My Genealogy Hound

DAVID B. CLARK, a son of Thomas L. and Mary (Blakely) Clark, is a native of Kortright, Delaware county, N. Y., and a descendant of old York State ancestors. His father was a plain, industrious, useful citizen, a man of quiet habits and domestic tastes, a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian church, and not only a stanch defender of the faith but a great worker in the cause of Christianity, possessing the most benevolent impulses and kindly feeling towards all his race. Mr. Clark’s mother was also a devoted christian and led an active and laborious life, devoting all the energies of her noble christian character to the good of her kind. Both of these are now dead and have gone to receive their reward. They were the parents of seven children, viz. — David B., Margery, Mary E., Thomas H., John N., and Margaret J.

The eldest, the subject of this notice, was reared in his native place in New York, received a good common and high-school training, finishing with a commercial course in the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he engaged in the earnest duties of a teacher. He entered the Union army in 1864 while yet young, enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York infantry, and served along the South Carolina coast, taking part in the battle at St. John’s Island, James Island, siege of Wagner, Deveaux Neck, and Honey hill. He left the service before the expiration of his term of enlistment on account of disease contracted and returned home, and after recovering his health came West in 1867 and located at Omaha, this state. He taught penmanship there for some time, coming in 1872 to Kearney. Here he took a position as bookkeeper in Dake’s bank at that date, which he held for some time. He was also elected police judge of the town of Kearney and justice of the peace for Kearney precinct, which offices he held during the famous cowboy times and dealt out even-handed justice.

Mr. Clark’s life during those years was not without its interesting episodes nor was it always free from danger. He discharged his duties, however, without fear or favor and left the positions to which he had been called bearing with him the highest respect as well as the genuine gratitude of his fellow-citizens. Engaging later in sign writing and artistic painting, he did a thriving business for some years, the rapid improvement of the town and the erection of many buildings affording him plenty of work. Like a prudent man he saved his earnings and judiciously invested them in real estate in Kearney. The rise in values made his investments profitable and he has realized handsomely on all of them. He has large real estate interests in Kearney even now, and is constantly buying and selling, much of his property he has improved, adding to the substantial growth and development of his adopted town and to the comfort and conveniences of home seekers.

In 1874 he married Miss Mary J. Rowland, daughter of James S. and Margaret Rowland of New York. Mrs. Clark is a sister of the Rev. Samuel Rowland, a distinguished Presbyterian divine of Clinton, N. J. Mrs. Clark is herself a lady of culture and refinement and presides with becoming ease, grace and dignity over her elegant home. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have a large circle of friends who find an ever welcome place at their fireside and in whose society they find much of the pleasure of this life. Their pleasant dwelling, erected recently at a cost of $6,000, is one of the handsomest in the city of Kearney. It is splendidly furnished, complete in its appointments, and adorned with tastily wrought work of art. It is an asylum of happiness, where the stranger and friend are alike welcome.