When Irving Lewis Clarke was born on 27 October 1850, in Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States, his father, William Andrew Clarke, was 36 and his mother, Sarah Ann Van Cott, was 33. He married Sarah Larkin about 1877, in Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Cuttings Precinct, Clackamas, Oregon, United States in 1880 and Clackamas, Clackamas, Oregon, United States for about 20 years. He died on 19 September 1936, in Clackamas, Oregon, United States, at the age of 85, and was buried in Milwaukie, Clackamas, Oregon, United States.