ALVA CLARK                            GRAVESTONE PHOTO    

The Erie Record, Friday, Sept. 6, 1912

Died:  August 31, 1912

JUDGE ALVA CLARK HAS GONE.

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FOR FORTY-TWO YEARS HE HAS

BEEN AN ACTIVE NEOSHO

COUNTY CITIZEN.

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During His Three Years Service In

the Civil War He Was Always

Where the Fight Was

Going On.

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  Judge Alva Clark is dead and in his death the county has lost one of its very best type of citizens.  He had lived in the county for 42 years and during all that time he played an active part in the better happenings of his community.  In a political, social, religious and educational way Alva Clark could always be counted upon to do his part.  He resided in Lincoln township for thirty-eight years and since then has been an honored citizen of Erie.  The history of the life time happenings of Judge Alva Clark shows that he saw three years service in the Union army during the Civil war.  During these three years he was always to be found right where the fight was going on and he never quit.  It was probably his experience as a soldier that fitted him so well for the years that have followed the war.  Since the war he was always fought for the best interests of his friends and family.  The fact that Alva Clark always held lowed (sic) the war.  Since the war he has 22 years of age will show the high respect in which his fellow citizens have always held him.  He was always a prominent figure and leader in the Republican county conventions.  There never has been a soldier’s reunion in the county but that Alva Clark has taken a great deal of the work upon his shoulders and his efforts have assisted greatly keeping the reunions to the present high standard.  At the time of his death Judge Alva Clark was justice of the peace of Erie township and police judge of Erie.  In his death, the county, the town, the old soldier, and in fact the whole general community loses a very dear friend indeed.

  The following is a history of the life of the late, Judge Alva Clark:

  Alva Clark was born in Vinton county, Ohio, December 8, 1841; departed this life August 31, 1912, age 70 years, eight months and 23 days.  He was reared to manhood on a farm in the Buckeye state.  Enlisted in Co. I, 92 Ohio infantry August 9, 1862, and went to the front as private.  He served in Virginia under General Cox until January 1863 after which General Rosecrans.  He participated in the engagements of Fort Donaldson and Nashville.  During his three years service he also took part in the following battles, among others of lesser note:  Hoover Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard’s Roost, Reseca, Kingston, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Savannah, Bentonville, and also witnessed the surrender of General Johnson.  He accompanied General Sherman on his famous march to the sea, after which he went to Washington, D. C. and took part in the grand review.  He was never wounded, nor at any time captured by the confederates, and was always able to report for duty, excepting for four days during which he was in the hospital.

  On January 31, 1867, he was united in marriage to Sarah A. Tom.  They are the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living.  His wife survives him and the living children are:  L. H. Clark, St. Paul; O. L. Clark, Ladore township; Mrs. W. L. Baldwin, Pittsburg; Chas. S. Clark, Lincoln township; Mrs. Belle C. Swope, Pittsburg; Mrs. S. L. McReynolds, Louisiana, Mo.; C. A. Clark, Chanute; James Arthur Clark, of Joplin, Mo.

  He moved to Kansas in the year 1868 and settled on a claim in Lincoln township in this county, where he resided until he moved to Erie four years ago.  He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R.  He united with the Methodist Protestant church about 25 years ago.

  As a citizen he always took an active interest in public affairs, especially those pertaining to educational matters, and has held an office of trust in his community ever since he was 22 years of age.