The name of Jeremiah Clark recalls another of Oakland County's best known pioneers. He was born in the State of Vermont on the 19th day of September, 1790. While he was but a lad his father, also named Jeremiah, moved to Nelson, Madison county, New York. Here young Clark abode until he had attained his majority, when he became a citizen of Onondaga county, where he soon after secured an interest in a salt-manufacturing establishment, in the prosecution of which business he was engaged several years. Then he moved to Albany, New York, to attend to a contract he had received on one of the public works of the State, After three years he returned to Syracuse, where he engaged to teach the greater part of a year, at the same time making preparations to move to Michigan.

On the 4th of July, 1831, he left Syracuse for that Territory, and settled at Detroit, where he conducted a bakery and grocery store for several years. In the mean time he prospected for land in Oakland County, making purchases soon after, principally in Independence township. To one of these tracts he moved his family, and engaged in farming, opening a farm most of which is yet owned by one of his sons.

In 1838 he purchased the Holcomb mill property, at what is now Clarkston, and in 1839, in company with his brother, Nelson W., erected a fine grist mill, which is still used, and is favorably known as "the Clarkston mill."

Although not making politics a business, Jeremiah Clark was ever ready to assume his duties as a citizen and discharge them for his country's good. His townsmen frequently bestowed office upon him, calling him to serve them as their first supervisor and as justice of the peace for a number of terms. He was elected to the Michigan legislature in 1839 and 1841, where his services were churacterized by the exercise of sterling good sense, and won for him a reputation which evinced his sound judgment, and he was soon after called upon to serve the people in the capacity of a judge. In a brief time after this, August 29, 1847, he died, while yet pubbessing the strength and vigor of manhood.

Judge Clark was married, in 1814, to Phoebe Holdridge, of Vermont, and had six children: Edwin G., born April 8, 1815; Darwin F., born June 6, 1816, died 1841; Washington L., born May 14, 1818, died 1854; Milton H., born January 13, 1820 ; Newton J., born October 18, 1821 ; Phoebe J., born November 13, 1825.

Mrs. Clark died August 29, 1838, and the family now consists of three sons and the daughter, who still reside near their pioneer home, where the efforts of their parents have aided them in securing homes of plenty and comfort.