Treasurer’ s Report
Through Q1 2026— Anthea Chung, Treasurer
The Mountain View Historical Association is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting local history. We appreciate the continued support of our members, donors, and community.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Association received $ 1,757 in total income, including membership dues($ 1,225), walking tour fees($ 176), and interest income from cash on hand($ 356).
Total expenses for the period were $ 688, supporting newsletter and community events($ 466) and other administrative costs($ 222). Careful financial management resulted in a net surplus of $ 1,068, strengthening the Association’ s ability to continue its work.
Compared to the same period in 2025, income was lower($ 1,757 vs. $ 2,002), primarily due to reduced walking tour activity and the absence of speaking fees. However, expenses were also significantly lower($ 688 vs. $ 1,053), resulting in a higher net surplus($ 1,068 vs. $ 949).
As of March 31, 2026, the Association held $ 80,524 in cash, including $ 15,928 in checking accounts and $ 64,596 in Certificates of Deposit. Interest earned on these funds continues to support ongoing operations while preserving the Association’ s reserves for the future.
Membership Report
Thanks to those of you who have renewed your membership!
To join, or renew, you can always mail in the form( see page 9) with a check or visit www. mountainviewhistorical. org / memberships /
Please consider becoming a lifetime member. It’ s easy and you won’ t have to remember to send your dues each year!
Membership dues help us with our ongoing expenses— hosting meetings, newsletter production, mailing costs and insurance.
Mountain View Family History Spotlight
Vice Mayor Chris Clark by Robert Cox, MVHA Vice President
Former Mayor and current Vice Mayor Chris Clark’ s family tree has branches almost all of which reach back to colonial America. Chris has ancestors from England, Scotland, Wales, Ulster, France, Germany, and Sweden. His fourth greatgrandfather Charles Edgar Clark, Sr. was born in 1795 in Perthshire Scotland, immigrating first to Pennsylvania, then later finding his way to Henderson County, Illinois. Charles’ s son, Charles Edgar Clark, Jr. married Mariah Cox in 1862. So, who knows, Chris and I may be distant relatives!
One of Chris’ s eighth great-grandfathers, Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins, was a Baptist minister and an early advocate of religious liberty. Born in 1678 in Tyngraig, Wales, he immigrated to colonial New Jersey in 1710, and was elected a member of the colonial council. In 1721, a bill was introduced“ to punish such as denied the doctrines of the Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, and the inspiration of the Scriptures”. Jenkins spoke passionately against the bill, declaring“ although I believe these doctrines as firmly as the warmest advocate of the bill, yet I would never consent to oppose those who rejected them with law or with any other weapon than argument.”
One of Chris’ s fourth great-grandfathers, Benjamin Coleman Coghill, was likely his first ancestor to live in Rozetta, Illinois, where Chris
Benjamin Coleman Coghill( 1803-1880)
Mariah( Cox) Clark( 1843-1919)
was born. Coghill was born in 1803 in Henrico County, Virginia. Coghill had three wives, Millicent, Mary, and Loucie. Chris is descended through Mary. Loucie was a school teacher in Hannibal, Missouri, where Samuel Clemens( a. k. a. Mark Twain) was one of her students. Loucie was not fond of the Clemens family, referring to them as“ inveterate liars.” I suppose a world-renown author of fiction needs to start somewhere!
Like many Virginians of the time, Coghill owned slaves. Shaken by the Nat Turner rebellion of 1831, he decided to liberate his slaves and relocate to a Free State. Coghill wrote,“ I procured good homes as I could for the aged and sent all who were young to Liberia.” Then in the spring of 1836, Coghill and his family set out for what is now Henderson County, Illinois, arriving in May. Chris’ s family has had a strong and continuous presence in the county since then.
Chris was born in 1983 and developed an interest in politics at a young age. He watched CNBC and CNN from a giant motorized satellite dish on the family farm. Seeking broader life experiences, he learned about the Congressional Page Program, and was nominated to the program by Democratic Congressman Lane Evans. At age 16, Chris was off to Washington, D. C.! Chris was encouraged by the Page School counselor to apply for college summer school programs and so ended up Stanford, both for the summer program and later as an undergraduate. After graduation, Chris joined AT & T’ s rotational management program, working on the IPhone launch team.
Chris came to Mountain View when he joined Loopt, a startup company providing smartphone location services. Chris writes,“ I rented an apartment off Whisman Road, and I quickly found the community welcoming and accessible. Mountain View felt like a place where I could put down roots after years of
Clark, continued on page 8
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