Person:Dennis Clark (2)

Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County

Hon. Dennis Clark, Judge of the Knox County Court, was born near Washington, Daviess County, Ind., Aug. 14, 1817, and was the second eldest son of Walter and Mary (Young) Clark, natives respectively of Virginia and New Jersey. Our subject was in early life surrounded with but few advantages. His parents were poor people; his mother died when he was only four years of age, and from that time until able to look out for himself he led the life of an orphan, which, without embellishment, tells its own story to the thoughtful and observing.

Our subject was very industrious in the acquirement of an education, and while yet a youth we find him teaching school during the winters and working on a farm during the rest of the year, and assiduously pondering on Blackstone, Coke upon Littleton, Chitty et al., determined upon applying himself to the law. He came to Illinois in the year 1823, and to Knox County in 1833, and has lived here ever since. Up to 1860 he devoted most of his time to farming. During that year he began the practice of law before the Justices of Indian Point and adjoining townships, and in 1866 he was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court, at Ottawa. Before this he had filled various prominent offices, and in 1865 was elected County Judge. With what success he administered this important office is attested by the fact that from the day of his first installation Knox County has known no other County Judge.

At this writing (January, 1886), Judge Clark is serving his 21st year, with one year before him, which, when completed, will make 21 years' service. During the late war, 1861-65, Mr. Clark, then known as Capt. Clark from having held that rank in the militia away back in the "30's," was employed by the Government as Enrolling Officer. He was one of the original Republicans; was a member in 1860 of the convention that selected the delegates to the National Convention that introduced Abraham Lincoln to the world.

Judge Clark's grandfather, Dennis Clark, came from Ireland to America away back in the 18th century, joined the Colonial Army and with it fought the British from the battle of Lexington to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. he subsequently married, and his oldest son, Walter Clark, the immediate ancestor of the gentleman whose name heads this article, joined the United States Army at the outbreak fo the War of 1812 and fought the ancient enemy to the close of that struggle.

Judge Clark's wife, named Martha Meadows, to whom he was married at Knoxville, this county, April 10, 1845, was a native of Kentucky and a daughter of the late Henry Meadows, a pioneer of Warren County this State. Of the ten children born to them, five in number, four sons and one daughter, died in infancy. The others are Walter H., editor of the Abingdon Argus; William Benton, a farmer, in Kansas; Buford, farmer, resident at Abingdon; Horace, also a farmer, and Loren is a printer. Judge Clark's residence has been for many years at Abingdon. He is noted for his generosity and his unselfishness. During his unusually long service on the bench he has rendered valuable service to thousands by fatherly and legal advice. He is ever ready to settle difficulties by arbitration, thus saving attorney and court fees as well as much personal bitterness. In these and many other ways his long service has been of great worth to the people of Knox County. Fidelity, honesty and unselfishness--those rare graces for an official--have shown forth with undimmed brilliancy during his long judicial career. Not an act of his has ever clouded his record, nor the reproach of his political enemies ever robbed him of the highest esteem and confidence of the general public.

1.   Portrait and biographical album of Knox County, Illinois: containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of the United States, also containing a history of the county from its earliest settlement up to the present time. (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1886)
   756 & 761.