Biography: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: James L. CLARK ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, November 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ History of northern Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources, an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers, views of county seats, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881 p. 1141 James L. Clark, is a native of Alton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire, and was born April 17, 1824. He received a common school education, and at an early age learned the carpenter and joiner trade. This occupation he continued in until 1855, when he emigrated to the West and located at its present home- Oshkosh. Here he followed his trade for two years, after which he engaged in the lumber business for about three years, and subsequently held the position of superintendent in the mills of different parties. In 1863, he engaged in making match splints, having purchased from Daniel Ruggles a round splint machine. This machine was imperfect and Mr. Clark's inventive genius replaced it with a new one, which worked so successfully that he engaged exclusively in the manufacture of splints. Beginning modestly, his assistants consisted only of two persons, and the "sorting" was done at his house. In time, very room was so occupied. In July, 1864, he transferred his work-shop from his house to a building he had erected for his growing business, and the business grew in five years to an annual product of $20,000. Mr. Clark had started without means, but with energy, integrity and perseverance, had slowly reached this point. He felt his efforts had been rewarded, and dreamed not of the mammoth establishment he would create in the following thirteen years. In 1868, he commenced the manufacture of matches in a small way, branding them "Star Matches." The superiority of this make soon gained for it a general sale throughout the Northern and Western States, in consequence of which the business steadily increased. The daily capacity of the factory was two thousand gross (one gross of matches constituting 14,400 matches), requiring the use of government stamps amounting to $860,000 annually, being largely in excess of that paid by any other factory in the United State, and one-fourth of the entire amount paid the Government from this source. The factory consumed at the rate of 150 tons of brimstone, 11 tons of phosphorous, 320 tons of straw board and paper, and 4,000,000 feel of lumber in the manufacture of these matches, annually, and Mr. Clark gave employment to nearly 600 hands. In the conduct of this immense establishment Mr. Clark was assisted by his son Herbert M. Clark, who was the superintendent. For the purpose of obtaining a full supply of the best straight-grained timber for splints, Mr. Clark erected in 1878, a mill for the purpose of sawing splint timber. In addition to this he manufactured a superior brand of shingles. His success in that direction was noteworthy. In two years he cut more shingles than any other mill on the Wolf River, the product in 1879 being nearly 13,000,000, while in 1880 it reached 18,000,000. Mr. Clark sold his match works in December, 1880, and immediately erected the most complete carriage factory in the West. Mr. Clark is quiet and unassuming in his manners, and he possesses sterling qualities; he has devoted himself untiringly to his business, and by combing industry, integrity and perseverance, he has give his adopted home two institutions that are a great benefit to the city in furnishing employment and support to so large a number of hands. Mr. Clark was married July 26, 1851, to Miss Sarah Flint, but whom he has had two sons, only one of whom, Herbert M., survives, and is now a partner with his father.