Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 796-797.

WILLIAM CLARK, general farmer, Chester Township, and one of the early settlers of Wells County, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 16, 1832, a son of William and Christina (Cook) CLARK, natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Irish and the mother of Dutch descent. They were married in their native State, and subsequently removed to Wayne County, where they made their home until about the year 1838. They then started for Indiana by teams, locating in Fayette County, where they remained one year, coming thence to Wells County, settling in Chester Township, where the father had entered 129 acres of land the year previous. The land was entirely unimproved, and heavily covered with timber, he being obliged to clear a space to build his log cabin, into which the family removed the following February. This house is still standing on the land now owned and occupied by our subject, and is probably the oldest house in the county. Wild animals roamed the country, and the howling of the wolves around the pioneer's cabin was an almost nightly occurrence. Mr. Clark did much toward improving his land, but did not live to enjoy it, his death occurring in 1849. His widow survived him a number of years, dying about the year 1873. William CLARK, the subject of this sketch, was a lad of seven years when brought by his parents to Wells County, and here he was reared, passing through all the incidents of pioneer life. He was early in life inured to hard work, helping his father clear and improve his land, but the lessons of persevering industry learned in those days have been of lasting benefit to him. He has always lived on the land where his father first settled in Wells County, and has witnessed the wilderness change into well cultivated fields and prosperous towns and villages. He was united in marriage November 24, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Twibell, a daughter of David and Margaret Twibell, and of the five children born to this union three are living—Amanda Ellen, wife of Percival Johnson; Allison married Mattie Angeline Shreve, and Martha Jane. Emerson and Margaret Emeline are deceased. Mrs. Clark died February 5, 1872, and June 16, 1874, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Elizabeth Limerick, a native of Sandy Township, Stark County, Ohio, and daughter of Commodore C. and Harriet (Yahne) Limerick, her mother being a native of Ohio. Her parents removed from Ohio to Huntington County, Indiana, thence to Wells County, where the father died March 30, 1876. The mother is still living in Chester Township. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. In his political views Mr. Clark is a Democrat. He is a public spirited citizen, and has served his township as supervisor. He is a member of Five Points Grange, No. 522, Patrons of Husbandry, and has held the office of gate-keeper of his grange several times. He is a member of Wells County Pomona Grange