I’m still on the search for Jonathan M. Clark’s parents and other kin somewhere in the early-19th-century wilderness of northern Vermont and southern Québec. I hope to publish more about that here in the near future.

As part of that project, I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the past few months organizing and re-examining the many research materials that I’ve gathered about JMC and his world, and I’ve constructed a whole bunch of genealogies for early Vermont, New Hampshire, and Lower Canada families named Clark that turn out—alas!—not to be related to our Jonathan M. Clark.

More mysteries…

Along with the mystery of JMC’s still-unknown family and childhood, Clark House museum director Nina Look and I have been trying to chase down some rumors that suggest Jonathan Clark may have spent his three years between mustering out of the U.S. Army (in 1836), and purchasing land at the land office in Milwaukee (in late 1839), as a surveyor in or near the area around Fort Winnebago, Columbia County, Wisconsin Territory. At the moment, that story remains a mystery, too. I’ll let you know if we find out more.

Anyway, with all these facts, rumors and mysteries—and many, many others—rolling around in my head, I thought it might be useful to outline JMC’s life in a handy, chronological timeline. Here’s a draft of that timeline, including what we do—and don’t—know about Jonathan M. Clark’s whereabouts and activities during his lifetime, as of July 1, 2024. I’ve included links to some relevant Clark House Historian posts where possible; please click on them for more information.

Childhood & Youth

November 28, 1812, (possibly, 1811) born to unknown parents, in or near Derby, VT, or Stanstead, Lower Canada

• Late-1812 to early-1831: JMC’s childhood whereabouts and activities unknown for 18+ years, with one possible exception:

Spring, 1831, could JMC possibly be the 18-year-old “Jonathan Clark” recorded on the list of pupils at Stanstead’s Fox School?

To USA and army service

April, 1831, arrives in USA at Whitehall, New York, presumably via Lake Champlain

September 19, 1833, in Utica, NY, enlists for 3-year term in the U.S. Army’s 5th Regiment of Infantry

September 28, 1833, returns to the Utica, NY, enlistment officer to take the oath for army service

October 30, 1833, Pvt. Jonathan M. Clark reports for duty at Ft. Howard (Green Bay), Brown Co., Wisconsin Territory, probably via steamboat from Buffalo, New York

September 19, 1836, Sgt. Jonathan M. Clark discharged at end of his term of service at temporary army worksite “Camp Hamilton,” somewhere along the Fox River, possibly near Lake Winnebago, W.T.

The missing (adult) 3 years, 2 months and 22 days

• September 20, 1836 to December 11, 1839: JMC’s whereabouts and activities completely unknown

Mequon farmer, husband & father

December 12, 1839: purchases initial 80 acres of government land at the land office in Milwaukee, W.T.

March 15, 1840, marries Mary Turck, eldest child of Mequon pioneer Peter Turck, in Washington Co., W.T. (probably at Mequon, possibly at the nearby home of Mary’s parents, Peter and Rachael (Gay) Turck)

1840-1857, JMC and Mary Turck Clark have a large family of 7 girls and one boy; by 1843 their farm comprises 160 acres; JMC is active in Washington/Ozaukee county affairs, especially road projects

March 10, 1848, files “first papers” to become a U.S. citizen, at U.S. District Court, Milwaukee

May 8, 1853, files “second papers” and takes oath to become U.S. citizen, at Circuit Court, Ozaukee County

c. 1840-1857: only known photograph of JMC taken

Death & Burial(s)

September 20, 1857, JMC dies, cause unknown, presumably in Mequon; is buried in “the Cedarburg cemetery.”

November 16, 1878, his body (along with those of son Henry and daughter Josie) is moved from “the Cedarburg cemetery” to the Clark family lot at Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee.

Help the Historian!

So that’s where we stand. Jonathan’s childhood and parentage, from 1812 to 1831, are still a mystery. And, particularly vexing to me, so are his whereabouts and activities from September 20, 1836 to December 11, 1839.

Someone, somewhere, has to know something. (Well, one can hope, eh?)

Can you Help the Historian solve the mystery of JMC’s missing adult years, 1836-1839? If you have a hunch, a clue, a surmise or—even better—a documentary source or two, please let me know. Either Leave a comment, below, or use this blog’s Contact form to help us out.

Thanks, and see you soon with more Clark House history!

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IMAGE CREDITS:

• Palmer, Frances Flora Bond, artist, American Farm Scenes, No. 1., pub. Nathaniel Currier, [New York], 1853, detail. Hand-colored lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, gift of International Business Machines Corporation [Smithsonian Institution].
  
  
• Unknown photographer, Fort Howard, Wisconsin Territory, circa 1855, from Marryat, Frederick, and State Historical Society Of Wisconsin. “An English officer’s description of Wisconsin in 1837.” Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printers, 1898. Library of Congress.
  
  
• Unknown photographer, [Jonathan M. Clark], circa 1840-1857. Photograph courtesy Liz Hickman.
  
  
• Liz Hickman, photographer, Jonathan M. Clark memorial obelisk, Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2016. Courtesy Liz Hickman.