From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 574

JOHN CLARE, a miner of Platteville, Grant county, and for many years a tiller of the soil in that county in connection with his mining, was born in Prussia in April, 1817. He was reared to manhood in his native country, and was given a fair education in the schools there. In 1842 he came to Pennsylvania, and found employment in the sawmills and coal mines of that State for about two years. In 1844 the young man made his first appearance in Wisconsin, and was given work in the lead and zinc mines near Platteville. Fired by the stories of the golden West, he crossed the Plains to California in 1850, and John HARMS, of Grant county, is the only one now living of all the brave and goodly company who made that eventful journey with him. Mr. CLARE was one of the few successful prospectors who sought the mines. He spent two years in the far West, and then returned to Platteville, bringing with him fine results of his enterprise and judgment. Around Platteville he was a lead miner some years.

Mr. CLARE married Miss Magdaline KRAMER, who was also of German birth, born in 1822, in the same kingdom as her husband. They settled in Platteville, and lived in the city a short time before going to their farm of eighty acres. He bought it as wild land, and presently converted it into a home for his wife and family, and they have resided there to the present time. Mrs. CLARE died in 1891, leaving him eight children: Louisa is the wife of Peter B. LIPPOLT, a farmer of the town of Paris, and has four children, George, William, Lena and Louisa. Maggie is the wife of William MARTIN, of Platteville. John married Dora WICKENDOLL, and resides in Platteville; they have two children, Florence and Edward. Mary is the wife of Jacob DAVIS, of Pleasant View, and has a large family. Peter is unmarried, and lives at home; he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Frances married Henry SNYDER, of Grant county, Wis., and has a family. Valentine, born in February, 1861, was educated in the public schools and always remained with his parents on the farm; he has charge of his father's business, and is a young man of many good qualities. Carrie, the youngest of the family, is now the wife of George CARL, and resides near the blockhouse in the town of Platteville; she has two sons, Robert and Harry.

Mr. CLARE has always been a Republican. Mrs. CLARE was a member of the Lutheran Church, and our subject was reared a Catholic. Since coming to this country he has never been actively associated with any denomination. He is one of the old-time pioneers of this State, and has always held the respect of his fellow townsmen.

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This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck