Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

ANIEL B. CLARK, of Council Bluffs, is numbered among the dearly 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 momento 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 father, 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 1832 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 children, ten of who 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 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 O., 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 County, 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 beautiful 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 fine farm of 300 acres near the city of Council Bluffs. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Clark retired from the active duties of farm life and removed to this city, where he and his wife have a pleasant home. Politically he is a Republican, and is an esteemed and worthy citizen of Pottawattamie County. He 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, of 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 of Mr. Clark also served in the war of the Rebellion, viz.: Ora E., who was a member of Battery G, First Michigan Artillery; Altyn D. Served in Company D. First 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 4, 1840, to Miss Eleanor Bates, who was born in Madison County, New York, December 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 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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