James Woodruff Clark was born near Catskill-on-the- Hudson, May 4, 1806. His father, John Clark, was born at Norwich, Connecticut, on November 14, 1777. On February 2, 1802. He married Sally (Person) Clark, who was born at Brunswick, New York, June 1, 1780. and died at Buffalo, New York. April 18, 1813. Mr. Clark died in the township of Brownstown, Wayne County, Michigan. Their family consisted of George Clark, born March 9, 1804; James Woodruff Clark, born May 4, 1806: John Person Clark, born April 10, 1808; Nelson Clark, born January 7, 1810 and Catherine Clark, born September 8, 1812 John Clark married his second wife, Sally Swain, at Buffalo, November 10, 1813. She was born in Buffalo. October 25, 1786, and died at Brownstown, in July, 1859 their children were: Catherine Clark, born September 10, 1814, Sarah, born January 27, 1817; Naomi, born April 7, 1819; Isaac Swain, born May 15, 1821; Rebecca Ann, born November 1, 1822; Mary, born October 25, 1823; Eliza Ann, born May 29, 1825 ; Charles, born November 2, 1826.

Waltrous Clark, the grandfather of James, was born at Norwich, Connecticut, on June 20, 1742, and died at that place in 1822. He took an active part in the Revolutionary War, participating in the principal battles. He was noted lor his daring conduct, and in recognition of his eminent services was assigned an officer's pension, which he drew until his death. His father, John Clark, served with distinction in the War of 1812. He was the Captain of a body of men, known as Saugerties Rangers, who did much to annoy and harass the British. The family at that time were living at Black Rock, near Buffalo, and were striped of everything hy the enemy. Shortly after the close of the war. the family removed to Rocky River, near Cleveland. Ohio, and from thence to Michigan, in 1819. They lived for a lime at Ecorsc, and then in a log house just below Wyandotte. From this last place the family moved to a farm in Brownstown. As all his father's possessions had been swept away in the War of 1812, and as there was a large family, the three eldest boys. George, James, and John, helped to support the family. The only education that James received in his youth was acquired in the district schools, and he worked on the farm until twenty-three years of age. On October 19, i828, he married Julia Wells. He then rented a farm on the Huron River, and after living there for five years he bought a farm in the township of Taylor, about eight miles west of Wyandotte, and lived there until 1859. Having then become tired of farming, he moved to Trenton, where he bought a home and resided there until his death. He was an honest, hardworking man, and was eminently successful as a farmer. The wealth which he hail accumulated enabled him to live in case and comfort when failing health obliged him to give up work. He loaned out considerable money, and owned several farms, one in the township of Taylor, one in Brownstown, two in Ecorcc, and two in Monguagon. After suffering long and painfully for two years, with Brighl's disease, he died at Trenton, on December 24, 1870, and was buried in Woodmere Cemetery.

Mr. Clark was of a retiring disposition and free from all personal ambition. He shrank from anything that would bring him into public notice, ami attended strictly to his own affairs. His widow remains on the old homestead in Trenton, being now upwards of eighty years old. Their family consisted of nine daughters and four sons, as follows: George V. Clark, born August 25, 1830; Martha C. born May 13, 1832: Emeline, born January 25, 1834: John H. born November 27, 1835 ; Seth born July 11, 1837 and died September 26, 1838 ; Sophia M.. born March 6, 1839; Julia, born February 27, 1841; Amelia Eliza, born February 24, 1843; Mary Emily, born February 17, 1845; Woodruff W., born January 20, 1847 ; Myra A., born January 20, 1849: Alice L. born January 21. 1851 ; Catherine April, born April 1, 1853 and died October 27, 1864.

Source: History of Detroit and Wayne Co 1890 by Silas Farmer