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Seth Luther Clark

Seth L. Clark, farmer and stock-raiser of Fayette county, Iowa, was born on the farm in Eden township where he now lives, April 28, 1858. His father, Hiram Clark, a native of Rochester, New York, was a son of Samuel Clark and brother of Orlando and James Clark, the latter well known residents of Eden township, where the family has been represented many years. Hiram Clark, whose birth occurred on the 16th of June, 1833, came to Iowa with his parents and, securing a tract of wild land from his father, grubbed out and improved he farm in the above township on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying May 22, 1868. He married, on June 6, 1857, Caroline Broadbent, who was born May 30, 1837, in Leicestershire, England, and in 1841 came to America with her parents, William and Catherine Broadbent, who first settled in Illinois, removing thence to Fayette county in 1855, and settling in Eden township where they spent the remainder of their lives, he dying about 1894, at the age of seventy-six, she in 1899, in her eighty-sixth year. William Broadbent purchased land in Eden township which in due time he improved and in after years became a well-to-do farmer and respected citizen. In 1874 he lost his sight and from that time until his death, a period of twenty years, was totally blind, although he made the most of his misfortune and was never cast down nor heard to complain. Of the twelve children of William and Catherine Broadbent, four only survive: Robert, who lives at Akron, this state; Albert, at Alpha, William and a younger brother in Colorado. Two of the sons, George and Robert, served in Company B, Ninth Iowa Infantry, during the late Civil war and earned honorable records as soldiers, the former dying at Corydon, this state, at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Hiram Clark, who departed this life April 18, 1873, was the mother of three children: Seth Luther, the subject of this sketch; Fanny R., wife of E. M. Paul; and Martha, who died in infancy.

Seth L. Clark was reared amid the bracing airs of the country and while still young became familiar with the duties of the farm. He received a fair education in the district schools and, having lost his father when only ten years old, remained with his mother until fourteen and then went to live with his uncle, Orlando Clark, with whom he remained until twenty years of age, when he commenced life upon his own responsibility. On attaining his majority he took possession of the family homestead in Eden township, having purchased his sister's interest in the same and, addressing himself to the task of its improvement, soon had the house rebuilt and the farm in excellent condition. Since moving to the place he has given his attention very closely to agriculture and by his industry, energy and good management is now in comfortable circumstances, with a sufficiency of this world's goods at his command to insure his future against want or any other contingency that may arise. As a farmer he is energetic and methodical, a careful observer of the soils and their adaptability to the different crops and he seldom if ever fails to realize abundant returns from the labor expended on his fields.

Mr. Clark is quiet and unassuming, attends strictly to his own affairs, but at the same time manifests a lively interest in whatever tends to promote the welfare of the community and the common good of his neighbors and fellow citizens. He stands for progress in all the term implies, lends his influence and assistance to all laudable enterprises and as a Republican has rendered valuable service to his party, though neither a politician nor office seeker. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Waucoma, and with his wife is also identified with the Order of the Eastern Star at that place, both being active and influential workers in the organization.

Mr. Clark was happily married on November 23, 1881, to Carrie R. Paul, who was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1859, being a daughter of Oscar S. and Sarah A. Paul, the latter now Mrs. J. T. Gager, of Eden township. For several years prior to her marriage Mrs. Clark taught in the public schools of Fayette county and earned a creditable reputation for her efficiency in the schoolroom, as both a teacher and disciplinarian. She is a lady of beautiful life and character, takes an active interest in the social and intellectual life of the community and is held in high esteem by the large circle of friends and neighbors with whom she mingles. She has borne her husband two children, the older of whom, Hiram Paul Clark, married Mabel Peters and since his eighteenth year has been a salesman for various mercantile firms in Hawkeye. Sarah C., the second in order of birth, is a graduate of the Waucoma high school and for several years pas has been teaching in the public schools of Eden and other townships.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Mary Thiele Fobian