Through the medium of a highly successful career, Champ Clark, who has
a national reputation as stump speaker and forensic orator, furnishes
yet another illustration of the possibilities that lie before the young
American who determines to “get there.” Mr. Clark was born in Anderson
county, Kentucky, March 7, 1850. First educated in the local schools,
he later studied at the Kentucky university, Bethany college and the
Cincinnati law school. In order to support himself while acquiring
his education, he worked as a farm hand, a clerk in a country store,
an editor of a country newspaper, and finally as a lawyer. Not long
after he had begun to practice law for a livelihood he commenced to
take an active interest in political affairs and was at length elected
city attorney of Louisiana, Mo., and later for Bowling Green, Mo. He
has served as prosecuting attorney of Pike county, and since 1893,
has been a member of congress from the Ninth Missouri district. Mr.
Clark’s eloquence, apart from his other notable qualities, makes him a
prominent figure in congressional affairs.