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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: Clark, O'Terrel, Jacobs, Russell, Smith, Kingon, Davis, White, Jacobs,
Daily, Carman
Classification: biography
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http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana," 1903.
I.K. Clark, was born in Maryland or Virginia about the year 1839. his father, Matthew J.
Clark, was a native of Virginia and his mother, Fannie O'Terrel, of the state of
Maryland, and were married and settled in Virginia in an early day. Matthew in his earlier
days was a merchant or store keeper, but the latter part of his life he spent in the
vocation of farming in the state of Virginia. He remained in that state until his death,
his wife dying in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was twice married and had by his first
wife five children, John G., William, Elizabeth, Catherine and James, all of whom are
deceased. By his second marriage he was also the father of five children, three of whom
are still alive; Frances, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Jacobs; Matthew J., Jr., is now
a resident of Marietta, Ohio; M.G. was a resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, but now of
Warren, Indiana; I.K. the subject, and Clemit, deceased. During the Civil war the southern
army entered and !
ransacked Matthew Clark's house, destroying everything, including records, etc., he
being absent at the time as a soldier in the Federal army.
I.K. Clark obtained his schooling in the state of Virginia by attending the subscription
schools. He attended his last term of school when he was about twelve years old and when
he was thirteen years of age he began to do and care for himself by working by the month.
He continued to work in this way until his marriage, April 11, 1880, to Minerva Russell, a
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Lyon) Russell, the father a native of Pennsylvania and
his wife of Ohio. Mrs. Clark came to Wells County with her parents in an early day (about
1843). Neither of her parents are now living, both having died in Wells County. The
subject came to Delaware County, Indiana, about 1867, having a sister residing there. He
began working by the month and was there for about two years. His sister, who had a tract
of wild land in Liberty township, Wells county, made a proposition to him for the clearing
of this land, which he accepted and came to wells county and began working by the day, and
at od!
d spells on this clearing. After a few years he purchased forty acres of land of a Mr.
Smith, which he also cleared up. He then purchased an additional forty, which he cleared,
thus possessing an improved farm of eighty acres in one body. He then purchased forty
acres more, which he partially cleared, having then a hundred and twenty acres of fine
land in Liberty township, Wells county, secured by the labor of his own hands. He
continued his work, boarding at different times with John J. Kingon, James Davis, George
White and Thomas Jacobs. Having gone in debt on his land, in order to make better wages he
spent the harvest and corn-husking seasons in Delaware county, carrying his wheat cradle
on his shoulder from Wells county to his field of labor, where he received twenty-five
cents extra on the day's labor. At one time on his way across the country he had to
stop over night. Telling his host he was looking for work, the farmer kept him over night
without charge, but not wi!
shing to impose upon the hospitality of his entertainer, the subject s
houldered his cradle and proceeded breakfastless on his way. After traveling a couple of
miles he came upon an old man and a boy who were just beginning to reap a field of ten
acres of wheat. Entering the field, the subject inquired of the owner if he wanted a hand
to help harvest his wheat. Being answered in the affirmative, a bargain was struck for
putting the field of wheat in the swath for the sum of ten dollars. So anxious was the
subject to complete his task that without mentioning the subject of breakfast, he set down
his carpet sack and begun work, awaiting a regular noon hour for something to eat. He
continued his work until the field of wheat was in the swath, received his pay and pursued
his way. This incident is a striking example of the habits of industry, economy and sturdy
independence that have characterized his whole life. He found more work in the same
settlement, and remained through the harvest, threshing and corn cutting seasons as well,
and finally when!
cold weather came on he employed himself in "grubbing" and did not leave
Delaware county until he had earned one hundred and fifty dollars, which he applied in
payment on purchase of his first forty acres of land. At one time Mr. Clark asked a Mr.
Smith what he would take for a certain forty-acre tract of land, and he replied seven
hundred dollars. How much down, was the next inquiry of the subject, who was desirous of
adding to his vested possessions. "Oh'" was the reply, "enough to pay
the delinquent taxes , about fifteen dollars, and the balance on the 15th of the following
December." Having fifteen dollars due him for a month's work for a man in
Delaware county, the subject was thus able to make the first payment and accepted
Smith's proposition, the deeds being drawn by Mr. Daily and the first payment of
fifteen dollars duly paid in hand. Mr. Clark then went to Delaware county and borrowed the
remainder of the money necessary to complete the purchase at ten per cent.!
And when the stipulated 15th of December came around he met his oblig
ation by the payment of the balance of the purchase price, six hundred and eighty-five
dollars. This transaction shows the comparative values put on land at that time with the
present, and it also shows the tenacity of purpose and prompt and sagacious action of the
subject in securing that most valuable of assets in a new and growing county, well located
and productive real estate. In 1880 Mr. Clark married and settled on the farm where he now
lives in Jackson township and has been here ever since. He has devoted his entire life to
the vocation of farming and allied interests. He has been a general stock farmer, breeding
and handling hogs, cattle and sheep. In the line of hogs, he prefers the Chester White and
Poland China varieties, while in cattle and sheep, the shorthorn and Shropshires
respectively engage his fancy. He started in life without a dollar and is now the owner of
three hundred and thirty-two acres of farm land and also two city lots in Muncie, Indiana.
There !
are seventeen productive oil wells on his land, which at one time yielded him a profit of
one hundred dollars a month.
Mr. Clark raised an orphan child from about eighteen months of age, who is now twenty-one
years of age and a member of his family. Her name is Alice Carman, a bright young lady,
and Mr. and Mrs. Clark think of her as their own child.
Politically the subject affiliates with the Republican party. The father of Mrs. Clark,
Robert Russell, was born January 25, 1803, and died April 15, 1875, and her maternal
parent, Elizabeth Russell, was born August 24, 1802, and died September, 1882. the subject
is an exemplar of the possibilities of our form of government, in which, however
unfavorable may be the environments surrounding the actor in the labors of life, a
determined purpose, with success the goal, coupled with habits of industry and thrift, is
sure in the end to lead to competency and public esteem.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark have in their possession several valuable and curious relics of former
days. Among them is a copper tea kettle, in a good state of preservation, which is over
three centuries old. They also have an old bread toaster, a century old, a pair of
snuffers, a pair of andirons, and a double coverlet woven by the grandmother of Mrs.
Clark. Another quaint article of furniture in their home is an old
"grandfather's," or Longfellow, clock, seven feet tall and eighty-five years
old, and which still keeps accurate time.
Typed by Kathy Davis
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