William A. Clark was born on July 24, 1828, in Junietta county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Matthew and Elizabeth (McFeeters)Clark. both natives of Junietta county. Pennsylvania. Lorana D. (Keen)Clark, wife of William A. Clark, was born on May 23, 1826, near Kennebec, Maine. Matthew Clark moved with his family to Indiana in 1851, locating near Frankfort, Clinton county. where he remained until his death. His son, William A. Clark, moved from Indiana in 1855 to what was at that time known as Shelbyville, Blue Earth county,Minnesota, being the second white man to take a claim in Shelby township. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres but soon after enlisted in Company H, Second Minesota Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in 1861 and serving until the close of the great struggle. He was in all engagements in which his regiment served and fought in the battles of Mill Springs, Shiloh, Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge. with General Sherman to the sea, and at Nolandsville, Tennessee. VVhile foraging with about a dozen of his comrades, they were attacked by two rebel companies, but so well did the boys in blue fight that the rebels were soon ousted, leaving three of their number as prisoners and seven of their horses as a portion of the spoils. For his marked bravery during this skirmish

Congress bestowed upon \Villiam A. Clark a medal, which is much prized by the family.

At the close of the Civil \Var, William A. Clark returned to his former home in Shelby, Minnesota, where he remained for one year, moving in the spring of 1866 to Mankato, Minnesota, where in 1869, he purchased his present farm, which consisted at that time of one hundred and twenty acres. This place has always been devoted to general agriculture and stock raising, but in addition to his farm interests, \/illiam A. Clark also engaged in carpenter work.

William A Clark