Reuben Matthew Clark & Althear Clark

    Ruben Matthew Clark was born November 26, 1832 near Elizabethtown (Brockville), Leeds County, Ontario, Canada.  "Matt" went to school when he lived in Canada, also during the winter months after coming to Illinois.  When he was a young man he began working on the railroad and later became an engineer.  At the age of 18 (1851) he came with his parents and family by covered wagon to Stephenson County, Illinois where they settled on a farm near Lena.
    On June 12, 1860 Ruben Matthew Clark was married to Althear Clark near Lena, Illinois. Althear Clark was born August 19, 1840 near Elizabethtown, Canada.  She came with her parents and family to Waddams Township, Stephenson County, Illinois in 1848.  She grew to adulthood on the family farm.
    On August 9, 1862 Matthew left his family and enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Company G, 92nd Regiment of the Illinois Infantry Volunteers.  Matt was not able to stand marching so he was placed in the 68th Company, 2nd Battalion, V.R. Corps (hospital as a Corporal). 
    The following notes are taken from a speech given at a reunion of the 92nd Illinois Volunteers at Mt. Carroll, Illinois, and recorded in a Lena Star Supplement, September 12, 1873: The 92nd Regiment was active in Kentucky, then left Kentucky by steamer down the Ohio River and up the Cumberland.  The Kentucky march helped populate the Danville Cemeteries and the steam boat march added to the Nashville, Tennessee Cemeteries.  On July 3, 1863 the 92nd was "mounted" and armed with the Spencer rifle, then chased Bragg's Army through Tennessee.  Their flag was the first to fly over Chattanooga.  They also took part in the terrible battle of Chickamauga.  Later the 92nd did outpost duty for Sherman's Army in the Cumberland Range. Some were captured during this outpost duty and suffered in Andersonville Prison.  Next the 92nd took part in the Battle for Atlanta in the Jonesboro area helped take Savannah, then on to Aiken South Carolina, and were at the Neuse River when Lee surrendered in April of 1865.
    Matt served till July 5, 1865 when he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. His military record gives Matthew's height as 5 ft. 5 ½ inches sandy complexion, dark eyes and light hair.  Later he received a $50 per month pension.  This was a much greater pension  than most received.  It is not known what Althear and baby daughter did while Matt was in service.
    After Matt was discharged from the Army, the family lived on a farm near Lena, Illinois until 1874 when the family moved to the NE ¼ of Section 25-1-6 in Jackson Township of Jewell County, Kansas.  This farm was homesteaded and a patent was issued May 9, 1885.  This was their home for the rest of their lives.
    About 1890 a fine new home was built by Althear and Matthew on the southeast corner of the farm.  This house is a two story house with partial blue and yellow stained glass trim on the outer edge of the windows.  The interior woodwork was ornamental grooved type in the best taste of the era it was built.  The living room was large in which Althear had extra nice furniture.  The chairs and setee (small or medium sized sofa) were cherry wood and were upholstered with a gold velvet material.  The living room was used only on special occasions which was customary at the time.  The house is still standing but no longer used.  A large orchard was planted which extended from the house to a draw north of the house.  This orchard had plantings of apple, peach, apricot, cherry, plum, raspberry and gooseberry.  The orchard was bordered by walnut trees.  In later years they had fruit trees to the south of the house.  In the front of the yard near the road a stately pine tree was planted and to this day it stands as a symbol to the splendor of the homestead in a by-gone era.
    Althear's general health was not good in later years but she was able to do some housework.  Her pastime was quilting.
    Matthew could not get life insurance because he had only one lung, yet lived to be 90.  He had cancer of the upper lip which he thought could have been started from smoking a pipe.  This cancer was approaching the eye area of his face by the time of his death. Many trips were made to Mankato, Kansas (23 miles) for treatment but nothing helped very much.
    Matthew was Justice of the the Peace of Jackson Township and did marry one couple, R. B. Scott and Lucy Gillilan on March 4, 1883. Matthew became a Master Mason September 30, 1857 in Louge #174. It is not known where this Lodge was, probably in the Lena area. A history of Stephenson County States R. M. Clark was a member of the Lena Chapter #105 AF & AM which was organized October 5, 1866. Althear and Matthew were members of the Jewell Lutheran Church which was located 1½ miles north and 3/4 mile west of the Clark Home.    
    Althear passed away October 12, 1921, and Matthew on October 19, 1923. They are buried in the Rosemound Cemetery, Republic County, Kansas.
Reuben Matthew Clark Althear Clark
Born November 26, 1832 Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada August 19, 1840 Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada
Died October 19, 1923 Jackson Twp., Jewell Co., Kansas October 12, 1921 Jackson Twp., Jewell Co., Kansas
Married
June 12, 1860
Lena, Stephenson Co., Illinois
Father John Clark Brockville, Ontario, Canada Nathan Clark Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada
Mother Amy Snider Canada Elizabeth "Grandma" Forkner Perth, Canada
Their Children
Ella Regina Clark October 4, 1861 Lena, Stephenson Co., Illinois October 27, 1931 Jackson Twp., Jewell Co., Kansas
Alice Mae Clark June 30, 1866 Lena, Stephenson Co., Illinois November 17, 1929 Tracy, California
Nathan Samuel Clark April 10, 1868 Lena, Stephenson Co., Illinois June 20, 1941 Formoso, Jewell County, Kansas
Itho Rae Clark June 11, 1871 Lena, Stephenson Co., Illinois February 15, 1951 Superior, Nebraska
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