive him. An extended memorial notice will appear in these columns later.
--Iowa City Daily Republican, Sept. 11, 1891, page 4, column 4.
In 1836, Philip Clark and Eli Myers, pushing their way on horseback from some point in Indiana, across the broad prairie plains of Illinois, and crossing the Mississippi to its sunset side, came by invitation of John Gilbert to his trading post, on the river. The sound of their axes ringing out the passive woods were the first sounds to the keynote to the coming tide of civilization. Of the two men who laid the foundation of this prosperous county, one is taking his sleep in a distant land, the other still lives within our midst.
Their plowshare was the first to overturn the virgin sod of Johnson County.
--C. W. Irish, Twentieth Annual reunion and picnic of the Johnson County Old Settlers Association, held at Graves' grove, Thursday, August 18, 1886.
History of Johnson County Iowa by Clarence Ray Aurner (Published 1912), pages 20-22, Pioneers and Pioneer Experiences:
With the increase of settlers came divided opinion as to the location of a town site which in time would become the county seat. One party favored a location west of the river and they were determined to name their town Osceola. The other party, under the lead of Gilbert and Clark favored a town east of the river and they selected upon Indian land in what is now section twenty-two East Lucas township for a town site and obtaining consent of the Indians they built thereon a small cabin and employed John Morford to live in it and hold the claim for them when the Indians should sell and vacate the land. After the treaty of 1837 the town site became government land and Clark traded his farm located in 1836 for the Morford claim and proceeded to lay out a large town, giving it the name of Napoleon. A court house was built and on July 4, 1838 Napoleon became the county seat of Johnson County. Philip Clark, after the location of the territorial capital at Iowa City, converted the town of Napoleon into a farm and for many years was one of the foremost farmers and businessmen of the county. In the spring of 1850 Clark gave his brother-in-law power of attorney, left his wife and son and his great farm of 740 acres in his keeping and made his way to the gold mines of California. Clark worked the mines until 1857 and on horseback made his way from Sacramento to Iowa City to find his wife estranged, his great farm sold and his home destroyed by the villainy of his trusted agent and friend. After a long struggle he regained possession of his property. Some years later he sold it and obtained land in Newport township. Though partially blind and much bent with age he remained active in mind and body until his death at his home on September 10, 1891 at age 87.
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