My Genealogy Hound

D. N. Clark is the highly competent and painstaking clerk of the circuit court of Johnson County, Ark., and here he first saw the light of day in 1841, being the seventh of twelve children born to the marriage of David B. Clark and Ann T. Moon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. The paternal grandfather was born in either Ireland or Virginia, but the mother’s father is known to have been a Virginian by birth, who became an early emigrant to Kentucky. D. B. Clark was reared on a farm in the Blue-Grass regions of his native State, but as early as 1829, became a resident of the State of Arkansas, and for four years was a resident of Arkansas Post; he resided the same length of time at Pine Bluff, and on January 1, 1837, landed at Spadra Bluff, in Johnson County, and entered land three miles east of Clarksville, where he made his home for thirteen years. In 1850 he bought a farm of 160 acres, on the river three miles south of Clarksville, and on this farm was residing at the time of his death in 1866, his widow passing to her long home in 1871, both having been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Mr. Clark was always interested in the cause of education, and for a long time was superintendent of public instruction, which office he was holding at the time of his death. He was also an earnest worker in church matters, and for a long time was class-leader. Of the family born to himself and wife, only the immediate subject of this sketch and two brothers are living. D. N. Clark received the early advantages which are usually given the farmer’s boy and until 1861, he made his home with his parents. He then went to Desha County and opened a store at Red Fork, and in December of that year he enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Regiment Arkansas Infantry, under Col. John F. Hill of Johnson County and on December 5, 1861, left home for the front. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge, and from there went east, of the Mississippi River, taking part in the engagements at Farmington, Iuka and Corinth. He was then transferred to Port Hudson, La., where he endured the siege, and where he was taken prisoner on July 8, 1863, being one of forty volunteers to make a charge on the outside works. He was paroled and sent to Natchez, Miss., and from that place walked home to Clarksville. About October 1 he joined Col. O. Bacham’s battalion, and went to the parole-camp at Washington, Ark., and was there exchanged in January, 1864; then placed in Gen. Docken’s brigade, and in the engagements at Poison Springs, Mark’s Mill and Jenkins’ Ferry. At the close of the war he was at Marshall, Tex. For one year following the close of the war he taught school, then began clerking in Clarksville, and in October, 1869, started a gun store in that town in partnership with another gentleman, the name of the firm being D. N. Clark & Co., which connection lasted until 1872, when the firm was dissolved. The name was then changed to Clark & May, and lasted during 1872-73. After the dissolution of this connection Mr. Clark once more resumed clerking, but at the end of one year once more entered business, and after being associated with a Mr. Miller for one year, he purchased his partner’s interest and continued alone until 1884, when his brother became his partner, the firm name being D. N. Clark & Bro. until the spring of 1886, when it was discontinued. In 1888 Mr. Clark was elected circuit and county clerk of Johnson County, and was re-elected in 1890. He was married in 1884 to Miss Dollie McLeod, a daughter of Alexander A. McLeod of South Carolina and afterward moved to Hot Springs. This lady lived only five months, dying July 4, 1884. Mr. Clark has been an active worker for the Democratic party, and is a member of Framply Lodge No. 9, of the A. F. & A. M., Clarksville Chapter No. 49, and Ward Council No. 9, of that place. He also belongs to Ezel Lodge of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of H.