Gibson Clark

Gibson Clark
Born	Template:Birth date Millwood, Virginia, U.S.
Died	December 14, 1914(1914-12-14) (aged 70) Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, judge, U.S. Attorney
Years active	1883–1914
Known for	Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court; first U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming

Gibson Clark (December 5, 1844 – December 14, 1914) was an American legal figure who held a position on the Wyoming Supreme Court from January 2, 1893, until his resignation on September 22, 1894. He stepped down to accept the role of the inaugural US Attorney for Wyoming's federal district. Originating from Clarke County, Virginia, Clark served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

Early life

Born in Millwood, Virginia in December 1844 to parents James Hopkins Clark and Jane Adelaide Gregory Clark, he received his education through public schooling. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate forces and served with the Parker battery until the surrender at Appomattox. His military service included participation in significant battles such as Chickamauga, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, and Petersburg. Following the conflict, Clark returned to Virginia but relocated to St. Louis, Missouri in 1866 where he was employed as a clerk within a mercantile establishment. Later that year, he moved to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, then part of Dakota Territory, arriving via Nebraska City. There he took on roles as clerk and bookkeeper for the post trader’s store and secured election to the Territorial Legislative Assembly in 1871. Between 1872 and 1883, Clark engaged in mining ventures across Nevada and Utah.

Career in law and as a judge

While working as a clerk, Clark studied law independently and was admitted to practice by the Utah bar in 1880. He commenced his legal career in 1883 after relocating to Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1886, he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he quickly built a prosperous law practice. Elected to the Wyoming Supreme Court in November 1892, he resigned two years later to become Wyoming’s first federal prosecutor as the district’s initial U.S. Attorney. Upon completing his term in 1898, Clark returned to private practice alongside his son John D. Clark at their firm Clark & Clark. Additionally, he held trustee positions with both the Cheyenne School District and the University of Wyoming.

Family

In 1881, Clark married Frances A. Johnson from Iowa. Together they had four sons. Their son John D. Clark continued operating the family law firm in Cheyenne after Gibson’s passing. Hopkins Clark pursued a career as a civil engineer based in Los Angeles, California. Frank Clark was affiliated with Cheyenne’s Federal Land Company. Less detailed information is available regarding Robert Clark, who was known to be a student residing in Cheyenne.

Death

Gibson Clark passed away at his home in Cheyenne on December 14, 1914, surrounded by his wife and sons. His funeral services were conducted at St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

Legacy

In recognition of his contributions, an elementary school in Cheyenne was named in his honor in 1920; it remained until its demolition in 2009. Despite his Confederate army background, Clark became a devoted advocate for national unity and delivered influential patriotic speeches that left a lasting impact on Wyoming’s community.