DAVID CLARK

From "History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan" - 1880

DAVID CLARK
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 of 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.