Person Record
Images
Metadata
Name |
Clark, Jesse Miller |
Genealogy ID |
09731 |
Born |
08 AUG 1841 |
Birthplace |
Richmond, Tioga PA |
Deceased |
29 JAN 1907 |
Cemetery |
Prospect Cemetery |
Education |
Mansfield Classical Seminary |
Occupation |
Merchant Soldiers' Orphans' School, Harford PA Superintendent State Industrial School Thirteen Cheese Factories Teacher |
Titles & honors |
F. & A. M. Friendship Lodge No. 247 Mansfield Borough Council Smythe Park Association |
Father |
Elijah Pincheon Clark |
Mother |
Fanny Fitzgerald |
Spouse |
Matilda E. Fox, Minnie L. Cogswell |
Children |
Colie M. Clark Janice M. Clark |
Reference |
Obit |
Notes |
Prospect Cemetery Jesse Miller CLARK [SRGP 09731] CLARK - Following an illness of one week, J. Miller Clark, a member of one of the oldest and best known families of this vicinity died at his home on South Main street on Tuesday evening, January 29 [1907]. Death was due to paralysis. Mr. Clark was 65 years old. The funeral was held from the home at 1 o'clock on Friday afternoon last, the Rev. Arthur H. Simpson, pastor of the Baptist church, officiating. the members of Friendship lodge, F&AM, of which Mr. Clark was a past master, attended the obsequies in a body, and the interment, in Hope [Prospect] cemetery, was in accordance with the Masonic ritual. ------------------------Jesse Miller Clark was the fourth son of Elijah Pincheon and Fanny Fitzgerald Clark, and he was born on the Corey Creek Stock and Dairy Farm, which he owned at the time of his death, as were his four brothers, two of whom survive -- Warren Clark, of Waverly, NY, and Attorney Frank W. Clark, secretary of the Mansfield Boro Council, on which body deceased had served for several years, and was a member at his death. Two brothers preceded Mr. Clark to the other world, the youngest, Myron S., who died in 1865 at Troy, PA, in his 22d year, and a month prior to the date fixed for his marriage, a victim of typhoid fever; and Daniel E., the eldest, who died in Wisconsin, in 1863, at the age of 28, of consumption, which developed from acute pneumonia. He was traveling with a view to improving his physical condition when dissolution came. . Jesse Miller Clark's education was gained in the district schools and in the Mansfield Classical Seminary, now Mansfield Normal. Upon leaving school, he taught for several years, closing his early life as a teacher as principal of a select school in Mainesburg. He then successfully managed his father's farm for one year. then came his marriage, in 1866, to Miss Matilda Fox, daughter of John Fox, of Mainesburg; she died in 1889. Their only son, Colie M., died suddenly in March, 1886, aged 18. From this blow Mrs. Clark never recovered. Immediately following his marriage, Mr. Clark entered mercantile life in Mainesburg, in copartnership with his father-in-law and Jerome B. Cudworth. This partnership continued for two years, when Mr. Cudworth retired, and the firm name became Fox & Clark. Several years later Mr. Clark purchased Mr. Fox's interest and became the sole owner of the business, which he successfully conducted for ten more years. He then came to Mansfield, forming a partnership with Daniel H. Pitts in the dry goods and clothing business, which was carried on in the store now occupied by H.M Griggs. This partnership continued one year, Mr. Clark then retiring to enter the hardware business on Wellsboro street, which he conducted for two years. He then disposed of the hardware store and re-entered the general merchandise trade in the building now occupied by Kear's cash store. The firm later became Clark, Rose & Judge. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Clark disposed of his holdings in the firm and bought the State Soldiers' Orphan School property in Harford, Susquehanna county, which he conducted for three and a half years under the system then in vogue -- the principal furnishing everything and receiving a stated sum per year for each pupil's maintenance and schooling. The legislature then changed the regime, and the school property was leased to the state by Mr. Clark, and he was employed as principal at a goodly salary. In the meantime the State Industrial School had been established in Scotland, Franklin county, and Mr. Clark was urged to become its superintendent at a salary of $5,000 a year. He accepted, and was succeeded as principal of the Harford Orphan School by James E. Matthews, of Mansfield, now superintendent of the State Hospital in Scranton. Mr. Clark frequently received letters from his former pupils in these schools, attributing their success in life to the training they received at his hands. At the expiration of a year's service in the industrial school, Mr. Clark asked for an assistant because of the great increase of work. This request was denied him, and he resigned. He then returned to Mansfield, and a few years later bought and improved the handsome home where he passed the remainder of his life. He continued to conduct his famous stock and dairy farm, and, after a few years, added to his business cares thirteen cheese factories, which he purchased in connection with F.E. Zimmer. Four years ago he purchased the interest of Mr. Zimmer, and successfully conducted the factories until about a year ago, when he sold them to Warren D. Rose. Mr. Clark had acceptably served as president of the common council, and he was recently re-elected president of Smythe Park Association. His business life was ever an active one, and he accomplished much. He was prominently identified with the Mansfield Baptist church. His widow, who, with one daughter, Janice M., aged 7, survives, was Miss Minnie Cogswell, of Susquehanna county. The Industrial School News, printed at Scotland, said of Mr. Clark, in its issue of Thursday, August 13, 1896: "He has dedicated to the school work all his talents as a disciplinarian, an educator, a thorough-going business man of unusual sagacity and shrewdness, and his long experience, backed by his indomitable will, and best of all, his integrity, and it is no wonder the school has prospered without stint, and the pupils are attached to him as they would be to a father. He is an accomplished and forcible public speaker. Mr. Clark is a man of wonderful talents,and he understands how to turn them to use. Everything he takes hold of has to move so that all can see the motion, as he brooks no failure and knows no surrender nor backdown. We congratulate him upon the success he has attained and also congratulate the commission upon securing his services for this institution." The foregoing is a part of an editorial tribute to Mr. Clark upon his assuming management of the industrial school, and has reference to his work in the Harford Orphan School. - Gray scrapbook clipping, 1907 |
Imagefile |
People\Clark_JesseMiller.jpg |
Places of residence |
Sullivan. Tioga PA Mansfield, Tioga Pa, South Main Street (Clark House is now owned by Wooley's and used for apartments} |
Relationships |
Born on the Corey Creek Dairy & Stock Farm, Became proprietor pr when his father died in 1884, or before. He always had managers, J. E. Gray, Crippen Brothers. |
