William G. Clark was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 17, 1812, and died in Astoria March 23, 1900, aged 88 years and 6 days.
In 1814 he and his family came to Illinois where he has lived ever since. In 1843 he buried his wife whose maiden name was Rachel Cox. Afterward he married Mrs. Elizabeth Trainer with whom he lived a happy life for over fifty years, when God took her and her remains are resting in Union cemetery. He leaves seven children and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Since his wife’s death he has made his home at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Joshua Bucy, where he died.
For fifty-seven years father Clark has been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Union Chapel, three miles north of Astoria. He was largely responsible for the first church building owned by that congregation, and until compelled by age and feebleness to stop work, he was one of the most useful and benevolent supporters of that society. He never moved his membership from Union, leaving that matter to his Heavenly Father whom we believe has transferred him from the church militant to the Church Triumphant.
Father Clark was an intelligent and enthusiastic christian. In all his relations with the world he bore a reputation for sterling honesty, and genuine sympathy with poverty and misfortune. A great-hearted, kindly, affectionate, faithful neighbor and noble man of God, he never forfeited by unequal conduct the confidence of those who knew him. He was a loving husband, an affectionate father, a good citizen. His last years were deeply shadowed by suffering and weakness, but he endured all with christian fortitude. He was cheered and supported to the last by the most devoted attention that home-love and filial care could render. He died as he lived, a noble Christly man.
Funeral services were held in the Astoria M. E. church, Sunday, March 25th, at 11 o’clock a.m., by Rev. T. M. Dillon, assisted by Rev. J. T. Clower, of Browning. The musical service was most beautifully rendered by Mrs. Walter Price, T. E. Toler and wife, Mrs. Mollie McHugh and S. E. Whitaker.
At the close of these services the remains were interred in the Union Chapel cemetery, beside his wife to await the resurrection of the just. — D.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus