My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM B. CLARK, the owner of a fine livery stable in Catasauqua, is also engaged in building and contracting, and is regarded as one of the most successful business men of the place. He is a native of Catasauqua, and was born June 11, 1864. His father, John, was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and his grandfather, John, Sr., was born in the North of Ireland, removing thence to Scotland and coming from there to America. His first and only position in this country was with the Crane Iron Company, of Catasauqua, with whom he remained until his death, having for many years been boss founder.

The father of our subject was educated in Mt. Holly, N. J., after which he accepted a position as engineer in the Crane works, where he was employed at the time of his decease, in 1864, when only thirty years of age. His wife, who prior to her marriage was Carrie Horn, was born in Allentown, and was a daughter of William Horn, a prominent merchant of that city. Mrs. Clark departed this life in Quincy, Pa., and was buried in Allentown.

William B., the only child of his parents, was educated in the schools of Allentown and Catasauqua, and afterwards began to work in the boiler shops of Daniel Milton. Later, however, he began traveling on the road in the interest of a drug house, which occupation he carried on for three years. Next we find him engaged in the patent-milk business, in which he was very successful, and he followed that line of work until the man with whom he had a contract to furnish him the milk failed to perform his part of the bargain.

December 12, 1888, Mr. Clark, together with a Mr. Rober, embarked in the livery business, the partnership existing until February of the following year, when Mr. Rober sold his interest to another party. June 8, 1889, Mr. Clark became sole proprietor of the livery, which he has since carried on alone. He built his present barn, 45x95 feet in dimensions, and situated on Second Street. He keeps constantly on hand from six to ten teams, has eight single rigs, besides numerous cabs, carriages, coupes, etc. The livery is the oldest in the city, having been established some time in the ‘40s, but has changed hands several times. In his stable Mr. Clark has a bay stallion, “Cecil,” sired by “St. Ormand,” whose record is 2:29 1/4. It is two years old and is one of the finest animals in the city.

The lady whom our subject married in 1888 was Miss Annie V., daughter of William T. Snyder, an old settler in this locality, and at present engaged with McKee, Fuller & Co. They are the parents of a daughter, Carrie. Socially Mr. Clark is prominent in the Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to the Phoenix Fire Company, and furnishes all the horses when the company is called in case of fires. In politics he is a Republican, and is one of the most enterprising and substantial residents of the city.