Mr. Clark was born in Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., April 6, 1815, was three years old when his parents removed to Livingston County, where they lived until 1821, then journeyed by team to Buffalo, thence by boat to Monroe County, Mich., remaining there until the father was called hence two years later. The widow with her family then went to Lenawee County, bought one hundred and ten acres of land in the dense forest, where out subject labored at clearing and other home duties so long as his strength would permit. He had been ill before his father died, and the ague kept a hold upon him until he became too reduced to endure hard work, and developed into serious complaints. The timber on the farm was black walnut of the finest kind and the Raisin River afforded a convenient means of transportation for the logs that floated down to the sawmills.

Being unable to aid upon the farm, Mr. Clark went to Caledonia, N. Y., to a brother and sister, and attended the village school for a while, then, having heard of an old physician in West Avon from whom it was thought he might derive some benefit, he went there, making his home with the doctor while taking treatment and at the same time pursuing his studies in the academy. His treatment had almost effected a cure, although he never wholly recovered from the effects of his early ill-health. When twenty years old he began teaching, his first school being a winter one at Leroy. At its close he returned to Michigan, and secured a school at Dundee, but in the fall took the position of book-keeper and commissary for his brothers, who had a contract of sixteen miles of the Michigan Southern Railroad, and wished his services.

After working for them two years, Mr. Clark returned to the Empire State, drawn thither by the charms of Miss Rachel Rogers, whom he won for his wife, their wedding taking place in Livingston County, June 3, 1840, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Mr. fisher, a Covenanter minister. The bride was born in Washington County, her father, David Rogers, being a descendant of the John Rogers who was persecuted and burned at the stake for his principles in the days when Mary, Queen of Scots, upheld Catholicism by force. The mother of the bride was Mary Mills, who bore her husband a large family, most of the male portion of whom moved West and became farmers in Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark came to Michigan, where, not long after, the wife was left while our subject visited Illinois. He crossed the lake to Cleveland, Ohio, went by stage to Columbus, and started on the canal to Sparta, Randolph County, Ill. The boat traveled so slowly that he and a nephew struck out on foot for Peoria, four hundred and forty miles distant. During the winter he taught in the village of Trivoli, then went after his wife, and also brought with him on his return, a brother, Benjamin, making the trip by wagon. He settled in Smithville, teaching there three years and a half when politics became a source of excitement, and a Democrat was put in charge of the school, our subject being a strong Whig.

Our subject bought forty acres of raw land near the village, built a dwelling and undertook other improvements. The patrons of the school desired him to resume charge after his successor had held the place one term, and he accordingly returned to his former position, and continued his labors until the death of his companion, August 13, 1845. Leaving the place them, Mr. Clark taught in Mercer County, then in Greenfield, Greene County, and after some time went to Michigan, where August 1, 1848, he contracted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding Miss Laura M. McManus. This lady was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and receiving an invitation came to the home of her sister in Michigan, filling a position as teacher in both Lenawee and Monroe Counties; she was also a successful teacher in the neighborhood of her uncle in Ohio. After his second marriage Mr. Clark came back to this county, continuing his pedagogical labors in various districts for divers periods, giving the summers, for a few years, to work upon a farm he had bought, and at last tired of the continual change from farm labor to school turned his entire attention to farming. In 1853, he secured by trade eighty acres of his present farm, afterward buying another tract of one hundred and sixty, but sold half of it, leaving in his possession a quarter section. His wife had charge of this until he abandoned the profession in which he had labored so long and so well. He operated it until the death of his wife, December 22, 1882, when he left it and for some time afterward made his home with his children in Missouri, Iowa and in Livingston County, Ill.

At Peoria, March 4, 1889, Mr. Clark was again married, winning as his wife Mrs. Mary J. (McClelland) Davis. This lady was born in the North of Ireland, reared there and highly educated. When a young woman she came to America with a sister, becoming matron of an institution for the education of negro children in New York City, in which her sister also taught. For twenty five years she held her place at the head of this institution, then married her first husband, who had at one time been principal of the institute and whose acquaintance she had made there. He had resigned and moved to Michigan, and losing the companion of his early years, some years after her death married Miss McClellan. They went to England where he died two years later, when the widow returned to New York and was offered the position she had held prior to her marriage. Illness prevented her assuming its duties and she came West to visit a sister, coming to the home of her nephew, W. A. Huston, in this county, where she met the subject of our sketch when he was looking after his farm property here.

By his first marriage Mr. Clark became the father of three children. Isabella is now living in Adair County, Iowa; she married George Walford, who was drowned. Martha E., formerly a teacher in this State and Missouri, now lives in the latter, being the wife of I. J. Bitler a farmer. Rachel R. died in infancy in 1845. The second marriage of our subject was productive to him of two children. Sarah C. attended Monmouth College, married Simeon Wright and died in Texas leaving an infant son who still survives. Homer J. lives in Livingston County, being editor and joint proprietor of the Pontiac Sentinel; he also attended Monmouth College, was a teacher and was performing the duties of Principal of Gibson City High School when the editor of the Gibson City Courier desired him to manage the sheet a week while he took a vacation; he did so and sometime after the return of the owner formed a partnership with him in buying out the Pontiac Sentinel and running it under the style of Lowry & Clark.

Our subject joined the Presbyterian Church when fifteen years old and has been ruling Elder since 1843. He has also been Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is now teaching the Bible Class at Pennsylvania Ridge. In politics he has been a true blue Republican since the disintegration of the old Whig party. His farm is well improved, having two dwellings, adequate outbuildings of various kinds, fences, trees, etc., to mark it as a home of plenty. In manners and conversational powers Mr. Clark is pleasing, intelligent—in fact quite cultured, and cordial, making it a great pleasure to converse with him.

The father of our subject was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, May 10, 1764. He came to New York with his parents in 1771, receiving a good education, in common with his brother and sisters, and studied medicine. He graduated from an allopathic school in the Empire State, engaged in the practice of medicine in Argyle, N. Y. Going into speculation he lost all his property, more than once, but after each reverse would resume his profession with successful results. He prospected for gold also, spending much money in that way. After living for some years in Livingston County, he located in Michigan, first spending a year in Monroe and then practicing in Raisinville until his death in 1823. He and his brother Robert were both Presbyterian in religion, and belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons.

The mother of our subject was Isabella Campbell, a native of Argyle, N. Y.; she died in Michigan, near Deerfield. She was the mother of fifteen children, whose record is as follows: Eleanor died in New York July 21, 1820 aged twenty-nine years; Margaret was thrown from a horse, having her neck broken, in Blissfield, Mich.; Robert died in Randolph County, Ill., in 1842; James R. died in Minnesota in 1882, aged eighty-six years; Catherine in Randolph County, Ill., in 1837; Jane in Deerfield, Mich., in 1836, aged thirty-four years; William C., January 28, 1849, aged forty-four; Elizabeth in infancy; Benjamin in Michigan in 1869, aged sixty-two years; Daniel in Michigan; Ebenezer, in Washington County, N. Y., aged two years; Eliza, in Caledonia, N. Y., in 1840; Sally Maria in Missouri in 1879; Martha G. in Caledonia, N. Y., aged twenty-nine years. Robert was in the War of 1812, and Daniel in the Black Hawk War. Robert was a physician, finally becoming quite rich and prominent, and died near Sparta, Randolph County, Ill. Robert, brother of our subject’s father was elected to Congress about the year 1817, where he as early in the history of our country as this, by his fearless utterances on the subject of slavery as the destined curse of our land, proves himself to have been a strong abolitionist. After his term of service in Congress expired he was appointed Government Land Agent, and by his wise trading soon became quite rich and prominent. He died near Monroe, Mich., leaving a large family in opulent circumstances.

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