Biography

Jessie Lillian Clark was born in Waterford, New York on November 2, 1863.

 A Wichita school yearbook (date unknown, p. 22) lists her as graduating from Robinson Seminary in Exeter, New Hampshire.

 Jessie began teaching in Wichita schools on January 2, 1887.She taught at the local high school.She boarded at the home of Steven G. and Mary A. Mills at 1203 N. Market.For 35 years she was supervisor of music in the Wichita public school system.She was the last surviving member of the Wichita Musical Club.

 In 1896, Jessie formed an orchestra in Wichita, Kansas (Birge, p. 166)

 1907 Jessie Clark attended the first meeting of MENC.

 Until the fall term of 1923, Jessie Clark was in charge of the high school band, orchestra and voice department.Because of her failing eyesight she gave up instrumental music and limited herself to teaching vocal music and also music history.

 Jessie died on June 28, 1925 in Portland, Oregon at the age of 61.The funeral service was held at the high school auditorium at 10:00 am.Her date of burial was July 6 at the Maple Grove cemetery on the Mills family lot.Cause of death was listed as Diabetes in one source and Heart Disease in another.Her name is listed as one of the members honored at a memorial service at the MENC conference in Kansas City, Missouri (Birge, p. 266).

Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, KS interment record No. 8500.

Cemetery Location 7-251-H

 At the time of her death there was a new high school being built in Wichita, now known as East High school.A pipe organ was installed in the school as was to be known as the Jessie L. Clark Memorial organ.

In 1982 the school, lead by the music department and Anne Allen, vocal music, raised money to refurbish the organ dedicated to Miss Clark.

Dedication of the Clark Memorial Organ

The death of Miss Clark on June 28, 1925, came very suddenly and surprised many Wichitans.She was in Portland at the time of her death, but her body was brought back to Wichita and the funeral services were held in the auditorium of Wichita High School.Miss Clark was a supervisor of music in Wichita schools for thirty-eight years.She came in contact with many boys and girls and did more for the musical life of our community than any other individual.

On October 29, 1925, the Jessie L. Clark Memorial Organ was dedicated by Clarence Eddy, a world-famous organist.It was with joy and happiness in our hearts that we witnessed this great epoch in our history.The program was one which Miss Clark would have thoroughly enjoyed.Mr. Eddy was assisted by Mrs. Pearl Hussey Flanegan, lyric soprano of Wichita.An afternoon and evening program were given.

The organ was purchased form the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut and cost $15,000.The pipes of the organ are in the room above the stage and are arranged so that the sound enters the auditorium.The console is kept in an opening in the wall of the stage, and sine it has thirty feet of cable it can be placed almost anywhere on the stage.The organ has a seven and one-half horse power motor that furnishes the electric current through 600 wires.(Wichitan.1926 School Yearbook, p. 147)

Misc. Information

1920-1925 Listed on the MSNC Membership Roll: House address:1203 N. Market.

 Gill Mortuary Records show the following:

Miss Jessie Lillian Clark

Residence – Portland, Oregon

Charge to Miss Leida H. Mills

Female

White

Single

School Teacher

Date of Death 6-28-25

Age 61y 7m 26d

Date of Birth 11-2-1863

Place of Death – Madison Park Apts., Portland, Ore

Place of Birth – Waterford, N.Y.

Cause of Death – Heart Disease

Physician – T.E. Boyden

Father – Erastus L. Clark, born NY

Date of Burial 7-6-1925

Time 10:00 am

Place of Service – High School Auditorium

Officiating Minister – H.R. Anderson-Shumake

Place of Burial – Maple Grove

Jessie is buried on the Mills family lot.

Bibliography of Sources

Birge, Edward Bailey. History of Public School Music in the United States. Washington:Music

Educators National Conference, 1973.

Music Supervisors National Conference Journal of Proceedings (Years 1920-1925)

Wichitan.1926 School Yearbook, p. 147

1920 Federal Census

1915 Wichita City Directory

Wichita Eagle Newspaper, Obituary listing

Special thanks go to the individuals who provided valuable materials and support for this project.Without their willingness and generosity of time and research, this project could not have been completed.

It is with my sincere thanks that I acknowledge the following individuals and their organizations:

Vicki L. Churchman, Wichita East High School

Bill Pennington, Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society