In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1862
From History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time (1911)
GEORGE D. CLARK
General farming and stock-raising interests claim the attention and energies of George D. Clark, who was born in Benton county, Iowa, January 9, 1862, but now makes his home on section 28, Putnam township, Linn county. He was the sixth son of Thomas W. and Margaret (Andrews) Clark, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Heland. The father was born in 1816, and his life record covered the intervening years to June, 1904. His wife, who was born in 1820, died in January, 1901. On leaving Great Britain they crossed the Atlantic to Canada about 1855 and in 1860 removed to the state of New York, where they resided until 1866, when they came to Linn county, Iowa, settling on a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Putnam township. They were among the early residents of that district and the father took an active and helpful interest in developing the region in which he established Ins home, in their family are two sons and two daughters who are yet living while three sons have passed away.
At the usual age George D. Clark became a pupil in the public schools and therein continued his studios to the age of eighteen years, after which he concentrated his energies upon farm work, to which he had been trained from early youth, assisting in the development and cultivation of the farm throughout the periods of vacation. lie worked with his father until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life for himself, renting part of his father's farm. He continued to cultivate the land until the death of his parents, when he received eighty acres as his share of the estate, this tract comprising the old homestead. lie is now busily engaged in general farming and stock-raising, realizing that unfaltering diligence is the basis of all success. He breeds and raises high grade cattle and horses and has some good stock upon his place. The farm presents a neat and attractive appearance because of the careful supervision which he. gives to it and the practical and progressive methods which he follows.
On the 18th of February, 1889, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Mary Vittengel, a daughter of John and Josephine (Myers) Vittengel, who were farming people of Putnam township, coming to this country from Bohemia in 186! The mother is still living in Ely at the age of fifty-six years, her birth having occurred in 1854, but the father died twenty years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born five children: Charles C, born August 18, 1890, now working on his father's farm: Claud A., born June 5, 1893; Minnie J., born September 17, 1899; Gladys E., born February 15, 1901, and [name withheld], born August 21, 1906.
Mr. Clark is a member of Ely Lodge, No. 581, I. 0. 0. P., and his wife is connected with the Rebekah degree. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and gives his political endorsement to the men and measures of the democratic party. The family attend the Lutheran church at Ely and are well known in the community where they have a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Clark has spent his entire life in Iowa and farm work has occupied his attention from his youthful days to the present, bringing him the success which is now his.
As printed in History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1911. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.