Alonzo Monroe Clark

Alonzo M. Clark, Former Lusk Teacher, Dies in Thermopolis

Alonzo M. Clark, a former governor of Wyoming and one time teacher in the Lusk schools, died in Thermopolis Oct. 12. Funeral services were conducted from the Schrader funeral home in Cheyenne on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and burial was made in Carleton, Nebr., where his first wife is buried.

Mr. Clark, who was 84 years old, had been ill for some time and for the past six months had been a patient at the Wyoming home for the aged at Thermopolis.

He taught school in Lusk in the early 1900's and after teaching at a number of other places in the northern part of the state he became the first county clerk of Campbell County. In 1931 he was secretary of state and when Governor Frank Emerson died in 1931 he became acting governor and after serving in that capacity for two years, he returned to fill out his term as secretary of state.

Later he was nominated for the office of governor but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Leslie Miller.

Born in Indiana, Clark was reared in Nebraska, and attended schools there. He was a school teacher and later county clerk in Dawes County, Nebr., before moving to Wyoming.

Clark attended several colleges in the West, among them the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado. He never received a degree, and turned down honorary degrees, because he did not have the bachelor's degree. He last attended school at the University of Colorado when he was 69 years old.

His first wife and son Donald died many years ago. He was married a second time in 1949 to the widow of his nephew, Clarence Alonzo Clark. Mrs. Clark and her two sons, Dale, 8, and David, 7, survive.

Bruning Banner
October 23, 1952

Alonzo Monroe was born in Flint, Indiana, August 13, 1868. His mother was related to President Grover Cleveland. His father was a veteran of the Civil War and served as County Judge of Thayer County, Nebraska. From Indiana, the family moved to Alexandria, Nebr. Mr. Clark first taught in Thayer County. He graduated from Chadron Academy.

In 1896, he married Lucy Smith of Carleton. They had one son, Donald M. Clark. He became County superintendent of Schools in Dawes County and later Deputy County Clerk.

The Clark family moved to Wyoming, where both taught. He then served as County Clerk of Campbell County several terms with his wife as deputy.

Their son, Donald, went to Leland Stanford University and after one semester took sick and after an operation died in February, 1924.

In 1928, Mr. Clark was elected Secretary of State. In his second term the governor died and he became acting Governor for nearly two years. After retiring from public life, he returned to his first profession of teaching, but was compelled to resign on account of illness.

His wife, Lucy, died January 1, 1944. He married Mrs. Florence Clark, the widow of his nephew. At this time he was working in the Workmen's Compensation Department of the State Treasurer's Office.

Mr. Clark was a Christian who put his religion in practice. He spent much time studying the Bible.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Florence Clark; two sons, Dale and David of Cheyenne, Wyo.; his sister, Mrs. Irene Clapp of Rapid City, S.D.

Graveside services were held at Carleton.

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