Ezekiel Clark
Local history books call Ezekiel Clark “that father of industries” in Johnson County because of the many channels of business in which he held a stake. In the middle to late 19th century, Clark was at times a miller, a merchant, the builder of an opera house, the head of gas and electric companies and a banker, not to mention a state senator.
Clark, however, is perhaps best remembered for the role he is said to have played as the originator of the greenback currency — the legal tender note first issued by the U.S. government during the Civil War.
As 1912’s “Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa History” tells it, Clark was on a trip to New York as a representative of his brother-in-law, Iowa Gov. Samuel Kirkwood, when inspiration struck. He awoke one night with the idea for the government currency and took it to Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase.
“It is declared that the cabinet officer adopted the idea and from this suggestion and the greenback was issued,” historian Charles Ray Aurner wrote in “Leading Events.”
Clark came to Johnson County from Ohio about 1850, and he soon became a prominent figure in local affairs and would remain so for the next half century. His first venture was purchasing the mills in Coralville, and he used his money to start the Glass Works, the Packing House, the Gas and Electric Light Works, the Opera House and other enterprises.
“From that time up to almost the day of his final summons, he was one of the most active men in the community, and only extreme age led him to cease active business life,” Aurner wrote.
Clark made his biggest mark on the community as a banker. He was one of the organizers of the Iowa State Bank and was the president of its Iowa City branch. He also went on to serve as president of several other local banks.
Later in life he served in the state senate but was said to have shrugged off opportunities to pursue higher office because of his business interests.