My Genealogy Hound

HON. WILLIAM B. CLARK. The success which has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Clark is the result of his self-sacrificing labors in earlier life, together with the exercise of sound judgment and executive ability in every transaction. The concern of which he is the head is one of the largest of the kind in New York, and has increased the reputation of Waterloo as a manufacturing center. It was in 1860 that he first turned his attention to the manufacture of carriage wheels, and since 1870 he has devoted his undivided attention to this industry, making his sales direct to the large carriage manufacturers. Steam power is used in the operation of the plant. Fifty men are employed in the works, and the quality of the products is of the highest grade.

In Sullivan County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch was born June 9, 1835. The family of which he is a member originated in England and was first represented in Connecticut, where several succeeding generations resided. In Durham, that state, our subject’s grandfather, James Clark, was born. Reuben Clark, his father, also a native of Connecticut, became an early settler of the town of Thompson, Sullivan County, N. Y., where he owned and operated a large and valuable farm. In 1850 he came to Waterloo and here continued to reside until his death, which occurred at eighty-two years of age. His mother attained the advanced age of ninety-seven.

The mother of our subject was Julia A., daughter of Eleazer Crosby. She was born in the town of Thompson, Sullivan County, N. Y., and died in Waterloo at the age of eighty-two. Her family consisted of twelve children, of whom six attained years of maturity, and two sons and two daughters are now living. William B., who was the fifth in order of birth, passed the days of boyhood in Sullivan County, where the foundation of his education was laid. After accompanying his parents to Waterloo he carried on his studies in the academy here.

The business experience of Mr. Clark commenced when he formed a partnership with Albert Stebbins in the drug business, under the firm name of Stebbins & Clark. Later our subject sold out his interest and went into the boot and shoe business. In 1860 he started the wheel business, which he has carried on successfully ever since. In the year 1864 he became interested in the dry-goods business, but discontinued this line seven years later, the firm being Clark & Draper.

Besides the enterprise with which his name is most closely associated, Mr. Clark is a Director in the Waterloo Wagon Company, Limited. He is also a stockholder and Director in the Cortland Wagon Company, at Cortland, N. Y., which is the largest of the kind in the state, and for which he has furnished all the wheels used for the past twenty years. He is also one of the original stockholders in the Watertown Spring Wagon Company, of Watertown, N. Y., which interest he yet holds. Politically, he affiliates with the Democrats, believing the principles of his party best adapted to the prosperity of the nation. Upon that ticket in 1885 he was elected to represent the county in the Assembly, and in that capacity his services were efficient and satisfactory to his constituents. He previously had served two terms as President of the village of Waterloo.

In 1857 Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte M. Crosby, daughter of Piatt Crosby, of Waterloo. They have an only son, Frank M., who is interested with his father in the wheel works. In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Clark are identified with the First Presbyterian Church, and for the past twenty years he has served as President of the Official Board of the church. There are probably no citizens who take a deeper interest than he in the advancement of the village, and whatever conduces to its progess commercially, materially, or along social and religious lines, receives his hearty support and co-operation.