My Genealogy Hound

EDWIN COOK CLARK, Jr., superintendent of the Northampton Street Railway Company and a highly respected citizen of Northampton, was born in Southampton in 1856, son of Captain Edwin Cook and Emily L. (Hines) Clark, the former of whom is a native of Northampton.

Allen Clark, the grandfather of Edwin Cook Clark, Jr., who was born in 1787, was likewise a native and lifelong resident of Northampton. During the active period of his life he was successfully engaged in agriculture on his farm, which was located in the section through which Harrison Avenue now runs. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty-two years. He married Miss Sophia Cook, and their union was blessed by the birth of four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Two are now living, namely: Captain Edwin Cook Clark, and his sister, Pamelia, widow of Heman Smith, who resides in Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Clark died seventy-four years of age.

Captain Edwin Cook Clark, who has now retired from active business life, is well known in Northampton and vicinity. He assisted his father in carrying on the farm. After four or five years spent in California and in New York City, he helped in establishing the firm of E. C. Clark & Co., in which for several years he successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He was also superintendent of the Street Railway Company, in which capacity he rendered most acceptable service from 1877 up to 1888, when he was succeeded by his son. His wife, Emily L. (Hines) Clark, a native of Becket, Mass., has borne him two sons and two daughters: Ida Beebe, wife of Joseph Carhart, President of the State Normal School of St. Cloud, Minn.; Edwin C., Jr.; Mary, who married E. V. Mitchell, a grain merchant of Hartford, Conn.; and William Clark, a coal dealer in Lansingburg, N.Y.

Edwin C. Clark, Jr., received his early education in the public schools of Northampton, and completed his studies at the Mount Pleasant Private School of Amherst. He then engaged in the livery business with his father until 1882, when he secured a position as conductor on the street railway. Since then he has been in the employ of that company in different capacities, from trackman up to his present position as superintendent, which he has filled since 1888. In this office he has the supervision of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, and the charge of seventeen miles of street tracks.

On December 5, 1877, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mona Vogel, of Northampton, a daughter of John Vogel. They had three children, as follows: Ida Mary, who died in 1887, eight years of age; Annette Isabel, aged fourteen years, who is attending school; and Edwin Cook Clark, a lad of six years. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is esteemed for his business ability and manly characteristics.