Darwin Clark, son of Isaac and Eunice Davis Clark, was born on May 12, 1812, in Otego, New York. He served in Otego as an apprentice in the cabinet making trade from age sixteen to twenty-one. He arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, on the morning of June 10, 1837, to assist in the erection of the new capitol building. In the afternoon of the same day other workmen and settlers arrived. In his first year at Madison, Clark not only helped to build the Capitol but also helped construct a mill, a store building, and the American hotel. He served as clerk in the hotel from 1839 to 1841. In 1842 he went into the milling and contracting business, and during the winter of 1843-1844 he taught school in Madison. In 1845, Darwin Clark started dealing in furniture, and for many years operated both a furniture manufacturing and repair establishment and a furniture retail store.
Clark became active in local politics, school affairs, and cultural groups. In reference to the latter, the Papers contain a very interesting document (Box 1, Folder 4) showing that one month after the arrival of Clark in the Madison “wilderness” he and others were conducting a debating society under the title of “Madison Lycium.” In 1844, he was unsuccessful as a candidate for sheriff, although he had served as deputy county treasurer prior to that. He was twice treasurer of Madison and Blue Mounds precinct and was twice elected treasurer of the city of Madison. He served as an alderman during the years 1858-1861, and was president of the council for one year. Darwin Clark also layed out the Forest Hill Cemetery of Madison.
In 1848, Mr. Clark married Sarah L. Goodnow. She died in 1854, and he was married again, in 1858, to Frances Ann Adams. They had two daughters whose married names were Grace (Mrs. Frederic K.) Conover and Mrs. Frances Wood.
