Charles A. Clark

As printed in 1906

CHARLES A. CLARK, senior member in the well known firm of G. A. Blakeslee & Company at Galien, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, August 23, 1849, and has lived in Berrien county since he was thirteen years old. His first twenty years were spent on a farm, with attendance at the schools in Galien, completing at the high school. For several years after his majority he was a school teacher, first in a district school, then a year at Dayton, and a year at the industrial training school at Lansing. Following his marriage in 1874 he began the manufacture of room handles at Galien, Joseph Carl being his partner.

In 1876 Mr. Clark became a clerk in the general merchandise business of the late G. A. Blakeslee. In five years he had proved his value as a business man and was a partner in the firm of G. A. Blakeslee & Company, a name which has been retained during all subsequent years, though E. A, Blakeslee succeeded his father on the latter's death in 1890. This is one of the largest general merchandise establishments in Berrien county, and besides the regular stock of such a concern the partners have dealt in coal thirty years, also salt and lumber, and have conducted a private bank since

In public affairs Mr. Clark is known as a thoroughgoing Republican, served eleven years as village clerk and four years as village president, as township treasurer two years, member of the school board about thirty years, is now on his sixth consecutive term as supervisor, being chairman of the board one year. He is chairman of the RepubUcan county committee, and several times has been delegate to state conventions. Mr. Clark is a Mason and a member of the K. O. T. M. at Galien. Besides his business affairs he owns and conducts a farm of eighty acres, devoted to grapes and general crops. He has been a notary public and in the fire insurance businCvSS thirty years, and has acted as administrator and guardian of many states.

Mr. Clark has worthy ancestors on both sides. He is a son of respected parents, Albert and Eliza (Howell) Clark, who came to Berrien county in 1863 and lived here till death. His father was born in Massachusetts, and when a child accompanied the family to Ohio where they were among the original settlers of Geauga county. Both of Mr. Clark's grandfathers Abner Clark and John Howell, respectively, were first settlers in Ohio and took up virgin land on which to make their homes. The most remote American ancestor was William Clark, who came from England in 161 7 and landed at Dorchester, Mass., later moving to Northampton in the same state. The Howells were also of English descent. Albert Clark, who was a lifelong farmer, died in Berrien county in 1894, in his eighty-fourth year, while his wife passed away in 1890, aged seventy-one. Charles A., was the second of the four children, the eldest being Emily S., who died in 1880, and two brothers, Everett S. and Albert E., both deceased, the latter in 1897.

In 1874 Mr. Clark married Miss Lydia Blakeslee, who was born at Batavia, Illinois, 1853, and came to Berrien county with her parents, George A. and Lydia (Alcott) Blakeslee. Mr. and Mrs. Clark's three children are, Stanley A., who is a physician at South Bend; Leslie B., in school at Ann Arbor; and Winnie G., in school at home.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.