Bio of CLARK, William O. (b.1850), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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WILLIAM O. CLARK - Vol III, pg 314-317
Minneapolis presents many evidences of the skill and ability of William O. Clark
as a builder, for through a long period he was identified with contract work in
this city and many beautiful residences are the indication of his efficiency and
high standing in his chosen calling. He came to the Mississippi valley from
across the country, being a native son of New England, his birth having occurred
at Goshen, Vermont, January 12, 1850. His parents were Thomas and Athelia
(Carlisle) Clark, who were likewise natives of the Green Mountain state, where
their ancestors had lived through several generations. In 1852, when their son
William was an infant of two years, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clark removed to
Wisconsin, locating at Randolph, where they spent their remaining days. The
father died when about sixty-two years of age, while the mother survived until
she had reached the advanced age of eighty-six years, passing the last five
years of her life at the home of her son, William, in Minneapolis.
While born in New England, William O. Clark was but two years of age when the
family residence was established in Randolph and there he pursued his education
to the age of thirteen years, when he had to give up his school work and assist
in the support of his family, the father having met with an accident which
prevented him from doing further active work. Mr. Clark was an only son and
there were seven daughters in the family. He early learned the cabinetmaker's
trade, working in a shop in Randolph for several years, but about 1875 he
removed to Spring Valley, Minnesota, where he continued to engage in his trade
for two years more. He next became associated with the firm of Bonner & Hyde in
the building of elevators and was thus engaged in every town and hamlet along
the Southern Minnesota Railroad, now a section of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul. About 1882 he removed to Minne­apolis, where he became identified with S.
C. Cutter, one of the prominent contractors of that period. He remained in Mr.
Cutter's employ for about six years and during that period was engaged in the
erection of many of the prominent buildings of the city. At the end of the time
he took up contracting and building on his own account and continued therein to
the time of his death, erecting many beautiful homes in Minneapolis which are
still among the attractive residences here. His preliminary training had been
thorough and comprehensive and he was a close student of the business to which
he devoted his life. He thoroughly understood the scientific prin­ciples as well
as the practical phases of his work and the structures which he erected are a
splendid combination of utility, strength, convenience and beauty.
Mr. Clark was married twice and had five children by his first wife, who passed
away in December, 1888. In 1890 he wedded Miss Prances B. Sanderson, a daughter
of John and Esther (Cordy) Sanderson, who were natives of England. The father
came to the United States in 1851, settling in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where
he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his days. There was
one child of this marriage, Esther, who is now the wife of Ralph W. Mitchell of
Menomonie, Wisconsin, while the children of the first marriage were as follows:
Rev. Charles Alien Clark, D. D., of Korea, who has been a missionary in the
Orient for the past twenty years; Edith, the wife of R. B. Sanderson of
Langford, South Dakota; Ben W., a Contractor who is carrying on his father's
business in Minneapolis; Burton, who was the eldest and was drowned at the age
of nineteen years; and Capitola, who died at the age of fourteen years.
The death of Mr. Clark occurred on the 14th of January, 1921, when he was
seventy-one years of age. He was a Knights Templar Mason and member of the
Mystic Shrine and for more than forty years he had membership in the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He also belonged to the Woodmen of the World and to the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, while at one time he was a member of the
Calhoun Com­mercial Club. For about ten years he held membership in the Oliver
Presbyterian church and about twenty-two years prior to his death joined the
Park Avenue Methodist church, which was worshiping in a church edifice that he
erected. In politics he was a lifelong republican. His course was ever
characterized by devotion to duty and fidelity to principle, and all who knew
him attest the fact that the sterling trails of his character were many.