An Old Pioneer Passed Away

Chas G. Clark, Dies in His Western Home

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FORMERLY POSTMASTER

And Editor of the Courier -- Helped Form Republican Party Under the Oaks at Jackson

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The announcement of the death of Chas. G. Clark which occurred in Minneapolis, Minn., July 6th, will bring to the memory of many of our older citizens the personality of one who was not only a pioneer of the county but who was most active in its early history.

Mr. Clark was the son of Rev. Chas. G. Clark, one of the earliest Presbyterian ministers in the state, haring come here in 1829. On his arrival he preached a few weeks in Monroe and then came to Ann Arbor, where he supplied the pulpit of the Presbyterian church for several weeks during the absence of the pastor and finally located in Webster township where a church was soon formed. He continued to labor there during his whole active ministry with the exception of three or four years. He died in Ann Arbor in 1871.

His son, the subject of this sketch, was born in Webster township June 4, 1831, and received his primary education at the district schools. He prepared for college at the old Lodi academy under Prof. Metling and entered the sophomore class of the Western Reserve college and remained there one year. He then returned to Michigan and the university in the junior class, graduating In 1854. He returned to the farm after graduating on account of trouble with his eyes, and remained until 1860 when he entered the office of the Ann Arbor Journal and in 1868 became connected with the Courier, assuming the position of assistant editor in 1888, which he retained until 1874 when be was appointed postmaster by President Grant, at the expiration of which term he removed west and took up a farm. He was formerly a Whig but was a member of the convention which met under the Oaks at Jackson in 1854 to form the republican party and was ever after a consistent advocate of republican principles. He was a justice of the peace in Webster township for some years and held that office in Ann Arbor from 1866 to 1870. He was also a prominent member of the Presbyterian church and was a trustee of that body for 11 years. His wife was a daughter of Solomon Matthews, a pioneer of Webster township and they had three children.

Mr. Clark is spoken of by those who knew him as a faithful, earnest and upright citizen, who was highly esteemed by all who knew him.