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Biography of A. C. Lark
Manager of DeCoursey Creamery in Leavenworth

History of Leavenworth County, Kansas, by Jesse A. Hall, pub. 1921, p. 431-432

A. C. Lark, a leading business man of Leavenworth, who manages the DeCoursey Creamery of Leavenworth at 321 Shawnee street is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. He attended the ward and high schools of that city and spent eighteen months in Spaulding's Commercial College, beginning at the latter school the day they opened up their new building at Tenth and Oak streets. Mr. Lark was graduated from this school June, 1909, and, prior to coming to Leavenworth in September, 1919, he was with the DeCoursey Creamery at their Kansas City plant for two and one-half years, thus having a thorough knowledge of the business before accepting the position as manager of their branch here. Mr. Lark possesses marked executive ability and is thoroughly reliable.

Ed DeCoursey was the founder of the DeCoursey Creameries, and is one of the pioneers in this business in Leavenworth, Kansas.¹ He resides in Kansas City, Kansas, and his sons, James, Frank and William, are conducting the business, one of the most extensive of its kind in the state. The firm lives up to its motto--"Twin products of quality." The creamery at Kansas City, Kansas, manufactures White Rose butter and Perfection ice cream, in which products they specialize. The company has large plants at Kansas City, Kansas; Wichita, Kansas, and many branches throughout the state. McLouth, Leavenworth, and Yates Center are the most important ones.

Mr. Lark is a native of Wyandotte County, Kansas, the son of Mark and Veronica (Weaver) Lark, who reside in Kansas City, Kansas. Mark Lark works for the Armour car lines, having charge of the construction of the cars.

August 23, 1913, Mr. Lark was married to Mary Sneller, of Kansas City, Kansas, in which city she was born and reared. They have three children: Margaret, Paul and Richard.

¹ All other sources state that Edwin's son James founded the DeCoursey Creamery. James' father and two brothers became involved in the business a year or so later. Edwin did not pioneer the dairy business in Leavenworth either, as he was living in Colorado from about 1879 to 1901. His father and three of his brothers were in the dairy business in Leavenworth.

Transcribed by Erica DeCoursey 2003