Milton E. Clark, one of the pioneer residents of Junction City, was born at South Ridge, Ashtabula county, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1838, a son of Edward Peck and Lydia S. (Ring) Clark, and is a member of the seventh generation of the Clark family in America, which was founded by George Clark, who came to the Massachusetts colony with Rev. John Davenport's company in 1638. Soon after coming to this country he settled in the New Haven colony and in 1639 located at Milford, Conn., where he became a planter and a man of influence. He was a large land owner, an active factor in church work, and several times was a representative in the general court of the colony. His third son, George Jr., was born in Milford, baptized in 1648 and died there in 1734. He also was an active church worker and planter, and represented the colony in the general court. George III, a son of George, Jr., was born in Milford in 1686 and died there in 1762, a wealthy and influential citizen. Hezekiah, the son of George III and a representative of the fourth generation, was born at Milford in 1723. He married Mary Peck and removed to Bethany, Conn., in 1776, enlisted in the Continental army and after about eight months' service died of dysentery. Peck Clark, a son of Hezekiah, was born at Bethany, Conn., Dec. 14, 1771, married Mabel Bradley in 1795, and after her death Polly Kellogg, a daughter of James Bradley. He lived at Woodbridge, Conn., and later in Burlington. He then removed to Northfleld, Conn., and in May, 1818, settled on the Western Reserve in Ohio near Conneaut. Later he removed to Salem, Ohio, where he died on Aug. 2, 1854. Edward Peck Clark, the father of Milton E., was born at Northfield, Conn., June 16, 1814; married Lydia S. Ring, of Conneaut, Ohio, a native of Massachusetts, April 7, 1836, and in 1845 removed to Rock county, Wis., where he engaged in farming and in operating a flour mill. He died on Jan. 1, 1851. Milton E. Clark was educated in the pioneer public schools of Rock county, Wis., and at the Evansville, Wis., seminary, later attending the city school at Cleveland, Ohio. His father died while he was still in his boyhood, and being the eldest boy of the family, Milton assisted his mother to finish paying for the estate, built a house and left the farm unencumbered. On July 27, 1861, he came to Junction City as a clerk for Streeter & Strickler, the senior number of the firm being an uncle of his wife. In 1865 he opened a general store on his own account and continued in that business until 1896, when he sold out and retired. Politically, Mr. Clark is a Republican and has the courage of his convictions. He has served as county superintendent of schools; was for ten years president of the board of education; has held the office of county commissioner, and several minor offices. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, was one of the organizers and a director of the old First National Bank, and owns considerable improved property. Mr. Clark has been twice married. On Nov. 8, 1859, he married Jennie E., daughter of Waldo C. Clark, of Union, Rock county, Wis. Although of the same name they were not related prior to marriage. To this union were born three children: Waldo E., now a prominent farmer of Geary county, Kansas; Elon S., of Topeka (see sketch of Elon S. Clark); and James Milton, a farmer of Geary county. Mrs. Clark died at Junction City on Oct. 22, 1903, and on May 11, 1905, Mr. Clark married Phoebe A. Bloomfield, nee Shumard, who died at Junction City on Jan. 12, 1907.