History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Clark Dunham
CLARK DUNHAM, one of the notable pioneer journalists of Iowa, was born at New Haven, Vermont, January 21, 1816. His father removed to Ohio when he was a child and Clark, after attending the public schools, entered Granville College where he graduated. He acquired a knowledge of the printing business and with the aid of his father purchased the Newark Gazette and for fourteen years was its editor and proprietor. In 1854 he removed to Burlington, Iowa, where, with the assistance of his brother-in-law, he purchased the Hawkeye, then a tri-weekly journal. When the Republican party was organized the Hawkeye became one of the ablest exponents of its principles and Mr. Dunham developed into one of the most successful editors in the State. He knew how to make a newspaper before the era of telegraphs and daily papers. While he was not a voluminous writer, he knew just what the public wanted in a paper and gave it. The Hawkeye under his management was the best known and most influential paper in Iowa and became widely known throughout the West. Mr. Dunham was a trusted friend of James W. Grimes, Samuel J. Kirkwood, James F. Wilson and Samuel F. Miller. During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Dunham was one of the first to realize that it could only end with the destruction of slavery and the Hawkeye was striking sturdy blows against that remnant of barbarism while others were vainly attempting compromise. In 1867 Mr. Dunham was appointed postmaster of Burlington, which position he held until his death which occurred on the 12th of April, 1871.