"Alexander G.Clark"(February 25,1826-February 16,1892)

Was born in Washington County,Pennsylvania to John Clark,a former slave,and Rebbecca Darns Clark.At 13,he moved to Cincinnati,Ohio,to Learn barbering from an Uncle,who also made sure Alexander was well schooled
in in other areas.Alexander left Cincinnati in October 1841,working for a few months as a bartender on the steamboat George Washington before arriving
in Muscatine (then called Bloomington,in Iowa Territory).It was may 22,1842.As a young man he saw many opportunities in Iowa,and began a career as a barber of and until 1868.Alexander had other pursuits,as well.He cut and sold wood from timberland he owned along the river bottom to expand his income.Alexander then planted vegetables on the cleared land.On October 9,1848,he married Cathrine Griffin of Iowa City,who had been freed from slavery in Virginia at age 3.The Clark's had five children,two of whom died infancy.In September 1849 Alexander purchased a house at Third &
Chestnut streets in Muscatine.Thrifty and savvy Alexander had $10,ooo in real
estate holdings by 1860.
Throughout his life,he worked to improve the status of African Americans in Iowa.In 1855,Alexander and 32 other African Americans in Muscatine County
petitioned the Iowa Legislature to repeal the law prohibiting "the
immigration of free Negroes in to this State."The plea was rejected.During the
Civil War,Alexander organized the 1st Iowa Volunteers of African Descent (later re-designed the 60th Regiment Infantry,United States Colored Troops),a union regiment of 1,000 African American soldiers from Iowa & Missouri.Alexander enlisted in 1863 and was appointed a sergeant major.A disability.forced him to focus his
energies on soldier recruitment.While his life was a series of accomplishments,Alexander is best remembered today for refusing to accept segregated schools.In 1867,when the Muscatine school district said Alexander
daughter,Susan,12,couldn't attend the same
public school that white schools students attended,he sued.The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 1868,saying that all children could attend a common school.The decision was an important one,preceding by 86 years the landmark 1954 ruling in a Topeka,Kansas case.The U.S. Supreme Court in
Brown vs.the Topeka,Kansas Board of Education,reversed the "separate but equal"education policy.Alexander's lawsuit made Iowa one of the first states
to integrate its public school systems.In 1869,a state convention appointed him a delegate to the Colored National Convention in Washington.D.C.,where
had the opportunity to meet with President Grant.In 1873Grant offered Alexander an appointment as ambassador to Haiti,but Alexander turned down the position because he felt the salary was to small.
His was was destroyed by fire in June 1878,possibly by arson.Alexander then built a 2-story,brick double-house on the site.Denied because he was African American to enter the University of Iowa's law school,he then fought to get his son Alexander Jr.,admitted.In 1879 Alexander Jr.became the first African American to graduate from that school.The senior Clark became the second African American U of I law graduate in 1884,graduating eighth in a class of 80.Later daddy & son practiced in Iowa & Illinois.While attending Law School
(1882)Alexander Sr., purchased the Chicago Conservator newspaper and ran it with success as both publisher and editor until 1887,when he sold it.The newspaper enable him to speak out on civil rights issues.
Active in both Masonic Lodge and the Republican Party,Alexander traveled extensively for both,and his speaking skills won praised and earned the ttle
"Colored Orator of the West."His final achievement came when President
Harrison appointed him U.S.minister to Libera on Augusta 16,1890.
Alexander died in Monrovia Liberia.