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NAVIGATION
Michigan
Histories
Clinton County
Biographies
Online Biographies
Illinois
Histories
Also see [Railway Officials in America 1906]
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The ancestors of Mr. Clark ‘were early emigrants from Great Britain to America, and among the primitive settlers
in the old Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His grandfather, John Clark, was actively engaged in the battle of Bennington,
and participated also in the engagement which resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne. John Clark, the father of
David, was born about the year 1770, at Phelen, Mass., and at the age of seven years removed with his parents to
Bennington, Vt., where he resided when the famous battle occurred. He was taken to the battle field by his father,
and witnessed the encounter.
Having lost his mother at the age of fourteen, a home was open to him at the residence of a relative, Daniel McNutt,
where he remained until he attained his majority, and at the age of twenty-nine was married to Miss Mary Knowlton.
Their son David was born in Castleton, Vt., June 13, 1817, and at the age of sixteen accompanied his parents to
Pontiac, Mich., where they located in 1833. In 1835 the family removed to the township 0f Eagle, on land entered
by Mr. Clark, which his son assisted in clearing and improving. They were in an eminent sense pioneers, having
discovered no evidences of civilization on their arrival.
On Jan. 1, 1857, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Sarah Smith, whose parents, natives of New York State, were settlers
in Eaton County in 1839. They have had three children, David, Jr., born April 17, 1862; Fred, whose birth occurred
July 4, 1864, and who died Oct. 20, 1868; and Charles Henry, born Sept. 5, 1868.
Mr. Clark was formerly a strong Democrat, but subsequent developments occasioned a change in his political views
and have since caused him to join the ranks of the Republican party.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark are supporters of the Congregational Church, the latter being a member and an active worker
in its interests.
FROM:
History of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincoff & Co., Philadelphia.
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