United States Congressman from Missouri

Confederate Senator and Congressman

Rare salt print image

(1802-85) Born in Madison County, Kentucky, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and practiced in Fayette, Missouri. During the Black Hawk Indian War he served as colonel of the Missouri Mounted Volunteers. He was commissioned major general of the Missouri Militia in 1848. Served as a member of the Missouri State House of Representatives 1850-51; and was a U.S. Congressman, from 1857 until July 13, 1861, when he was expelled for taking up arms against the United States. Clark was a strong secessionist and a leader in Missouri's secession movement. In the spring of 1861, his worth was estimated at a million dollars and he owned 160 slaves. Appointed brigadier general of the Missouri State Guard in May 1861, he fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek, where he was wounded. Known by the soldiers to be a brave and genial old gentleman, he was soon elected to represent Missouri in the Confederate Provisional Congress. He won election to the First Confederate Senate and the Second Confederate House of Representatives. While in Congress he was a strong supporter of the administration and of a more Draconian prosecution of the war. The Federal government offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of General Clark and when Richmond fell he disguised himself, adopted an alias, and fled to Mexico where he remained until he heard that the Federal authorities no longer wanted him. Crossing the border into Texas, Clark was promptly arrested and imprisoned at Fort Jackson. Eventually freed by President Andrew Johnson, he did not return to Missouri until five years after the war when he resumed his law practice in Fayette and attempted to restore his fortunes. He made one final effort to win a nomination for the U.S. Congress, but suffered defeat at the hands of his own son, Confederate Brigadier General John B. Clark, Jr., who went on to have a long congressional career. Clark, Sr. died in Fayette on October 29, 1885, and is buried in Fayette Cemetery. Source: More Generals in Gray

Oval salt print photograph. 3 1/2 x 5. Displayed in archival gray mat with gold oval trim. The mat measures 8 x 10. This photograph came from a Whitehurst Gallery scrapbook, circa 1857-59. Very fine image. Scarce.