John Kinzie Clark

This article is about John Kinzie Clark. For other people named John Kinzie, see John Kinzie (disambiguation).

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.^[1] In 1830, Clark settled in the vicinity of today's Jefferson Park area where he built a log cabin on the prairie.^[2] Hired to carry mail by horseback between Chicago and Milwaukee, he would make stops in Deerfield with provisions for early settlers there.^[1] Clark eventually moved to Deerfield, where he is buried at the Deerfield Cemetery.^[1]

John Kinzie Clark
Coroner of Cook County
In office 1831–1832
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Elijah Wentworth
Personal details
Born	1792
Died	1865 Deerfield, Illinois

In April 1831, he was appointed the first coroner of Cook County. He held this post until August 1832.^[3]

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.^[4]