Person:Thomas Clarke (102)

THOMAS H. CLARK, deceased. The subject of this biography, one of the honored sons of Pennsylvania, and a most distinguished resident of Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, was pre-eminently a self-made man. He began life with a definite purpose in view. Worked faithfully, honestly, and with a will, for its accomplishment, and become one of the most prosperous businessmen of the county. As a citizen of the community in which he so long lived and was so active, he was highly respected, enjoyed and confidence of his neighbors, and was regarded as a man of excellent business judgment.

Mr. Clark was born in Carbondale, Penn., in 1833 a son of Christopher and Catherine (Murphy) Clark, native of Kildare, Ireland, who came to America in early life, and were married in New York. The father first located in Mt. Pleasant Township, Wayne Co, Penn., where he purchased a farm, which he operated for some years. Subsequently he purchased a tract of wild land two miles north of the village of Pleasant Mount, and to its cultivation and improvement devoted his energies until called to his final rest, in 1876. His wife survived him for many years, dying in July 1890. To them was born a family of nine children, of whom Thomas H. was the eldest. The survivors are Edward, a resident of Russell, Iowa; Mrs. Lucy McNerney, of New York; and Elizabeth wife of John McNerney, of New York.

Thomas H. Clark obtained his literary education in the public schools, and on the home farm grew to manhood. In early life he married Miss Bridget Egan, of Homesdale, a daughter of Edward and Mary Egan, early settlers of Wayne county, and for a few years after his marriage continued to reside on the old homestead. He then engaged in lumbering quite extensively near Herrick Centre, and also at Tanner’s Falls, whither he moved his family, remaining there fifteen years while in the employ of Coe F. Young. In 1874, he came to Pleasant Mount, where he purchased a large amount of real estate, including a dwelling house and storeroom, and the old Benjamin farm, adjoining the village on the north side of the Newburg turnpike. He also brought his father’s old homestead and two acres adjoining. For a number of years he successfully engaged in mercantile trade in the village, but finally rented his store to J.D. Brenan, in order to give his entire time and attention to farming interests and to the live stock business, in which he was extensively engaged.

To Thomas H. and Bridget (Egan) Clark where born seven children, as follows: (1) William, born in Mt. Pleasant, in 1858, died in 1887. (2) Mary, born in 1861, was educated partly in the public school and partly in the academy at Mt. Pleasant, and later attended St. Celia Convent, at Scranton, Penn. She married John McCuster, of Preston, Wayne County, and they now reside in Scranton. Their three children are Lewis, Minnie and Madaline. (3) Catharine, born in 1863, is a graduate of the Mt. Pleasant academy, and is now the wife of Edward F. Riley, who is engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Omaha, Neb. They have three children, Edna M., Florence E. and Clark E. (4) Ella, born in Honesdale, in June, 1865, received a good academic education, and is now the wife of James R. Fleming, of Scranton Penn., by whom she has had two sons, James and Albert. (5) Terrissa, born at Tanner’s Falls, Wayne County, in 1868, obtained her education in the Mt. Pleasant Academy, and is the wife of D. J. Foley, of Susquehanna, Penn. They have one daughter Helen C. (6) Cecelia, born at Tanner’s Falls, in 1870, also attended the Mt. Pleasant Academy, and completed her education in the convent at Scranton. (7) Charles H., born in Wayne county, in October, 1872, attended the academy at Pleasant Mount for some years and later become a student in the Lowell Business College, at Binghamton, N.Y. where he graduated in 1894. He now has charge of his father’s extensive business as general manager, and is actively engaged in buying and selling stock. He is one of the most enterprising and progressive young business men and reliable citizens of Mt. Pleasant.

The mother of these children died in 1879, and in January 1881, Mr. Clark wedded Miss Mary E. Riley, a daughter of Cornelius and Sarah A. Riley. Natives of Ireland, the former born in 1807 the later in 1817. The father died some years ago; the mother is still living at the advanced age of over eighty years. Mrs. Clark was born in 1844 and is now living on the old homestead in Pleasant Mount with the two youngest children born of her husband’s first marriage. She has no children of her own.

In 1883 Mr. Clark become connected with the Concord Cattle Company, a stock company owing a large cattle ranch near Miles City, Mont., and engaged in raising cattle on the extensive scale. Our subject visited his possessions in that State short time before his death. He was one of the most active and influential business men of Wayne county, popular with all classes of people, being a man of streling worth and strict integrity, who commanded the confidence and esteem of his associates. Though he started out in life a poor young man, he accumulated, by industry and careful management, a large property, and at his death was one of the wealthiest men of Wayne County. His large business interests are now most ably managed by his wife and son Charles. He passed away at his home in Mt. Pleasant, in July 1895. Honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a Jacksonian Democrat: in Politics and most acceptably served as poormaster of the village for several years. Religiously he and his family were all communicants of the Catholic Church at Mount Pleasant.

1.   King, Washington, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule.