James A. Clark

JAMES A. CLARK, of Woodburn village, is a dealer in groceries, meats, fish and operates a restaurant. He commenced business in this place in 1875, and has continued it ever since.  He was born in Miami County, Ohio, August 14, 1844, and is a son of T. W. and Mary (Clark) Clark, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. When James was a small boy the family removed to Grant County, Indiana, and afterward to Wabash County, Indiana, where they resided until 1856, when they came to Iowa and settled in Linn County, where the father engaged in farming. In 1859 they removed to Harrison County, Missouri, and made that their home until the breaking out of the civil war.  Here the mother died and the family returned to Iowa, locating in Clarke County, where they have since resided. James enlisted in February, 1863, in Company K, Thirty-ninth Regiment, Iowa Infantry, commanded by Colonel Cummings, and participated with them in the sanguinary battles of Parker’s Cross-Roads, Snake Creek Gape, Sugar Creek, Resaca and Allatoona Pass. At the latter place Mr. Clark was wounded and taken prisoner by the Confederates under General Hood. He was taken to Selma, Alabama, and from there transferred to Cahaba, thence to Montgomery, and afterward to Macon, and finally to Andersonville prison pen. In that horrible pit of desolation the wounded soldier remained from December 25, until the middle of April following, without medical attendance or any of the care that common humanity should dictate. He was then taken out and sent South, but returned and taken to Florida, and finally released. The guards were withdrawn and the prisoners told to take care of themselves. That same evening Mr. Clark reached our lines at Jacksonville, where he remained a week or two, then obtained a passport on a steamer and went to Annapolis, Maryland, thence to St. Louis, and from there to Davenport and was discharged July 3, 1865, at the latter place. He was suffering severely from his wounds, which had been so long neglected that they were in a worse condition than ever before. For many months he carried his hand in a sling. He came home and tried to heal his wound and to regain his health.  January 3, 1869, Mr. Clark and Miss Eliza Wiant were united in marriage. She was a resident of Clarke County and a daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Woolman) Wiant, natives of Pennsylvania, who came from Indiana to Iowa at an early day, settling at Chariton, Lucas County, and later came to Clarke County. Upon his return home Mr. Clark went to farming; but after his marriage he removed to York County, Nebraska, and took up a homestead claim. He remained there three years, and having lost two crops by grasshoppers, and becoming discouraged generally he returned to Clarke County, where he farmed one year, then opened up his present business, having sold his homestead. He has continued here ever since and his built up a good trade.  Mr. and Mrs. Clark have four children – Cora M., Margery V., Hattie W. and Luena. Mr. Clark is a member of Davenport Post, No. 385, G. A. R., having filled some of the offices; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been president of the School Board.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 390-1