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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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GEORGE W. CLARK, the efficient and popular Sheriff of Perry County, living in Pinckneyville, was born eight miles west of this place, on what is known as Lost Prairie, September 5, 1835. His father, Alexander Clark, was born in South Carolina in 1804. The grandfather also bore the name of Alexander, and was of Irish lineage. The family located in Perry County long before the state was admitted to the Union, and its members are numbered among the honored pioneers. Alexander, Jr., was the eldest of three brothers. He married Ruth Teague, a native of Kentucky, whose parents were also pioneers of Perry County. The marriage license granted to Mr. Clark and Miss Teague was the first one issued in this county. The lady died in 1856, and Mr. Clark died in Missouri in 1862, having removed to that state just prior to the breaking out of the late war. His brother John was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and his brother William (now deceased), was a prosperous and prominent merchant in Old Liberty, Jackson County, Ill.

Our subject had three brothers. The eldest, Capt. John J. Clark, was a soldier in the Sixth Illinois Cavalry and served throughout the late war. He is now engaged in carpenter work in Danville, Worth County, Mo. S. R. is also a resident of that county, where he has served as Justice of the Peace for the past twenty years. Isaac M., the youngest brother, died in Missouri, at the age of twenty-two.

Upon his father’s farm George W. Clark was reared, and his education was acquired in the old time log schoolhouse. He began farming on his own account when he had reached man’s estate, and was thus employed until 1862, when he joined the boys in blue of Company F, Eightieth Illinois Infantry. He was made a Sergeant, later became Orderly-Sergeant, afterward was promoted to First Lieutenant, and as such commanded his company for some time. He took part in the battle of Stone River, and was then detached with a party under Colonel Straight, of Ohio, to make a reconnoitre in the south. This party was surprised and captured at Sand Mountains, not far from Rome, Ga., and was confined in Libby Prison, but after a short time was paroled and sent to Annapolis, and later to St. Louis. In July, 1863, Mr. Clark was detailed to take paroled rebel soldiers to Nashville and deliver them to the authorities of the Confederate Government, after which he joined the main army and was placed in charge of bridges in Georgia. Subsequently he took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard’s Roost and Atlanta, and started with Sherman to the sea, but at Kenesaw Mountain was sent with a detachment to intercept Hood at Pulaski, Tenn. He took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and was engaged in detached duty at Huntsville, Ala., where he remained until honorably discharged June 27, 1865.

Mr. Clark had contracted rheumatism during his service, and on his return was no longer able to engage in farming, so sold his land and began merchandising in Pinckneyville. Later he engaged in the milling business. In 1876, he served as Deputy Sheriff, and in 1890 was elected Sheriff of Perry County, which position he is now creditably and acceptably filling. Like his family for generations past, he supports the Democratic party, and is the first Democrat that ever filled the office of Sheriff, to which position he was elected by a majority of four hundred, a fact which indicates his great popularity. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason and an Odd Fellow, and has filled all the offices in the latter order.

In 1855, Mr. Clark married Miss Margaret M. Killingsworth, who was born in North Carolina, but spent her early life in Tennessee, and came to Illinois when a young lady of eighteen. Her father, William Killingsworth, died in Tennessee during her early childhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born seven children. Sarah J. is now the wife of E. J. Harriss, Deputy County Clerk of Perry County, by whom she has three children, Turner, Hershel and Herbert; Clara J. is the wife of Joseph Curtis, Jailer of Perry County, who is also engaged in the livery business, and they have three children, George, Bertha and Viva; Marguerite is the wife of Marshal Marlow, and has a son, Clarence; William K. is engaged in the insurance business; George E. is attending school, and one son and one daughter died in childhood. Mr. Clark is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, and is a prominent and progressive citizen, who has many warm friends throughout the community.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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