The Clark Families of Portage County, Ohio

N. D. CLARK, banker, Ravenna, was born in Tallmadge, Summit Co., Ohio, December 14, 1814. He was the youngest son of Ephraim and Ala Clark, originally from Massachusetts, but who settled in Tallmadge, then Portage County, in the year 1802, just in time to vote for the first Constitution of Ohio. Ephraim was one of the leading men of Tallmadge, and for many years a Justice of the Peace. He died March 4, 1858, in the eightieth year of his age. He had seven children: Allen I., James A., Miletus S., Newel D., Martha A., Mary L. and Harriet A., of whom three only are now living: N.

D., of Ravenna; Martha Wait, of Iowa; and Harriet A. Clark, of Kansas. Our subject was reared on a farm. In 1832, after serving his apprenticeship, he, with his two brothers, James A. and Miletus S., under the firm name of N. D. Clark & Co., started a carriage and buggy manufactory in Ravenna, and carried the same on successfully for thirty years. He then became connected with the old Portage County Branch Bank, which was in 1863 merged into the First National Bank of Ravenna, of which he was elected President in 1867, which office he has continuously filled to the present time, being again re-elected in January, 1885. He has also occupied various offices of public and private trust, in each of which he faithfully discharged his every duty. He was married April 9, 1835, to Sarah Rawson, of Ravenna, by whom he had two daughters: Amelia, the eldest (died when only sixteen months old) and Laura A., who was married to Henry Beecher, an extensive dry goods merchant and Director of said bank, in September, 1857, both of whom are now deceased- Mrs. Ala Clark, the mother of N. D., died in Talimadge, October 2, 1833. Mrs. N. D. Clark was born in Ravenna, August 13, 1816.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HIRAM T. CLARK, dentist, Ravenna, was born December 3, 1838, in Ravenna. His father, James A. Clark, came here from Talimadge (now in Summit County, Ohio,) and married Miss Mary Torrey. He carried on a wagon and carriage shop in partnership with his brothers, Newell D. and Miletas. James A. Clark died in 1852, and his widow afterward married a Mr. Goldsmith. She is now residing in Cleveland, Ohio. Our subject resided in Belleville, Ontario, from 1859 to 1867, where he learned the profession of dentistry. He remained in Wadsworth, Ohio, two years, and then located permanently in Ravenna, this county, in 1869. Here, by his scientific skill in his profession, he has built up a large and influential and lucrative practice. The Doctor was married June 6, 1868, to Miss Angeline Gilbert, of Belleville, Ontario. They have one son — James Gilbert. Dr. Clark is the only dentist in Ravenna, having obtained a certificate from the Ohio State Dental Society. He is one of the leading members of the profession in northeastern Ohio.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBERT D. CLARK, real estate, insurance and Notary Public, Kent, was born in Kent, April 21, 1842, son of John F. and Eliza (Dunning) Clark. His paternal grandparents were George W. and Martha (Laird) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, who located in Stark County at an early day, where the father of our subject was born January 13, 1814. George W. was Associate Judge of Stark and Portage Counties at an early day, also one of the first surveyors in this part of Ohio, and laid out the stage road between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. His children were William L., the first Sheriff of Summit County; Robert; James H.; George W., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a professor at Allegheny College, Meadville, for twenty years; John F.; Jane; Juliette; Martha. John F., the father of our subject, was educated in the academies of Tallmadge and Randolph, and at the age of sixteen went to Hudson and served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade, which occupation he has followed all his life. He married in 1839 Eliza Dunning, formerly of New Milford, Conn., by whom he had five children: George F., Albert D., Amelia (Mrs. Lorenzo Fessenden), Almira (Mrs., Anson Pritchard, deceased), and Hattie (Mrs. Charles Coyle). He located in Kent in 1838, where he has resided ever since. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Ambrosia Dunning, one of the first settlers of Ravenna Township. Our subject was reared and educated in Kent. He enlisted April 24, 1861, in Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving three months as Corporal was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted August 13, 1861, and served as Sergeant in Company A, First Regiment Ohio Light Artillery, and was Acting Orderly over two years, and commanded the Second Section of artilleries over a year. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga (he was recommended for promotion for bravery on the battlefield of Chickamauga by May. Wilbur F. Goodspeed), and was in many other engagements, and honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 12,

1864, paying a flying visit to friends in Ohio. He then went into the Quartermaster's Department, at Johnsonville, Tenn., serving eighteen months as Assistant Superintendent of laborers of that place, also in the vicinity of Nashville. When Johnsonville, Tenn., was evacuated by the Union forces he went to Nashville, thence to Franklin and Duck Eiver; returning to Nashville took passage on the transport "New York" for Eastport, Miss. On the steamer's arrival at her destination he accepted and filled the position of Chief Receiving Clerk under Lieut. Samuel W. Treat, commanding river and railroad transportation. On resigning this position he returned to Ohio. He then went West and engaged in railroading, visiting all the principal cities of the West. In 1869 he returned to Kent, and accepted a position as foreman in the brass foundry of the A. & G. W. R. R., which he held until 1883, when he embarked in his present business. He was married August 18, 1870, to Sarah J., daughter of Harvey C. and Flora B. Newberry, of Kent. The issue of this union was four child'en: Lenah, Scottie O., Lewis C. and EzzieL., of whom two are now living: Lewis C. and Ezzie L. Mr. Clark is a member of the K. of H., and has filled all the chairs of that order. He now holds the office, to which he was appointed by S. S. Bloom, Grand Dictator, K. of H., of Ohio, of District Deputy Grand Dictator in and for the Twenty-fifth District of Ohio, comprising the following counties, to-wit: Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, Lake and Trumbull. He is C. C. Commander of the K. of P., and a member of the G. A. R. He has served the village of Kent as Councilman two terms. In 1877 he was the Greenback candidate for Representative of Portage County, and ran ahead of his ticket. He was also candidate for Mayor of Kent in the Republican caucus in the spring of 1884. In politics he is independent.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES F. CLARK, farmer, P. O. Rootstown. was born in this county August 20, 1817; son of Daniel and Mary P. Clark, natives of Connecticut, where they were married. They came to this county in 1817, and remained until the death of Mrs. Clark in 1829. After this event Daniel Clark married Lucy Norton, widow of Ancil Norton, and they resided in Kootstown Township until their death, the former dying December 30, 1847, and the latter in 1863. Our subject was married, December 15, 1839, to Catharine E. Norton, born in New York February 15, 1815, daughter of Ancil and Lucy Norton, the father a native of Connecticut, the mother of New York. They settled in this county in 1822, where they both died. Mr. Norton died in 1831, and his widow subsequently married Daniel Clark, of whom mention has already been made in this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. James F. Clark have been born two children, one now living: James P., married to Emma Sadler; they have a son — Clarence. Our subject has been a farmer, and owns 100 acres of improved land where he and his family reside.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM A. CLARK, farmer, P. O. Edinburgh, was born in Edinburg Township, this county, August 26, 1830; son of Russell and Marilla Clark, natives of Connecticut, who came to this county, the former about 1814, and the latter about 1815, where they were married in 1829, then settled in Edinburg Township, and here remained until his death in 1874. His widow is now residing with her son. Our subject was married, January 24, 1856, to Orrel Payne, born in Rootstown Township, this county, June 17, 1834, daughter of Joyce and Louisa Payne. They were natives of Connecticut, came to this county, and here remained until his death, October 13, 1840. His widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had four children: Lelia A. (wife of Grover Calhoun), Mary G. (wife of Charles Byers), Charles C. and Emma L. Our subject, who was reared on a farm, now owns 110 acres of improved land in Edinburg Township, where he and his family reside.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MATTHEW D. CLARK, barber, Garrettsville, was born in Ireland, August 15, 1849, son of Michael and Jane (Sands) Clark, of Farmington, Ohio, who had a family of eight children, five now living: Mary, Matthew, Kate, Anna, and John, who married Celia Johnson (have three children: Elser J., Elton P. and Claud, deceased). Our subject received a common school education in his native land, and in 1864 came to America with his mother, brothers and sisters to join his father, who had preceded them seven years, locating at Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Our subject enlisted in Company D, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and on March 31, 1865, in the battle at Dinwiddle Court House, Va., he was wounded, and a week later his left leg was amputated by Dr. D. W. Bliss, Surgeon of the Army Hospital at Washington, D. C. After his discharge from the service he attended school a short time, then began to work at his trade, having learned it in Ireland. He was married, October 18, 1868, to Miss Alvira Johnson, born in Copley, Ohio, March 14, 1850, daughter of Fayette and Eliza (Tayloi-) Johnson. By this union there is one daughter — Maud J., born April 14, 1873. Since locating in Garrettsville Mr, Clark has here remained continuously, with the exception of three years spent in Akron, Ohio. He has been a member of Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. O.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.