In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1804, Henry county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
JOHN CLARK.
This gentleman was born in Henry county, Virginia, on the 25th day of September, 1804. His parents were William and Keziah Clark. He was educated in his native state and remained there working at farming until he was twenty-four years of age, when he went to Tennessee and lived in that state, during twenty years, engaged in farming. In 1850 he removed to Howard county, Indiana, and lived there until he came to Ray county, Missouri in, 1855. He settled then upon his present place. Mr. Clark was married on the 22d of April, 1828, to Miss Henrietta Clark, also a native of Henry county, Virginia. They became the parents of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls. Thomas, son of John and Henrietta Clark, was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, in the month of April, 1844. He removed with his parents from Tennessee to Indiana, and from that state came with them to Ray county, in 1855. Here he lived, attending school and working on his father's farm until the outbreaking of the late civil war. He enlisted February 8, 1862, in company D, 6th Missouri cavalry, Captain S. E. Turner; Colonel Catherwood. He was engaged in several skirmishes, but no regular battles. He was in Kansas and Arkansas. Discharged March 21, 1865. He at once returned to this county, and has lived here ever since. Mr. Thomas Clark was married on the 26th day of July, 1866, to Miss Margaret Higgs, daughter of John and Rebecca Higgs. The issue of this union was one child: Viola, born May 27,1867, in Ray county, Missouri.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.