One of the eldest men of the last assembly was the Hon. James M Clark of Prescott, sent by the republicans of Adams county. He was born on a farm in Jefferson county, Ohio. He studied in the common schools and worked on the farm till 1845, when he entered Franklin college, .where he studied three and a half years, then commenced reading law with a prominent law firm at Steubenville. He was admitted to the practice of that profession in 1849. by the supreme court of Ohio. He practiced for two years at New Lisbon, when the California gold discovery attracted him and he went west, remaining thirteen years. He returned to his native state in 1864. He came to Iowa in 1867 and located in Johnson county, where he lived till 1875, then removed to Adams county. When he came to the house two years ago it was his first experience in office holding. He made an excellent representative of his people, by his conscientious service for them at all times and in all matters. He has been an active man in republican circles since 1860, prior to which time he worked with the democrats. Mr. Clark belongs to no church, though he was raised in and attends the Presbyterian. He is strong in his convictions for the most proper control of corporations, and a firm believer in the economy of the state and national affairs. In the Twenty-sixth Mr. Clark acted on the committees on retrenchment and reform, compensation of public officers, hospitals for the insane, board of public charities, senatorial districts, and fish and game. He is a widower, his wife having died April 6, 1895. He has two children, the daughter but recently married.

The Representative of the lower House from Adams county was born in Jefferson county, Ohio. He worked on the farm until 1845, when he entered Franklin College of the same state, remaining a student three and a half years, when he commenced the study of the law in the office of Stanton & McCook in Steubenville. In 1849 he was admitted to the practice of the law by the supreme court of Ohio. He then located in New Lisbon, Columbiana county. After two years' practice the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast attracted him thither; where he remained thirteen years in the mines, returning to Ohio in 1864. In 1866 he was married to Kate Arnold of the same county and state, and with whom he moved to Iowa in 1867, locating in Johnson county. In 1875 he moved to Adams county. Mrs. Clark died April 6, 1895, leaving him two children, Jennie and Prentiss, now grown up and living with him on the farm. Mr. Clark never held any office before this one. Prior to 1860 he acted with the Democrats., but since then he has been a Republican. He is not a member of any church. He was raised and educated in the faith of the Presbyterian denomination. Since the first agitation on the subject he has been urgent for proper control of corporations of whatever kind, and a firm believer in a most rigid economy in the affairs of the nation, state and municipalities. His position on the liquor question is in full accord with the Republican party as expressed in its conventions and acts in legislation.