The Enterprising Young Men

Robert Mason Clark was only a toddler when his family moved to Marion County Missouri in the fall of 1830, along with many others from Nicholas County, Kentucky. After working hard for two decades of settlement to create villages among farm fields and woods, many hardy individuals answered the 1949 siren call to journey west to the California gold fields. Robert’s memoir of his 1850-52 thrilling and sometimes amazing adventures reveal their hardiness.  

Over twenty Missourians are mentioned by name in the memoir. In addition to Marion County men Robert M. Clark and his brother Samuel V. Clark, these include:

• From MARION County: Mike Heckard[t], Bill Anderson, Henry Maddox, Carson Gatewood, Frank See, Spotswood Williams, Alex Anderson, Billey Moss, Bob Gosney, John Hawkins, John Sharp, Richard Sharp, a man named Packwood, William Muldrow, Thomas L. Anderson, Dr. Albert Anderson
• From RALLS County: Dave Davenport, Jim Hagar, men of last name Fuson, Tom Spalding
• From MONROE County: Peter Wiles, A. G. Williams
• From JACKSON County: Wain Oliver, Stokes Oliver, Boutwell Oliver, Alf Henson, men of last name Kibby, James Price
• From LEWIS County: Dr. Brown, Mr. [Middleton?] Smoot