CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO - OBIT: CLARK, Worthy (1914)
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>From the Chardon, Geauga County, newspaper, unknown name.

DEATH CALLS WORTHY CLARK, NOTED OIL MAN. [born 4 Feb 1846, died 3 Jan 1914]

Worthy Clark, aged 68, died at his home, 10411 Somerset Avenue, Cleveland, early Saturday morning after an illness of seven months. He was the first refiner of petroleum in Cleveland, and a former resident [of] Chardon.

When Worthy Clark took a position with the pioneer oil form of Clark, Payne & Co. in 1859, he was 19 years old, but had discovered a secret process for making "burning oil," as the illuminant was called in those days. The members of that firm were Col. Oliv!
er Payne, of New York, whose wealth is estimated at $100,000,000; James W. Clark and Harry W. Payne, both dead.

When the Standard bought out its oil rival, the Star Oil Col. was organized by James H. Clark, Oscar Childs, Worthy Clark and William E. Clark, the plant being located on Kinsman Hills.

In an oil explosion, Worthy Clark was so badly burned that his life was despaired of for three months.

The Star was later absorbed by the Standard, with an airtight agreement made by the attorneys of John D. Rockefeller that the Clarks were not to again engage in the refining of oil. One of the stipulations was to the effect that Worthy Clark was to have a l!
arge salary, said to be $3,600 a year, for 10 years for doing nothing, but that he must personally call at the cashier's office once a month "to draw his pay." For 10 years he has cared for the estate of his brother, the late James H. Clark.

Clark is survived by a widow and seven children--Mrs. Joseph Spear, Painesville; Mrs. George Herrick, Parma; Mrs. Case Hall, Charles G., Harry W., Ernest E. and Ralph Clark, of Cleveland; and two sisters, Mrs. Eliza Miller, Los Angeles, Cal.; Mrs. Fanny A. !
Reynolds, 8520 Carnegie Avenue, and a brother, former State Senator W. T. Clark.

Worthy Clark was born in Malesbury (sic), England, in 1846, coming to Cleveland in 1859. The funeral was held Tuesday at 1 p.m., from his late residence. The burial will be in Chardon cemetery.

Mr. Clark retired from the oil business about 20 years ago, and settled on a farm west of Walters' Corners in Munson, now owned by Grove Lampman. After a short residence there, Mr. Clark disposed of the farm and purchased the residence now owned by Mrs. Cor!
a Fisher on the Claridon road, just east of South Street. The family resided here sev- (at this point the bottom of the clipping was torn off)

Mr. Clark was held in high esteem in Chardon, and his regard for the town is reflected by the fact that he is to be buried here.




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