O. S. Clark

page 593

When O. S. Clark opened his eyes to the light of the world the territory of Iowa had not been admitted to statehood, and he certainly, therefore, can claim the title of being an old resident of the state. Great has been the progress of this state since that time, and among the men who have helped to develop the resources of this favored country Mr. Clark holds prominent place. His father’s name was William G. Clark. He was born in Connecticut and spent his early life there. It was in 1843 that he came to Iowa and located in Troy township, Monroe county, at a place called Clarks Point. Here he took up a claim of six hundred and forty acres of raw land and was soon engaged in making this virgin soil bring forth useful crops where before it had run to wildness.

In the fall of 1855 he bought about four hundred acres in Monroe township and remained on this farm until his death, in 1893, when at the age of seventy-seven. He was married in Van Buren county, in May, 1843, to Jane S. Rankin. She was a native of Ohio and came to Indiana with her parents at the age of fourteen and came on to Iowa in 1844. She became the mother of twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, of whom all are living. Mr. Clark was a Democrat, but was an abolitionist in regard to the slave question.

O. S. Clark was the oldest child in the above family, and his birth occurred in Troy township, January 12, 1845. The first nine years of his life were spent in Troy township, and he was then taken to Monroe township, where he completed his mental training in the common schools. He remained on the home farm until thirty years old, and at that age was married to Sarah F. Babb, a daughter of Isaac Babb, who was one of Iowa’s pioneer settlers. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, one of whom died in infancy. The others are as follows: Sarah, Margaret, Susan, Ralph, Benjamin and Luther. Mr. Clark bought the farm on which he now lives in 1875, and at the present time owns two hundred and fifty acres of good land, on which he raises excellent crops. He is a member of the Prohibition party and is one of the highly respected citizens of Monroe county, always being found on the side of right and progress.