Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

DAVID M CLARK It is a well authenticated fact that success comes not as a caprice of
chance, but as the legitimate result of well-applied energy, unflagging determination and
unswerving perseverance in a course of action once decided upon by the individual. Only
those who diligently seek the goddess Fortuna, find her--she never was known to smile
upon the idler or dreamer. David M. Clark, the capable and popular county auditor of
Boone county, clearly understood this fact early in life, so he did not seek any royal road to
success, but sought to direct his feet along the well-beaten paths of those who had won in
the battle of life along legitimate lines. He had their careers in mind when casting about for
a suitable arena of action, and in tracing his life history it is plainly seen that the prosperity
which Mr. Clark enjoys has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal
worth which has gained for him the good standing among his fellow citizens in Boone
county, in which he has long been widely known.

Mr. Clark was born March 23, 1867, in Lawrence county, Indiana. He is a son of Andrew
J. and Polly Ann (Kinser) Clark, both parents natives of Lawrence county also, and there
they grew to maturity, were educated in the old-time rural schools and there married.
The Clarks came from Virginia and settled in Lawrence county in an early day. William
Clark, great grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Indiana and reared
his family in Lawrence county when settlers were few and far between. He cleared and
developed a large farm. His son, James, grandfather of our subject, also spent his life
farming there. Andrew J. Clark, father of our subject, also engaged in farming in that
locality and there he and his wife still reside.

David M. Clark grew to manhood on the home farm and worked hard when a boy in crop
seasons, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, but left school at the
end of the eighth year. He has later become a well-informed man through contact with the
business world and by wide home reading. He remained on the home farm until his
marriage, which occurred May 25, 1890, to Catherine Armbruster, a daughter of William
and Mary Ann (Aishear) Armbruster, a well-established family of Monroe county, Indiana,
where Mrs. Clark grew to womanhood and received a good common school education.

To the union of our subject and wife two daughters and one son were born, Dessie, who
married Guy Lewis, a grocer of Jamestown, this county; Eiffel is at home; and Herschel L.,
is at home.

Mr. Clark began life for himself as a farmer in Lawrence county, continuing with gratifying
results from year to year until Thanksgiving day, 1895, when he removed to Jackson
township, Boone county, where he farmed for five years, then, in 1900, moved to
Jamestown and engaged in the hardware business with George W. Shaw, under the firm
name of Clark & Shaw, which partnership still continues. They have one of the best
known and best equipped hardware stores in the county, carrying all kinds of hardware
used by the farmer and in fact everything, including farming implements of the most
improved designs, building materials, various makes of machinery and a large and carefully
selected stock at all seasons and, dealing honestly and courteously with their hundreds of
customers they draw trade from a wide territory, which they hold without effort. Mr.
Clark is also interested in various other lines of business, and is one of the most
enterprising, farsighted and capable of our present-day business men.

Politically, Mr. Clark is a loyal Democrat and has been active in local party affairs for a
number of years. He has served as a member of the Democratic County Central
Committee, and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He
is one of the leaders of his party in Boone county and has done much for the success of
Democracy in this section of the state. In November, 1910, he was elected auditor of
Boone county, and took office January 1, 1912, and is now serving a four years' term in a
manner that reflects much credit upon his fidelity and ability and to the satisfaction of his
constituents. He is the first auditor to occupy the magnificent new court house.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Encampment, also the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He has
filled all the chairs in the first named lodge and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge at
Jamestown. Since taking office Mr. Clark and family have resided at 502 East Main street,
Lebanon, which property he owns, and which is in one of the most desirable residential
sections of the city.

AISHEAR ARMBRUSTER CLARK KINSER SHAW

Submitted by Amy K. Davis