California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JAMES MITCHELL CLARK. During his comparatively brief life James Mitchell Clark succeeded
 in his chosen vocation, that of farming and stock-raising, and from comparative poverty 
raised himself upon a good name, an honorable character, and well directed industry. His death 
January 21, 1899, removed from the pioneer ranks of Kings county one who had developed 
its resources intelligently and well, and who left an unincumbered section of land, replete 
with modern improvements, to tell the story of his struggles, unfailing application and practical 
business ability. 

Of the early life of Mr. Clark little is recalled, save that he was of humble parentage, and in 
his youth had comparatively few educational advantages. The farm in Maine, where he was 
born August 17, 1849, held out little inducements to an able-bodied and progressive young 
man, and in 1871 he came to California and found work by the month on a ranch in the vi- 
cinity of Merced. Later on he ran a threshing-machine in that neighborhood, and at the 
same time rented land and raised grain. In 1875 he removed to what is now Kings county, 
and with his brother, A. W. Clark, purchased the section of land now owned by his wife and 
children, eight and one-half miles northeast of Hanford. As yet no white man had turned up 
the sod to the sun, or set his mind to speculating as to its value as a productive agency. For the 
balance of his life his work went hand in hand with that of his brother, and they entered upon 
large stock-raising enterprises, and farmed extensively in grain. Time brought the need of 
additional land, and they purchased tracts in Tulare county, overseeing its disposition with 
a regard for its improvement. Mr. Clark was progressive and a man of great energy, and he 
took much pride in the comfortable things of life with which he was able to surround himself 
and family. 

When starting out on his successful career Mr. Clark wisely concluded that a sympathetic 
and intelligent wife would materially advance his interests, and was united in marriage with 
Amanda Woodcock, a native of Arkansas, May 11, 1879, who arrived in what is now Kings 
county with her parents in 1875. Mrs. Clark has proved worthy of the name of pioneer, and has 
not only assisted her husband, within and outside of the house, but has reared a family of 
eight children, two others having died in infancy. With the exception of Arthur W., the oldest 
son, who is a farmer and fruit-raiser near Portersville, Tulare county, the children are all at home, 
and are active in their effort to improve the farm and add to the pleasure of those who gather 
around their fireside. The children are: Ida, Ada, Hannah, James, Augustus Rea, D. Mitchell and 
Rose. The older daughters are especially successful as managers of the property since the 
departure from home of the eldest son. Mr. Clark was never active in politics although he had 
well defined ideas of both parties, and experienced a change of heart from the Democratic to 
Republican party after the first administration of Grover Cleveland. He was a man whose word 
was as good as his bond, and who was conceded to be of a generous, kindly and home loving 
nature, and his death in the prime of usefulness in 1899, deprived his home of a good husband 
and father, and the community of a valued and respected citizen.