AMOS CLARK, a wealthy capitalist of Centralia, is a native of Connecticut, he was born in Litchfield County, November 6, 1806, and is a son of Friend Clark. His great-grandfather, Joseph Clark, was a native of England and founded the family in America. He settled in Litchfield County, Conn., where he took up large tracts of laud, and his son Amos, the grandfather of our subject, served as Sheriff of that county for forty years. Friend Clark was reared in Litchfield County, and there wedded Mary Hubbell, by whom he had ten children, our subject being the youngest and the only surviving child. The father served in the Revolution, and his son Chauncey was in the War of 1812. Amos remembers hearing the roar of the cannon at the battle of New London during that struggle.
Our subject was only three and a-half years old when his father died. He was reared in his native county, and was educated in its public and private schools. When quite young he worked on farms during the summer months in order to support himself and his widowed mother, and his leisure hours in the evening he would devote to study.
He served an apprenticeship with a man engaged in the manufacture of spinning wheels, and later embarked in the manufacture of mouse traps in connection with Mr. Hotchkiss, who afterwards invented the Hotchkiss gun. As soon as he had acquired a sufficient capital, Mr. Clark purchased land in Litchfield County and engaged in raising sheep and cattle, becoming the owner of a fine place.
On the 15th of April, 1829, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Henrietta, daughter of Abijah Guernsey, a farmer of Watertown, Conn. Her grandfather, Ebenezer Guernsey, was a native of England. Her mother bore the maiden name of Anna Hotchkiss, and she too came of an old New England family. Mrs. Clark was born in Watertown, Conn., March 12, 1808, and in girlhood attended the same school as did her husband. In 1857 they left the east and emigrated to Marion County, ILL., locating in Salem.
In 1859, Mr. Clark built a large three-story hotel at that place, which he carried on for eight years, when he retired from active life. In 1865, he came to Centralia, where he has since made his home. To him and his estimable wife were born seven children, but four died in infancy, namely:
Elizabeth died at the age of nineteen; John G. wedded Mary Bishop, by whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth, who died at the age of five years. His death occurred at the age of twenty-nine.
Amos A. enlisted in 1862 in Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and was made its Captain, for he had raised the company. He was shot and killed at Decatur Junction, March 9, 1864, at the age of twenty-nine, leaving a wife and one child.
In early life, Mr. Clark was a Whig and cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. He has also voted the Free Soil ticket. He aided in organizing the Republican party, voted for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has since been one of the most stalwart supporters of Republican principles.
He and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he serves as Trustee, and to the support of which he contributes liberally. He was also Trustee of the Insane Asylum of Anna for four years, being appointed by Governor Beveridge, and has held numerous city offices in Centralia.
Mr. Clark is a self-made man, who began life empty-handed, but by industry and perseverance has steadily worked his way upward, until he has become one of the wealthiest citizens of Marion County. His dealings have always been straightforward and honorable, and through the legitimate channels of business his success has been achieved.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 220-221
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer