BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 626-627.

THOMAS E. CLARK

Thomas E. Clark, contractor and builder of St. Clairsville, was born at Morristown,
Ohio, in 1836. His father, John Clark, was the son of James and Hannah J. Clark,
natives of Ireland, who came to America in the year 1800, and settled in Penn-
sylvania. James was a brave soldier of the war of 1812. John Clark was born in
Pennsylvania about 1808, and when a child removed with his parents to Ohio,
settling on a farm near Cadiz in Harrison county. Not long afterward they removed
to within a mile of Morristown, where John Clark learned the vocation of a brick
and stone mason, which he followed through the remainder of his life. He was an
influential man, and served as justice of the peace several years. About 1833 he
was married to Elizabeth Heed, by whom he had nine children, eight of whom are
living: Thomas E., John, James A., Elizabeth, Amelia, Catherine, Sarah J. and
Loretta A. The parents were members of the Baptist church. Thomas E., the eldest
child, at seventeen years of age began to learn the trade of his father, and after
four years' apprenticeship he went to Cincinnati, where he worked one summer. He
then came to Belmont county, where, on December 9, 1859, he was married to Anna E.
Smith, who was born at Uniontown, Penn., in 1835, the daughter of James and Mary
Smith. Immediately after this marriage he moved with his wife to Cadiz, where they
lived four years, coming then to St. Clairsville, which has since been their home.
He continued to be occupied with his trade until 1876, when he assumed the manage-
ment of the National Hotel at St. Clairsville, which he conducted until 1885. He
then resumed contracting. Among the many buildings erected by him may be mentioned
that of the bank of St. Clairsville, the school building, the infirmary, Judge
Cowan's residence, Troll's business house and the Methodist Episcopal church. In
the famous contest over the location of the county seat he was a tireless worker
for the cause of St. Clairsville, and when the fight was decided he was appointed
by the commissioners to superintend all the buildings. Under his careful and able
supervision the court house, sheriff's residence and jail, with sidewalks, fence,
gas and water works, were completed for $283,000, and they are admitted to be
among the most economically built in the state. For this acceptable result, Mr. Clark deserves a large share of the praise. By his marriage above mentioned, Mr. Clark
has five children living: John W., Charles E., Mary, Emma and Loretta A. The wife
and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.