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John Kinzie Clark

1792 – 1865

American trader and trapper

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About John Kinzie Clark

Lived 1792 – 1865 (aged 72–73). John Kinzie Clark was an American.

John Kinzie Clark (1792–1865) was a trader, trapper and a prominent early settler in the Chicago area. He was raised by Native Americans, who called him Nonimoa or Prairie Wolf. Clark first arrived at Fort Dearborn in 1818. In 1830, Clark settled in the vicinity of today's Jefferson Park area where he built a log cabin on the prairie. Hired to carry mail by horseback between Chicago and Milwaukee, he would make stops in Deerfield with provisions for early settlers there.

Prairie Wolf Slough, a forest preserve in Deerfield, Illinois just north of Deerfield High School is named for Clark using his Native American name.

According to New York Times science writer William K. Stevens, Clark was the first owner of a part of Somme Woods in Northbrook. He sold that property to John Frederick Werhane in 1853. The site was farmed by the Werhane family until it was acquired as a forest preserve in the 1930s. It is currently known for its prairie, savanna, and woodland restoration, as featured in Stevens' book.

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Important facts

Born
1792
Birth century
Died
1865, Deerfield, Illinois
Nationality
Positions held
Cook County Coroner
Also known as
John K. Clark, John Clark

People in John Kinzie Clark's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Kinzie Clark's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Kinzie Clark?

American trader and trapper (1784-1865)

When was John Kinzie Clark born?

John Kinzie Clark was born in 1792.

When did John Kinzie Clark die?

John Kinzie Clark died in 1865 in Deerfield, Illinois.

What nationality was John Kinzie Clark?

John Kinzie Clark was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Kinzie Clark

· Wikidata: Q6243178

· DBpedia: John Kinzie Clark

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Kinzie Clark. https://biography.guide/john-kinzie-clark/

MLA: "John Kinzie Clark." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-kinzie-clark/.

Chicago: "John Kinzie Clark." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-kinzie-clark/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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