John Francis Clark was born September 08, 1853 to Roderick and Mary (Ryall) Clark in Morris, Grundy County,
Illinois. Arriving in Marseilles in 1857 with his brothers Charles A, born November,1850, Lucius in 1857 and
Robert Roderick, April 14, 1861. His father was a railroad contractor and also one of the main founders of the
central business district of Marseilles in 1857. Roderick Clark was also instrumental in the building of the first
bridge in Marseilles in 1865, formation of the Marseilles Land and Water Company in 1866 and building of the
first dam in 1867. Roderick died December 17, 1875 and his mother Mary, died January 24, 1906 both in
Marseilles, Illinois
John was one of the operators at the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific depot in 1877 and also ran a motel in town.
He married Mary Allene Cowles on November 01, 1888 in Marseilles, Illinois. She was the daughter of
John H. and Harriet A. Cowles, born August 17, 1867 in Orwell Twp, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
John H. Cowles moved to Marseilles in 1871 from Orwell, Pennsylvania, where he served during the Civil War.
He owned a mercantile business, Cowles Brothers in Marseilles, with his brother Chester.
John and Mary Clark had one son, Stanley Northrope, born August 01, 1894 in Marseilles, Illinois.
Mary Allene (Cowles) Clark died July 15, 1899 in Marseilles, Illinois.
John left the railroad industry and in 1900 was involved in paper manufacturing.
John Francis Clark died September 08, 1905 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles.
After John's death, his son Stanley went to St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, where he lived with his aunt
and uncle, Robert and Mary Clark. Stanley was killed in a railroad accident in St. Joseph on February 01, 1911
and he is also buried in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles.
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