From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 820-821

James Clark, deceased, one of the prominent pioneers of Otsego Township, was born in Ireland in 1806, and when eleven years of age his parents came to the United States and settled in Otsego County, N. Y., where the children, two sons and two daughters, were employed in a cotton factory until they became of age. James continued to work in the factory and became an overseer, and subsequently a stockholder. In 1836 he sold his factory stock and came to Steuben County and bought 400 acres of land in Otsego Township, making his home on section 10, where Aaron Teegarden now lives. He was an active, influential man in the new county, and as he had what so few of the early settlers had, considerable capital, was able to assist materially in its development and improvement. He was one of the organizers of Steuben County and one if its first Commissioners, an office he held several years, proving himself to be the right man for the place. In politics he was in early life a Whig, and was one of the most active in the organization of the Republican party. While not a member of any religious denomination he led a blameless life and always assisted every object worthy his consideration. In 1874 he moved to Quincy, Mich., where he intended living a retired life, but the death summons came for him Aug. 25, 1875, and his remains were brought back to his pioneer home for burial. He was married in New York to Eliza Swift, and to them were born five children-- George, Susan, Edna, Halbert and Rowena. Susan died in New York. The fourth year of his residence in Steuben County his wife and four children died. June 9, 1840, he married Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Otsego, N. Y., born Nov. 9, 1819. Eight children were born to them-- Eliza, widow of William Shaughniss; Menzie died at the age of two and a half years; Nancy, wife of Ranson Cory; Harriet, wife of Alvah Belot; Lucy, wife of John Babcock; John, of Reading, Mich.; James died aged six years; Jennie, wife of Mortimer Bennett. Mrs. Clark is living in Quincy, Mich., in the enjoyment of good health.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com