Rufus Clark | |
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| Born | December 4, 1822 Coventry, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | October 14, 1910 (aged 87) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Denver County, Colorado |
| Other names |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1849–1899 |
| Known for | Farming |
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| Children | 5 |
Rufus Clark (December 4, 1822 – October 14, 1910[note 1]), also known both as Potato Clark[3] and Dad Clark, was an American pioneer, businessman, politician, and community leader who was dubbed the "Potato King of Colorado".[4] Born in Connecticut, Clark spent time at sea and searching for gold in Australia and California before migrating to Denver from Iowa in 1859 with his second wife and their child during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Clark established a 160-acre farm along the South Platte River, acquiring a fortune and substantial landholdings from selling potatoes to miners and Denverites. After his second wife died in 1861, he was elected to the Colorado territorial legislature in 1864 for a single term.[5]
After experiencing a conversion following a Denver tent revival by the United Brethren, Clark quit drinking, having struggled with alcoholism prior. Both before and after his conversion, he spent much of his wealth on charitable ventures, including sponsoring a United Brethren school at Shenge in modern-day Sierra Leone, providing relief funds after the Great Chicago Fire, and funding the construction of a Salvation Army building. Clark was involved in the establishment of the town of South Denver, donating land to the University of Denver to establish the dry University Park Colony at the site. Clark donated land to establish the Clark Colony, supplied with water by the Castlewood Dam. Clark died in 1910 and was survived by his daughter and third wife. He left money to support his charitable ventures. Dad Clark Park in Highlands Ranch and Dad Clark Gulch are named in his honor.[6]
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