Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Clark, Clay C June 24, 1861 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com March 8, 2011, 6:10 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 723 - 724 Author: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company CLAY C. CLARK. One of the most valued and substantial citizens of Portland is Clay C. Clark, whose business activities have been of a character and magnitude that have contributed to the general prosperity of the community and who commands the highest measure of public confidence and respect. Mr. Clark was born in Chariton county, Missouri, on the 24th of June, 1861, and is a son of Ephraim and Mary (Van Tine) Clark. His paternal grandfather, Henry Clark, who was an uncle of Champ Clark, one of Missouri's most noted citizens, settled in that state in 1832 and taught the first school in his part of the state. His wife was a medical doctor and was the first and for a long time the only physician in that locality. Ephraim Clark was next to the youngest of a large family of boys and remained with his parents when his brothers came to California and Oregon in 1852. One of his brothers, Ben Clark, started for Oregon in 1852, and died on the way here of cholera, from which disease his wife also died. They left three sons and a daughter, all of whom are deceased. The daughter settled in Oregon, but later moved to Washington, where she acquired large land holdings at American Lake. Another brother, Jesse Clark, went to California in 1852. Ephraim Clark, who was born in Kentucky, remained on the home farm in Missouri until his death, which occurred December 23, 1864. He was a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served as as lieutenant in the Union army. Mary (Van Tine) Clark, who was born in New York state, was a daughter of Abram Van Tine, a native of Scotland, who served an eight-years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith's and machinist's trade, before he came to this country in an early day, settling in New York, where he began his career as a newsdealer, and eventually became the owner of ten acres of land in New Jersey, which he sold and then helped to fit out one of the first ships to arrive at San Francisco after the discovery of gold in California. He was a passenger on the ship and brought with him a stock of boots and shoes for sale. After his arrival here he sold his interest in the ship and entered the mines, built a small smelter and smelted some of the first gold in California, in connection with his work as a blacksmith. During the ensuing three years he made considerable money, which he took back to New York and turned over to his brother Thomas to invest for him. Returning to California, he spent three years more in the mines, sending money back to his brother from time to time to invest, but the panic of the '50s wiped out the considerable fortune which he had accumulated. Soon afterwards he went to Missouri, where his death occurred. He was a talented musician and an expert drummer. His daughter Mary was married to Mr. Ephraim Clark in Missouri and some time after his death she became the wife of John W. Adams and continued to live in that state until her demise, on April 7, 1895 Clay C. Clark was about three years of age when his father died and when six years old he left his mother and went to live with the Willits family, who were friends of his mother. Their son, Samuel Willits, later moved to Long Beach, California, where he now lives retired. At sixteen years of age, Mr. Clark started to earn his own livelihood. He secured his educational training in the district schools during the winter months, while during the summers he worked on farms. At the early age of seven years he herded cattle in Kansas, later worked on the cattle ranges and in cattle feeding lots in Missouri. At length he turned his face westward and on July 5, 1886, arrived in Portland. For a while he was employed in hauling wood for the steam plant that furnished electricity for Portland and at various other occupations. Later he settled on a homestead near Blalock, Gilliam county, Oregon, proved up on the land, and there engaged in farming and stock raising for many years, retaining that farm until 1926, in which year he established his residence in North Portland. In the meantime, in 1905, he established a meat business in Arlington, and in 1911 engaged in general merchandising, under the firm name of C. C. Clark & Sons. For a number of years he has also been engaged in the commission business in North Portland, under the name of the Clark Commission Company, and likewise is interested in a large modern garage there. At one time he was the owner of large acreages in different parts of Oregon and handled a large number of cattle, hogs and sheep annually. On March 9, 1884, in Chariton county, Missouri, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Lambert, who was born in Illinois and is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah E. Lambert. They have five children, namely: Lambert E., who operates the Exchange Garage in North Portland, in which he is associated with his father, is married and has two children; Claude C., who is his father's partner in the Clark Commission Company, is married and lives in East Portland; Francis C., of Arlington, Oregon, is married and has three children; Lulu M. is the wife of Emil Starn, of North Modesto, California, and they have two children; and Edith M. is the wife of Frank Leghorn, of Portland, and the mother of two children. Politically Mr. Clark has always supported the republican party and has been prominently connected with public affairs, having served as a member of the board of county commissioners, and as a representative from the twenty- eighth district in the state legislature. He is a member of Arlington Lodge, No. 88, A. F. & A. M.; Oregon Consistory, No. 1, A. A. S. R., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment and construction of the Columbia highway, pronounced to be one of the greatest scenic highways of the world, and he has maintained an active and effective interest in everything concerning the progress and welfare of his section of the state. Sterling integrity in every relation of life, clear headed judgment in practical matters and a progressive and enterprising spirit have characterized his career and high respect is uniformly accorded him by his fellowmen. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/clark1534gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb