Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
MELVILLE E. DARK. One of the enterprising young business men of Springfield is Melville E. Dark. What he has achieved in life proves the force of his character and illustrates its steadfastness of purpose, and his advancement to a position of credit and honor in the business circles of Greene county is the direct outcome of his own persistent and worthy labors, and he is a congenial and popular gentleman with bright prospects for the future.
Mr. Dark, who is district manager of the Illinois Life Insurance Company, with offices in the Holland building, was born at Lewisburg, Marshall county, Tennessee, September 29, 1879. He is a son of Harris E. and Martha E. (Dyer) Dark, the father born in Lewisburg, Tennessee, February 5, 1844, and the mother was born in Franklin, that state, November 5, 1853. They grew to maturity in Tennessee, received their educations in the public schools, and were married there and established their home at Lewisburg, where the father engaged in farming.
Melville E. Dark spent his boyhood days in his native locality and there he received a practical education. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in the year 1901 and has since made this his home finally becoming district manager for the Illinois Life Insurance Company, the duties of which responsible position he is discharging in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of the company, and is rapidly extending the interests of the same in this territory where he has built up a large business. He understands every phase of the life insurance field and keeps well abreast of the times in the same.
Mr. Dark was married on November 14, 1911, to Katherine O'Dowd, a daughter of Mike and Amelia (Engleman) O'Dowd, a highly respected family of Springfield, Missouri.
Mrs. Dark was born at Richmond, Missouri, October 5, 1897. She moved with her parents from Kansas City, Missouri, to Springfield in 1906, at which time her father accepted a position as chief tie and timber inspector for the Frisco railroad.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dark one child has been born, Winifred Dark, whose birth occurred on September 15, 1912.
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