David M. Clark

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes not as a caprice of chance, but as the legitimate result of well-applied energy, unflagging determination and unswerving perseverance in a course of action once decided upon by the individual. Only those who diligently seek the goddess Fortuna, find her — she never was known to smile upon the idler or dreamer. David M. Clark, the capable and popular county auditor of Boone county, clearly understood this fact early in life, so he did not seek any royal road to success, but sought to direct his feet along the well-beaten paths of those who had won in the battle of life along legitimate lines. He had their careers in mind when casting about for a suitable arena of action, and in tracing his life history it is plainly seen that the prosperity which Mr. Clark enjoys has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal worth which has gained for him the good standing among his fellow citizens in Boone county, in which he has long been widely known.

Mr. Clark was born March 23, 1867, in Lawrence county, Indiana. He is a son of Andrew J. and Polly Ann (Kinser) Clark, both parents natives of Lawrence county also, and there they grew to maturity, were educated in the old-time rural schools and there married. The Clarks came from Virginia and settled in Lawrence county in an early day. William Clark, great grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Indiana and reared his family in Lawrence county when settlers were few and far between. He cleared and developed a large farm. His son. James, grandfather of our subject, also spent his life farming there. Andrew J. Clark, father of our subject, also engaged in farming in that locality and there he and his wife still reside.

David M. Clark grew to manhood on the home farm and worked hard when a boy in crop seasons, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, but left school at the end of the eighth year. He has later become a well-informed man through contact with the business world and by wide home reading. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, which occurred May 25, 1890, to Catherine Armbruster, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Aishear) Armbruster, a well-established family of Monroe county, Indiana, where Mrs. Clark grew to womanhood and received a good common school education.

To the union of our subject and wife two daughters and one son were born, Dessie, who married Guy Lewis, a grocer of Jamestown, this county; Eiffel is at home; and Herschel L., is at home.

Mr. Clark began life for himself as a farmer in Lawrence county, continuing with gratifying results from year to year until Thanksgiving day, 1895, when he removed to Jackson township, Boone county, where he farmed for five years, then, in 1900, moved to Jamestown and engaged in the hardware business with George W. Shaw, under the firm name of Clark & Shaw, which partnership still continues. They have one of the best known and best equipped hardware stores in the county, carrying all kinds of hardware used by the farmer and in fact everything, including farming implements of the most improved designs, building materials, various makes of machinery and a large and carefully selected stock at all seasons and, dealing honestly and courteously with their hundreds of customers they draw trade from a wide territory, which they hold without effort. Mr. Clark is also interested in various other lines of business, and is one of the most enterprising, farsighted and capable of our present-day business men.

Politically, Mr. Clark is a loyal Democrat and has been active in local party affairs for a number of years. He has served as a member of the Democratic County Central Committee, and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He is one of the leaders of his party in Boone county and has done much for the success of Democracy in this section of the state. In November, 1910, he was elected auditor of Boone county, and took office January 1, 1912, and is now serving a four years' term in a manner that reflects much credit upon his fidelity and ability and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is the first auditor to occupy the magnificent new court house. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment, also the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He has filled all the chairs in the first named lodge and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge at different times. He and his family are members of the Christian church at Jamestown. Since taking office Mr. Clark and family have resided at 502 East Main street, Lebanon, which property he owns, and which is in one of the most desirable residential sections of the city.

Source Citation: Boone County Biographies [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2008. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Hon. L. M. Crist. "History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families." Indianapolis, Ind.: A. W. Bowen, 1914. pp 606-608.

Transcribed by: T. Stover - October 5, 2008