Moses Augustus Clarke Sr (1817 - 1911)

Born 6 Jul 1817 in Tioga, New York, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Wright (Bliss) Clarke — married 15 Nov 1837 in Tioga County, New York

Descendants

Died 27 Dec 1911 at age 94 in Pella, Marion, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Moses Augustus Clarke, son of James Clarke and Rhuamah Bigelow, was born on 6 Jul 1817 in Unadilla, Otsego, New York. On November 15, 1837 in Tioga County, New York he married Mary Wright Bliss. Moses died December 26, 1911 in Pella, Marion, Iowa^[1] and was buried in Oak Wood Cemetery, Pella, Marion, Iowa^[2].

^[3]

Moses Augustus and Mary Wright (Bliss) Clarke had the following children:

• Theodore D. Clarke.
• Emily B. Clarke.
• Ellen Maria Clarke m. John Martin Towne
• James David Clarke m. Laura A Bartlett
• Luna R Clarke m. James Conway
• Gordon Bliss Clarke m. Mary Alvaretta Gravatt
• Evalyn Anetta Clarke.
• George W. Clarke.
• Moses Augustus Clarke m. Jane Elizabeth Finn
• Charlotte Elizabeth Clarke m. William Solomon Hamner
• Olin William Clarke m. Anna DenBerger

Census

1850 US Census:^[4]

Name Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Moses A Clark Male 31 New York

Mary W Clark Female 30 New York

Ellen M Clark Female 3 Iowa

James D Clark Male 2 Iowa

Luna R Clark Female 1 Iowa

1860 US Census:   ^[5]

Name Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Moses A Clark Male 42 N. York

Mary W Clark Female 41 N. York

Ellen M Clark Female 13 Iowa

James D Clark Male 12 Iowa

Luny R Clark Female 11 Iowa

Gordon D Clark Male 9 Iowa

Moses A Clark Male 5 Iowa

Charlotte E Clark Female 2 Iowa

Olan B Clark Male Iowa

1900 US Census:^[6]

Name Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Moses A Clark Head Male 83 New York

Mary W Clark Wife Female 82 New York

1910 Federal Census Pella, Marion, Iowa ^[7]

Obituary

Obituary from a Baptist newspaper^[8], I received a photocopy from Hildred Whittington, Jan 22, 2000 Moses Augustus Clarke was born in Unadilla, NY July 4, 1817 and died in Pella, Iowa Dec. 26, 1911, being 94years 5months 22days of age. His father was a pioneer Baptist preacher. The subject of this sketch has often testified that he was clearly converted when between five and six years of age, but did not unite with the church until he was between ten and eleven years of age. He had excellent musical talent and sang in the choir of his boyhood church and this gift was a great blessing to him in his subsequent long and useful life. He was married to Mary Wright Bliss Nov. 15th 1837. They moved to Iowa, near Cascade in 1845, and to Pella in 1855. He was made superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school which flourished under his leader ship. This was the work he loved, and to which he gave the best of his after life. He was a member of the executive committee of Central College in those early days of its history, and being a good carpenter, he was one of the committee on new buildings and he did much of the work in the erection of what is now the old Central Hall. He left Pella in 1860, at the time of the gold excitement, for Pikes Peak. He returned to Pella in 1864 and the next year took up the colporter work in Missouri. In 1867 he became Sunday-school missionary of the American Baptist Publication Society and was sent to Kansas . In 1872 he was transferred to Colorado where he did the great work of his life. Here he was ordained in 1878 and as Sunday-school missionary and evangelist he captured that state for the Baptists. He helped to organize the First Baptist Church in Denver and with his own hands largely built the first house of worship. The same was true in a score of other communities. He was a pioneer worker in a rough and rugged territory. We have no data from which to compute the thousands of miles he walked to organize Sunday-schools and churches and carry the glad news by speech and song and the printed page. No wonder the endearing appellation of "Father Clark" was given him and that money in liberal quantities has come from the churches in that state to help and comfort him in his old age. He resigned his work in Colorado in 1896 after 24 years of continuous service, and returned to Pella, but not to be idle. Though almost 80 years of age he looked around for an opportunity for usefulness. He soon became pastor of the Coal Ridge church near Knoxville, and also rendered valuable help to the church at Harvey. On his way to an appointment Oct. 2, 1899, he was thrown from a buggy by a frightened horse and so badly injured as to be left a cripple for life. He who had been so active and endearing as a pedestrian n must henceforth be dependent upon crutches or a wheel-chair practically a "shut in" for the remainder of his life. To his son he wrote "It is the hardest thing I have ever had to face." But he met this trial as a triumphant Christian man. He was patient, cheerful, courageous and through these twelve or thirteen years he rarely missed filling his place at Sunday school and the morning church services. Occasionally he preached at Coal Ridge and other points and in the home church. He had looked anxiously for the end of earthly suffering, for his suffering had been great, and was ready for the change. He loved his Saviour and longed to be with him and shortly before his departure said: "Oh, those beautiful faces, sweet voices, such singing!" The remains were laid to rest in Oakland cemetery at Pella, Dec. 27th , after an appropriate funeral service in the Baptist church conducted by the pastor Rev. J.W. Bailey.

Obituary - Pella Journal, Pella, Marion, Iowa^[9] Rev. M.A. Clark Pella Booster: On Tuesday morning, December 26, occurred the death of Rev. M.A. Clark, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this community. The deceased was 94 years, 5 months and 22 days of age. He was one of the oldest ministers in the sate but of late years had not followed his vocation. He had always been quite active in his profession, and during his residence here had won for himself many warm friends. His wife preceded him about a year ago.

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951
2. ↑ Find-A-Grave 40230753; Maintained by Grave Digger (contributor 46580379)
3. ↑ "Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPF7-QP6J : 18 October 2019), Moses Agustus Clark, 26 Dec 1911, Pella, Marion, Iowa, United States; citing certificate #, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 102869867.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4X-VZP : 19 December 2020), Moses A Clark, Richland Township, Jones, Iowa, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8L7-4KB : 18 February 2021), Moses A Clark, 1860.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M92R-XJ5 : accessed 25 September 2021), Moses A Clark, Lake Prairie Township Pella city, Marion, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 49, sheet 3A, family 60, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,447.
7. ↑ 1910 Federal Census Pella, Marion, Iowa
8. ↑ Obituary from a Baptist newspaper
9. ↑ Obituary - Pella Journal, Pella, Marion, Iowa

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