William A. Clark, a successful farmer and stockman of Bloomington township, is a Butler county pioneer and has been a resident of Kansas for forty-five years. He is a native of England, and was born in 1842, a son of William and Mary Clark. He received his education in his native land, and in his youth, learned the carpenter trade. In 1864, he emigrated from his native land to Canada. Two years later, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent about a year. He then went to Chicago where he worked at his trade until 1871, when he came to Kansas and located on a ranch in Sumner county. This was during the very early pioneer days, in the settlement of that section of the State, and Mr. Clark experienced much of real pioneer life.

The settlers in Sumner county had to haul all their supplies from Emporia at that time ad[sic] the trip required six days. Mr. Clark made this trip several times, and it was usually a dangerous, as well as a disagreeable journey. The country was infested by bad men, and not overly friendly Indians; and the winter seasons were susceptible to the treacherous blizzards of the early days. Mr. Clark being a carpenter says that on more than one occasion, he has made coffins for men who were killed by accident or otherwise along this trail. On one occasion a band of about a thousand Indians camped two miles from the freighters' camp, Mr. Clark being one of the freighters. He says they were suspicious of the Indians, and kept their horses saddled all night, ready for a hasty retreat if they were attacked by the Indians, but it seems they were not molested.

In 1880, Mr. Clark came to Butler county, and bought 120 acres of land in Bloomington township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He has added to his original purchase, and now owns 453 acres of one of the best improved farms in the county. He is a successful stockman and is an extensive feeder, and is well known in Butler county as a breeder. His place is very advantageously situated for the stock business, the Little Walnut river courses through his farm, and his land is

not only mostly bottom land, but the stream affords excellent water facilities. He has over one hundred acres of alfalfa, and usually raises about the same number of acres of corn.

Mr. Clark was united in marriage in 1880, to Miss Margaret Gunn, a daughter of George and Isabel Gunn. Mrs. Clark is one of a family of four children, the others being as follows: Donald, Commanche, Okla.; William, Tonkawa, Okla.; and Mrs. Ella Keena, Mulvane, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born the following children: William, Augusta, Kans.; Donald, Ringwood, Okla.; George, Augusta, Kans.; Mary B., and Charles, at home. The Clark family is prominent in the community where they reside, and among the representative families of Butler county.

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