Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 730-731.

ABRAHAM J. CLARK, of Ossian, was born in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1818. His father, Walter B. Clark, was born in Frederick, Maryland, and his mother, Margaret (De Groff) Clark, was a native of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsylvania, and settled in Greencastle in 1811. Six children were born in that State. The names of the children are—John B., Amelia, Abraham J., Jeremiah, Catherine and Washington. In 1833 the family came to Wayne County, Ohio, and settled near Doylestown. A location was made in Medina County in 1841, and the eleven years spent in that county was the severest struggle for existence the family ever experienced. Abraham and his brother Jeremiah bought 100 acres of land, divided it equally, and began the problem of carving out their destinies. Rough fare, rougher clothing and innumerable hardships daunted them not, but years of toil brought a fitting reward. Five years later Abraham sold his land, purchased 100 acres, and made another beginning. A small clearing had been made and a small cabin was built. Having claims upon 200 acres, and having built three good log houses, in 1852 he decided to sell and emigrate to Indiana. The change was made, and his ready cash purchased a nice tract of land. During the winter of 1852 the death of the mother occurred, and after the children came to this county the father also removed here, and died February 22, 1860. Three of the brothers are living; Washington resides in Wisconsin, and Jeremiah and Abraham in Ossian. The marriage of the latter to Catherine Rasor, in Medina County, Ohio, occurred November 6, 1841, George Miller, Esq., performing the ceremony. The Rasors were natives of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and were the first couple married in Wadsworth Township, Medina County, Ohio. They reared a large family of children, and remained in that county during their lifetime, their last days being spent in the village of Wadsworth. In November, 1852, our subject with his wife and children came to Wells County, locating in the woods of Jefferson Township. He purchased 240 acres of choice timber land on which not a stroke of the ax had been made. The first log house was built in the spring of 1853, into which the family moved in the spring of that year; it is still standing. The eldest son, George, just developing into manhood, died June 3, 1864, and although only nineteen years of age, he was accepted by the Government and enlisted in defense of his country’s flag, becoming a member of time One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. The pride of his father and joy of his mother went forth to do battle, but disease cut short his youthful vigor, and he died at Nashville, Tennessee, in less than a year from the time of his enlistment. His remains repose in the cemetery at Ossian. James, the third child, is the only one of the four children that is living. He resides on a part of the old homestead first purchased by the father in Indiana. He became the husband of Eliza Baughman March 3, 1870, and they are the parents of three children—William J., Charles E. and Mary E. The two daughters reached maturity. The eldest, Margaret, became the wife of John H. Ferguson April 26, 1866. They had three children—Jennie E., Albert B. and Marion J. John Ferguson was also a hero of the late war, being a member of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. His wife died in the spring of 1885. Mary J., the fourth child, married Lewis Caston in September, 1875. She also had three children—Judson B., Maggie M. and James J. The death of Mrs. Caston occurred August 20, 1882. In that year Mr. Clark erected a neat cottage in Ossian, where they have since resided. These pioneers, who have braved the summers' sun and the storms of many winters, have gained a competence; and yet they find consolation in the joy of the love and companionship of each other and their numerous grandchildren, in the veins of whom flows the blood of an ancestry which has never been sullied with dishonor. This sketch gives a brief history of one of Ossian’s best families. Walter B. Clark, the father of our subject, was a soldier of the war of 1812, under the command of Major Wood. He was present at the battle of Baltimore, and passed through the remainder of that campaign. The history of Walter Clark was that which usually follows upon one used to agricultural calling, although in earlier years he was a mechanic and worked at his trade in the manufacture of saddle-trees. Of the De Groff family but little can be learned. Walter's wife was the daughter of a gentleman who was a native of Poland, but his relatives do not remember his name. One of his sons, Abraham De Groff, was for many years proprietor of an inn near Baltimore, Maryland.