Simeon P. Clark, son of Perry and Penelope (Perry) Clark, was born at Clark's Mills, R. I., February 19, 1820. He was educated at Bacon Academy, at Colchester, Conn., and at the early age of fifteen years succeeded his brother, Charles Clark, to the management of their father's mercantile and milling enterprises. For several years he filled the position of bookkeeper for R. G. Hazard, who operated the mills at Carolina at that time. In 1849, in partnership with his brother, Mr. Clark erected a mill and began the manufacture of cotton yarn, laying the foundations of the successful business in which his son and grandson succeeded him. The venture proved highly profitable, and the partnership continued until 1870, when the death of Charles Clark dissolved it. Purchasing his brother's interest, Simeon P. Clark became sole owner of the flourishing concern, and continued as its head until 1885, when he disposed of it to his son and retired from active business life. The location in Clark's Mills of industries of the size controlled by the Clarks did much to advance the village to a position of importance among the mill villages of Rhode Island. The welfare of the village was always close to Mr. Clark's heart, and although he remained strictly aloof from political circles, he was always prominently identified with movements which had for their end the furthering of civic interests. No man among his contemporaries occupied a more enviable position in the life of Clark's Mills than he did. He was not only honored and respected for the blameless integrity of his life, the unimpeachable honesty and fairness which characterized his every business dealing, but he was loved by the people in whose life he had been such a dominant figure for nearly forty years. Simeon P. Clark was a member of the Baptist church in early life, but later became an Adventist. He died at his home in Clark's Mills, December 4, 1887.
On November 8, 1843, Simeon P. Clark married Catherine Perry, who was born at South Kingston in 1819, daughter of Walter Perry, and a distinguished member of the South Kingston Perrys. She was her husband's companion and confidant, knew the most involved details of his business, and was frequently his counsellor and advisor. To her he attributed a large part of the responsibility for his success in life. She was a devout Christian, a loving mother and a cultured gentlewoman. As a charter member of the Clark's Mills Woman's Christian Temperance Union she worked earnestly and effectively for its success. Catherine (Perry) Clark died on February 22, 1897. Simeon P. and Catherine (Perry) Clark were the parents of the following children: 1. George Herbert, born Aug. 6, 1847; president of the Columbia Narrow Fabric Company, of Shannock; one of the leading business men of Richmond; he married, December 26, 1877, Celia E. Carr, daughter of Peleg C. and Catherine (Weeden) Carr; their children are: i. George Perry, born Jan. 13, 1879; treasurer and director of the Columbia Narrow Fabric Company; married Annie Mary O'Neil, daughter of Eugene O'Neil, of Westerly. ii. Harriet Sumner, born Jan. 15, 1880; a graduate of Smith College; president of the board of trustees of the Free Public Library at Shannock. iii. Henry Garfield, born May 28, 1881; graduated from Brown University in the class of 1907, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy; secretary and director in the Columbia Narrow Fabric Company of Shannock. iv. Florence, born May 3, 1883; graduate of Wellesley College, and of the teacher's course at Columbia College; now teaching at West New York, Hudson county, N. J. 2. Catherine Perry, born Aug. 7, 1848. 3. Nellie Augusta, born March 25, 1850. 4. Julia Wells, born Nov. 23, 1854, who resides on the old homestead at Shannock. 5. Harriet Sumner, born April 22, 1856, died April 11, 1874.
