Milton Clark

As printed in 1881

MILTON CLARK, Cashier of the Bank of South Charleston, South Charleston. To the gentleman whose name appears above we are pleased to allot a space in the biographical album of this work. Henry Clark, his grandfather, was born and raised in South Carolina. In 1804, he, with his wife and three children emigrated to Ohio and settled in Warren Co., where he purchased 600 acres of land, half of which was to be the property of his brother Jonathan on arriving at his majority. He had made some considerable improvement in the way of clearing and erecting buildings, when one Walter Dun contested the title of his land. This put a stop to all improvement, and the barn which he had built, and which was the first frame barn on the Miami River in that county, stood incomplete till after the final decision in 1840, when our subject finished it. The struggle for the rights of his property lasted nearly thirty years, and ruined him financially. He was a Quaker, a man of decisive integrity and vivid intellect. Hard work and exposure broke him down in middle age; these, together with the difficulty before mentioned, made him an early victim for the grave. He died about 1835, having been the father of five children—John, Jonathan, Henry, Cornelius and Elizabeth. Jonathan, the father of Milton Clark, was born in South Carolina in 1797. He was raised to agricultural pursuits, which was his principal occupation through life. For a number of years, however, he was unable to perform manual labor. Owing to an asthmatic affection, he did not sleep an entire night in bed for twenty years. He was identified with the principal offices of the township, and did a great deal of business for other parties. His marriage was celebrated in 1818 with Henrietta, daughter of Daniel and Mary Stump, who emigrated from Frederick Co., Va., in 1817, and located in Warren Co., Ohio. Jonathan and Henrietta Clark were the parents of six children— Milton, Mary, Cornelius A., Daniel W., Eliza and Matilda. The last two died in youth. The survivors are the three sons. Jonathan Clark departed this life July 4, 1842. His wife survived till 1875, and died at the age of 75. Milton, the subject of this memoir, was born in Warren Co., Dec. 18, 1819. Being the oldest of the children, and his father an invalid, he was called upon to take charge of his father's affairs at a very early period of his life. He and his good mother did most of the rearing of the family. He was engaged in farming principally till 28 years of age. In the meantime, he attempted to read medicine, but his health failed, and he went West to recruit. In 1849, he gave up farming entirely and went into the drug business, which he continued till 1857, when he engaged in the grain and grocery trade. For four years he was railroad and express agent. In December, 1863, he was elected Cashier of the First National Bank of South Charleston, which position he retained after the bank became a private institution, and still holds it with credit to himself and satisfaction on the part of the people. On the 9th of November, 1852, he married Miss Sarah Tibbals. She was born in Montgomery Co. Aug. b, 1827. To this union three children were given—Flora E., Mary and Bertha. The last two died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah Clark died in 1866, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. In October of 1868 he married Mrs. C. A. Horney, widow of Lieut. Paris Horney, who died in a rebel prison at Columbia, S. C. She was born Dec. 6, 1836. Kearn was her maiden name. Mr. Clark, wife and daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in the town of South Charleston and surrounding country he is recognized as a man of straightforward business habits, whose character is above reproach.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.