Caleb Clark

CLANTON, CLARK, TUSHA

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/16/2004 at 10:40:47

Caleb Clark, Lincoln twp., stone-mason, Sec. 1; P.O. Winterset; born in New York, February 6, 1808; after a residence in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Missouri, he came to this county in May, 1846, and is one of the first settlers of the county; his daughter, Mrs. Fusha, was the first white child born in the county; he has worked over fifty years at his trade; he married Miss Ruth Clanton in 1834; she was born in Illinois; has eight children: Sarah E., Nancy E., Rufus, Joshua, Stephen D., Martha , Joel and Franklin.

Typed as printed. Daughter's married name was Tusha.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" page 617
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Alternate Biography of Caleb Clark submitted by descendant Joan (Clanton) Viney

Clark, Caleb, Lincoln township., stone mason, Sec. 1; P.O. Winterset; born in New York, February 1808. The booklet entitled History of the Clark Family published in 1937 gives his day of birth as February 6, 1808 while his obituary states he was born February 9, 1808.

After residing in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Missouri, he traveled to Madison County, Iowa arriving in April 1846 with his entourage of family and two single men seeking adventure, and is one of the first settlers of the county. After spending days prospecting for available land, he staked his claim on 3 May 1846.

Caleb and his wife, Ruth Ann Clanton (daughter of Edward Charles Clanton and Rachel Moore; born 28 July 1818 in Wayne County, Indiana; married 5 November 1835 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois) were the parents of the first white child born in Madison County—Mary Adeline Clark, born 9 January 1847 and later marrying Andrew Tusha.

Caleb worked over fifty years at his trade as a stone mason. He and Ruth Ann had a total of fourteen children: Louisa Jane, Rachel Charlotte, Sarah Ellen, Nancy Elizabeth, Cynthia Ann (born 1843 and died 1858); Rufus, Mary Adeline, Adam (born and died 9 March 1849), Joshua C., Stephen Miles Denman, Martha Orlena, Joel Newton, Caleb Franklin and Estina Belle (born 1861 and died ca. 1864).

Caleb died 12 November 1894 and Ruth Ann died 10 January 1901. Both are buried in Winterset Cemetery, Winterset, Madison County, Iowa.