Person:Willis Clark (4)

Listed with wife Nettie in 1910 cenus for Rudolph. Wood, Wisconsin. Listed with wife Nettie in 1930 U.S. census for Ladysmith, Rusk, Wisconsin.

Information about children gleaned from 1900 Rudolph, Wood, Wisconsin census and Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune for December 5, 1923: "Mr. and Mrs. Willis Clark gave a Thanksgiving dinner for their children and grandchildren last Thursday. The following were present:

"Arthur Rockwood and family of Wisconsin Rapids,; Arthur Clark and family of Mosinee; Frank Clark and family of Rudolph; William Clark and family of Milladore; and Harold Clark and Just Justinson and family of Plainfield."

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, July 7, 1945

Wood County Pioneers Are Married Sixty-Five Years

"An unusual distinction has come to Mr. and Mrs. Willis J. Clark, 1030 Gardner Street, who on July 4 observed their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary and can claim 119 living direct descendants. It was a quiet affair, necessitated by the poor health of Mrs. Clark. However, they received numerous congratulatory messages and gifts from their eight children, 43 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren.

"Mr. Clark was born in Springvale, Fond du Lac county, March 19, 1859, and Mrs. Clark, the former Nettie C. Hill at Oakfield in the same county on June 4, 1863. They were married in the town of Sigel, Wood county, on July 4, 1880.

"In 1885 the couple moved to Adams county, where Mr. Clark operated a feed and flour mill for 10 years. Then they went to Rudolph, Mr. Clark to build and operate a feed mill. There he served on the school board for many years. Mr. Clark was one of those instrumental in getting telephone service in the village of Rudolph and for some time the switchboard was in the Clark home, operated by members of the family. The line building and repair service was done by Mr. Clark and his sons.

"The Clarks sold their Rudolph property to John Blonien in 1920 and moved to Milladore, Mr. Clark working in his son William J. Clark's garage. In 1926 they went to Ladysmith to live and he assisted in his son Rollin J. Clark's garage, until his health made it necessary to retire.

"Since the fall of 1941 they have made their home here with their daughter, Mrs. Just Justeson. Their other seven children are Mrs. Irving Whitmore and Rollin J. Clark, Ladysmith; Frank E. Clark, Rudolph; William J. Clark, Milladore; Mrs. Grace Rockwood, Wisconsin Rapids; Arthur T. Clark, Mosinee; and Harold L. Clark, Friendship. Thirteen of the couples grandchildren are in the service. One, Marine Cpl. Keith Clark was killed in action on Okinawa on May 13."

Wood County WI Deaths Vol. 35, page 307 Willis J. Clark White Male, Widowed Occupation: retired farmer Age: 93 years Born in WI 19 March 1859 Died 26 March 1952 Usual residence: 1030 Gardner St., Wisconsin Rapids, Wood Co., WI Fa of deceased: John W. Clark Mo of deceased: Leetha Taylor G. H. Handy, MD, attended dec'd from 1950 - 26 March 1952 Cause of death: generalized arteriosclerosis with decompensation, cardiac and cerebral ischemia, 2 years Informant: Mrs. Just Justesen Funeral Director: Baker&b Son Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery, Wisc. Rapids Certificate Date: 22 March 1952 Filing Date: 04 April 1952