Henry H. Clark, M.D.

Henry H. Clark, M.D., a well known and prominent physician of McGregor, has been local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for almost eighteen years. Though he conducts a large general practice he is especially qualified in surgical cases, to which he is often called from distant points. He was one of the organizers of the State Board of Health, having been appointed by the Governor. In this capacity he served for thirteen consecutive years and acted as President for one term. Also on the State Board of Medical Examiners he served from the time of its organization until 1892, when his term expired.

The members of the Clark family have been from early days prominent and influential citizens in Pennsylvania, where the first representatives settled on coming from Scotland. Our subject's paternal grandfather was James Clark, an attorney-at-law and a leading politician in the Keystone State. His son, J. K., the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of farming. In 1852 he went to Illinois, where he made settlement, and continued his former vocation in Stephenson County. His wife, Helen (Wolf) Clark, was of German descent, being a daughter of John Wolf and a native of Susquehanna County.

Dr. H. H. Clark was born in Centre County, Pa., October 12, 1843, and spent his boyhood up to the age of twelve years in that state. Coming west with his parents to Illinois he there continued his education in the public schools, supplementing the same by a course of study at the Rock River Seminary in Mt. Morris. In the fall of 1866 he entered the Medical Department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1870, and spent some time acquiring a practical knowledge of his profession in Mercy Hospital, Chicago, in the capacity of House Surgeon and House Physician. It was in 1870 that the Doctor came to McGregor, where he opened an office and conducted his large and paying practice. He has always continued his studies and has taken an active part in medical matters, being at the present time a member of the North Iowa Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and the American Health Association. In 1893 he was elected delegate to the International Medical Convention held in the City of Mexico in that year, and his long trip to that picturesque and noted metropolis was a very pleasant and profitable one.

In the summer of 1862 Dr. Clark enlisted in Company G, Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, a part of the famous Wilder Brigade. He participated in fifty-two engagements, among which we mention the important battles of Atlanta, Chickamauga and Jonesboro, and he also served through Sherman's entire campaign. After three years of valiant and capable service in defense of the Stars and Stripes he was mustered out at Chapel Hill, N. C., and then returned to his medical studies, which had been thus interrupted.

In politics he is a true-blue Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Beezer Lodge No. 135, A. F, & A. M., Clayton Chapter No. 27, and Honorius Commandery No. 8, K. P.

In the fall of 1871, Dr. Clark married Miss Judith, daughter of Judge Downing Baugh. The latter was a native of Kentucky and settled in Iowa at an early day, locating at Mt. Vernon. Later he came to McGregor and occupied an influential place in local affairs. He was prominent as a Mason and stood high in the legal profession. Mrs. Clark's mother, who was a native of Ohio, was before her marriage Miss Sophronia Davis. A family comprising four daughters and two sons has blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Clark, and the family circle is as yet unbroken. The two eldest daughters, Alice May and Florence Lillian, are now students in Northwestern University, at Evanston; Harry H.; Maude Geneva, a student in the high school; William Clarence and Ethel Baugh complete the number.