The Clark Families of Pottawattamie County, Iowa

DANIEL B. CLARK, of Council Bluffs, is numbered among the early settlers of Pottawattamie County, the date of his location being May 10, 1852. He at that time settled on a claim which he purchased of a Mormon in Kane Township before the land was in market A few improvements had been made, a log cabin having been built and a small part broken, but no essential improvements had been made. In 1853 the land came into market. Mr. Clark entered the land and resided on it about thirty-two years.

He was born near Batavia, Genesee County, New York, January 4, 1819. His parents were Eli K and Eunice (Brown) Clark, both born in Connecticut. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was also a native of Connecticut, and of English origin. He was a shoemaker by trade. Our subject possesses a memento or heirloom, consisting of a shoe-hammer used by his grandfather, and by request was given to the father of our subject as the eldest son of his father, and for the same reason Daniel B. Clark, being the eldest son of his lather, came into possession of this heirloom, and it will thus descend to the eldest son of our subject. The mother of Mr. Clark also descended from an early Connecticut family. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Clark was Daniel Brown, after whom he was named. Eli K. Clark and wife were married in their native State, in 1817, and the following year emigrated to Genesee County, New York, which was then regarded as the " far West." There he settled on a farm, where he continued to live until 1882 or 1833, when they removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and settled on a farm, where they remained until death. The father was born June 22, 1794, and died October 14, 1868, at the age of seventy-four years. The mother was born December 24, 1799, and died April 30, 1852. They were the parents of eleven child-en, ten of whom attained mature years: a son, Jerome, died at the age of eight years. Six of their children are still living, at this writing. The subject of this sketch is the eldest. The second of the family, William H., died September 21, 1872; Piercy Ann is the wife of Thomas Lyman, and resides at Downer's Grove, Illinois; Huldah L. became the wife of Joseph Carpenter, and died March 29, 1864; Willard F. died April 6, 1860; Ora E.,the second surviving brother, resides in Michigan; Jerome W. was the. next in order of birth; Phebe J. married, and died March 7, 1856; Altyn D., who resides in Iowa: Lois married Rev. Lyman Catlin, now of Waterloo, Iowa; Arista ( is married and resides in Michigan.

Daniel B. Clark, the subject of this notice, was reared to the occupation of farmer. He lived in Orleans Connty, New York, for about eight years, and then removed to Peoria County, Illinois, where he continued to reside until he came to Iowa in 1852, as already stated. Mr. Clark has long been one of the well-known citizens of Pottawattamie County. He enlarged the place where he first settled, and made of it a beantitul home, where he lived for many years. He became the owner of much valuable land elsewhere, and although he has sold the homestead he still owns a line farm of 300 acres near the city of Council Bluffs. In the spring of 1884 Mr Clark retired from the active duties fif farm life and removed to this city, where he and his wile have a pleasant home. Politically he is a Republican, and is an esteemed and worthy citizen of Pottawattamie County. lie served his country in the war of the Rebellion, entering the army in 1861. He raised a company of which he was commissioned Captain by Governor Kirkwood. His command became Company H, uf the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served his country faithfully until his health failed, and he was discharged for disability at Corinth, Mississippi, in June, 1862. His eldest son was a soldier in Company D, Forty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Three brothers tif Mr. Clark also served in the war of the Rebellion, viz.: Ora E., who was a member of I'atter G, First Michigan Artillery; Altyn D. served in Company D, B'irst Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; Aresta D., a member of Company B, Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Mr. Clark was married at Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York, October! 1840, to Miss Eleanor Bates, who was born in Madison County, New York, Decemt)er 22, 1819, and they have had ten children, four only of whom attained mature years. The eldest, Edwin J., died January 30, 1873, in the thirty-second year of his age; Ora is a farmer of Red Willow County, Nebraska; Emma J. is the wife of George W. Bartlett, of Red Willow County, Nebraska; and Samuel W. is a resident of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

P. PETERSON WH8l)orn in Sweden, June 13. 1841, the only son and one of the four children of Peter and Hannah (Hawkins) Peterson. Ho attended school until he was thirteen years old and then worked at farming for a time. When he was eighteen he attended college one year. Having received a good education in his native language, he again turned his attention to farming, at which he worked until he was twenty-two. Then he bade good by to home and friends and started for America. Leaving Malmo he sailed for Copenhagen, thence to Hull. England, thence to Liverpool, and from there across the ocean to Quebec, Canada. He came by rail and steamer to Chicago, then on to Henry County, Illinois, arriving at the latter place in 1864. In October of this year he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and joined his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, from which place they marched to AVhite River Landing. He was taken sick and confined in the hospital for some time. The latter part of February, 1865, he was removed from New Orleans by hospital boat to Now York, and from there was sent West. Again he was taken sick, and he remained in hospital at Columbus, Ohio, for a time.

After an honorable discharge he returned to Henry County, Illinois, from whence, in 1867, he care to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here he was variously employed until the spring of 1874, when he obtained a position on the C. B. & Q. Railroad, as a labor and derrick hand. He was soon promoted, and continued work as a stone mason for several years. In 1880 he bought his farm of 160 acres, which was then partly improved.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM CLARK, SR.

William Clark. Sr., for many yearclosely associated with important agricultural and stock-raising interests in Pottawattamie county and now living in Oakland, from which town In1-uperintends his investment-, was born in Pennsylvania, March 1,.1837. Eis father. Charles Clark, was also a native of the Keystone state and was of Irish lineage. He was a farmer Inoccupation and continued to live in Pennsylvania until 1850, when lie removed with his family to Illinois, locating in Mercer county, where he purchased land and engaged in its operation until the spring of 1860. He then went to Kansas by teams, but this being the year of the great brought everything was burned up, and after living in their covered wagons throughout the summer the family came to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, in the fall. Here the father purchased eighty acreof land from the original settler and moved into a log cabin of one room built by the Mormons, making that his home for a few years. This house was the only improvement upon the place, but as time passed he broke the land, erected buildings and continued the cultivation of his land throughout the remainder of his active life. For a few years before his death, however, he lived retired at the home of our subject, where he died on the 12th of September, 1884, at the age of eighty-four years. He possessed good business ability and keen discrimination and prospered in his undertakings. For long years he was connected with the Presbyterian church but at a later date became a member of the Baptist church and at all times was interested in Christian and charitable work. His political views accorded with the principles of the republican party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah McCreary, was born in Pennsylvania and died February 26, 1905, at the age of ninety-two years. She, too, was a member of the Presbyterian church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. F. C. CLARK, a dentist of Council BluflTs, has been identified with the interest of Pottawattamie County since 1865. He is a native of the State of Maine, bora in Waldo County, January 31, 1829, the son of Amasa and Martha Combs Clark, natives of Maine, and of English and French descent. The paternal ancestors came to this country on the Mayflower. Dr. Clark was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. He resided in Maine until 1849, when he was enticed by the accounts of the gold fields then discovered in California; previous to this he had worked at shipbuilding. He went as a passenger in the bark Mitas around Cape Horn, being 140 days from West Thornston, Maine, to San Francisco, at which place he worked for a time at $12 per day. Ho soon engaged in mining on Feather River, which he followed for six years, with varying success. He then studied dentistry, practicing in California and Idaho until he came to Pottawattamie County.

Dr. Clark was married in Boise City, Idaho, June 11, 18G5, to Mrs. Mary E. Babbitt, nee Miss Mary E. Page, of Elgin, Illinois, a lady of Scotch descent. About a year after their marriage he came to Council Bluffs, where he has since practiced his profession. By her former marriage Mrs. Clark had three children: Louisa Maria, William Newton and Albert Augustus; and by this marriage she has six, four of whom still survive: Mary Frances, Martha Ann, Marcia Lily, and Mittie Jane. Mrs. Clark is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Clark is a Master Mason of Excelsior Lodge, No. 259, A. F. & A. M. I'politically he affiliates with the Republican party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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Mr. Clark is a native of Erie County, Pennsylvania, born in December, 1850, the son of Joel and Lucinda B. (Bliss) Clark, of Puritan origin, he being the representative of the family in this part of the country. He was brought up as a tanner and currier, his father being the same; was educated in the public schools, and commenced to do for himself while 'n his youth, and has been doing the same ever since his twelfth year. Being a natural trade, he was usually successful. He remained in his native State until the fall of 1880, engaged in the fruit business, handling a vast amount of fruits and vegetables. His first venture in that line was instigated by being in Philadelphia and, seeing the vast amount of vegetables, especially cucumbers, that were being shipped at such cheap prices, he concluded at once that he could make a profitable investment by taking some of the articles to Erie, where he resided. Accordingly he had three barrels shipped to Erie, which he disposed of at retail, clearing $18 per barrel. This encouraged him to go on and he therefore gradually increased his stock in various articles until he did a thriving business. He was the first to ship the Jersey watermelon into Erie. He remained in that town until he came West. In 1880 he went to Kansas, where he remained some time, thence to Southern California, and traveled about for six or seven years, when he returned to Kansas; and in the fall of 1888 he came to Council Bluffs, where he engaged in various speculations. In May, 1889, he entered his present business, which he now conducts, and devotes his entire attention to the same.

He always took an active part in the political work while in Erie; was chairman of the Third Ward Republican Committee for some time, and was very active in the cause of his party. He still zealously adheres to Republican principles. He is a member of Tyrian Lodge, No. 740, I. O. O. F., and also a charter member of Erie Lodge, No. 44, A. ( U. W., having passed the chairs of the same.

He was married June 28, 1877, to Miss Adda W. Woodworth, daughter of William and Caroline (Jewell) Woodworth, of Rushford, Allegany County, New York, of Puritan origin. The father was captain in the war of the Rebellion, and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, which resulted in his death. They hare one child, Gracie, and are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

After having removed with his parents to Erie, Mr. Clark learned the machinists' trade, at which business he worked some eight years. He is a self-made man, having taken care of himself from his early childhood. His parents are both living in the city of Erie, father aged eighty years and mother aged seventy-eight. He followed the tanning and currier's business for thirty-five years, and the latter part of his life he has retired from active pursuits. They had seven sons and two daughters, viz.: Charles, a resident of

BWr, HA riirCA L UIS TOR Y

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As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.