James B. Clark Biography


	This biography appears on pages 438-439 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES B. CLARK. 

	James B. Clark is today the oldest merchant of Gettysburg in 
years of connection with the business to which he devotes almost his 
entire time. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 1st of 
December, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Dunlap) Clark. The 
father, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, was born in 1803, 
while the mother's birth occurred in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1812. He 
removed from the Keystone state to the Buckeye state and there engaged 
in farming for many years, both he and his wife passing away in 
Harrison county, the former in 1884 and the latter in 1893. 

	James B. Clark was the eldest of a family of four children born 
of his father's second marriage and there was only one child of his 
father's first marriage. The mother had also been married before and 
had one child. James B. Clark attended school in Harrison county and 
remained at home until he reached his majority, after which he began 
work for others on Ohio farms. In the year 1870 he went to Missouri, 
where he spent two years, after which he returned to Ohio. He was then 
married and a little later removed to Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he 
resided for five years, his time being devoted to general agricultural 
pursuits. In the spring of 1883 he came to South Dakota, and settled in 
Potter county, where he secured a tract of land and engaged in farming, 
remaining on that place until January, 1891, when he was elected to the 
office of register of deeds, which position he filled for four years. 
He then engaged in general merchandising and has since carried on the 
business, being today the oldest merchant in Gettysburg. He has a well 
appointed store, carefully selects his stock to meet the wishes of his 
patrons and has secured a liberal and growing patronage. He devotes his 
entire time to his business affairs and in addition to his store he is 
the owner of land in Potter county, together with business and 
residence property in Gettysburg. 

	On the 14th of April, 1875, Mr. Clark was joined in wedlock to 
Miss Mary J. Jamison, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, a daughter 
of William and Sarah (Mahollin) Jamison. The father probably came from 
Ireland but the mother was a native of Harrison county. Both have 
passed away, the father dying in 1863 and the mother in 1900. Mr. and 
Mrs. Clark became the parents of three children: Carrie Maud, now the 
wife of John E. Sparling, a farmer residing in Montana; Nellie M., who 
is a bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Valier, Montana; and 
Sarah Elizabeth, who is principal of the high school at St. Cloud, 
Minnesota. She was educated in Redfield College and has been very 
successful as a teacher. 

	Mr. Clark, who is a thirty-second degree Mason, is a past master 
of the blue lodge at Gettysburg and is identified with the Scottish 
Rite at Aberdeen. He is also connected with the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has passed 
through all the chairs in the former organization at Gettysburg. In 
politics he is an earnest republican and in addition to serving as 
register of deeds in Potter county for four years has served for a 
considerable period as alderman of Gettysburg, being called to that 
office on the organization of the town and so continuing until 1913. He 
is neglectful of no public duty and his ability and fidelity have 
gained for him the warm regard and support of his fellow townsmen. He 
has taken an active part in the upbuilding of the northwest and the 
development of the state has been largely furthered by his earnest, 
persistent efforts.