Born in the town of Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio, on the 17th of July, 1823. He was the second child of Harman M. and Laura (Downs) Clark, who left Connecticut and settled in Ohio, in 1818, being the fourth family to settle in the township. Dr. Clark practiced his profession, yet lived and reared his family on a farm. He worked on the home farm and received his early education from the public schools in that vicinity and later completed his education at Oberlin College. In 1846 he came to Fort Washington, Wisconsin, and engaged for a time in the drug business. In the spring of 1849, he emigrated across the continent the gold field of California, where he engaged in mining, packing and trading in the vicinity of Shastka City and Yreka until July 1852. In the spring of 1854, he settled upon land in Genesco and Buckingham Townships of Tama County, Iowa. He was justice of the peace in Buckingham Township and while, yet holding this office was elected county judge in 1857, which position he held for a period of nearly four years. The duties of County judge required him to move to Toledo, the county seat. In 1861 he was elected a member of the general assembly of Iowa. In August 1862, he enlisted in the 24th Iowa Infantry and was soon afterwards elected captain of company E. He was promoted to the position of Major and just as the war was closing to that of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon his return to Iowa in 1867, he was again elected a member of the Iowa legislature and served as chairman of the committee on claims. He was Indian agent of Sac and Fox Indian Tribes. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Toledo and North Western Railway a stub road originally built from Tama to Toledo, and now forming a part of the Northwestern system. He was one of the citizens who erected and operated the first elevator at Toledo, and was a member of the Court House Association. He was a contributor to the funds raised by citizens for erection of the buildings for Western college. On February 14, 1876, he wedded Miss Maria A. Barker, of Toledo, Iowa. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, the Masonic Lodge at Toledo, and the S.S. Dillman Post, G.A.R.

Born in the town of Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio, on the l7th of July, 1823. He was the second child of Harman M. and Laura (Downs) Clark, who left Connecticut and settled in Ohio, in 1818, being the fourth family to settle in the township. Dr. Clark practiced his profession, yet lived and reared his family on a farm. He worked on the home farm and received his early education from the public schools in that vicinity and later completed his education at Oberlin College. In 1846 he came to Fort Washington, Wisconsin, and engaged for a time in the drug business. In the spring of 1849, he emigrated across the continent the gold field of California, where he engaged in mining, packing and trading in the vicinity of Shastka City and Yreka until July 1852. In the spring of 1854, he settled upon land in Genesco and Buckingham Townships of Tama County, Iowa. He was justice of the peace in Buckingham Township and while, yet holding this office was elected county judge in 1857, which position he held for a period of nearly four years. The duties of County judge required him to move to Toledo, the county seat. In 1861 he was elected a member of the general assembly of Iowa. In August 1862, he enlisted in the 24th Iowa Infantry and was soon afterwards elected captain of company E. He was promoted to the position of Major and just as the war was closing to that of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon his return to Iowa in 1867, he was again elected a member of the Iowa legislature and served as chairman of the committee on claims. He was Indian agent of Sac and Fox Indian Tribes. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Toledo and North Western Railway a stub road originally built from Tama to Toledo, and now forming a part of the Northwestern system. He was one of the citizens who erected and operated the first elevator at Toledo, and was a member of the Court House Association. He was a contributor to the funds raised by citizens for erection of the buildings for Western college. On February 14, 1876, he wedded Miss Maria A. Barker, of Toledo, Iowa. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, the Masonic Lodge at Toledo, and the S.S. Dillman Post, G.A.R.