My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS SHIELDS CLARKE, the subject of this sketch, was born at Cannonsburg, Pa., Jan. 18, 1801, and passed away at his home in Oakland, Pittsburgh, Oct. 19, 1867. Thomas Clarke, his grandfather, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America in 1771, settling on a farm on Brandywine creek, near Chadsford, and about six miles from Wilmington, Del. Here he resided during the revolutionary war. At the battle of the Brandywine in 1777, which was so disastrous to the cause of American patriots, a brigade under the command of Gen. Proctor encamped on his farm, and Gen. Lafayette made his headquarters at his house for some weeks. Having joined Gen. Proctor’s command, he was made a prisoner by the British and held till after the retreat of the Americans, when he was released. Soon after the war closed he sold his farm, taking continental money in payment, much of which afterward became worthless, and is still in the possession of his descendants. A few years after the revolutionary war he removed from Delaware to Washington county, Pa., where he died, his remains being deposited in the cemetery at Chartiers Presbyterian Church, Cannonsburg, Pa. His wife, nee Martha Stuart, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, whom he married before coming to this country, preceded him to the same resting place by a few years. Before coming to Western Pennsylvania they had adhered to the Established Church of England, but joined the Presbyterian Church, under Rev. John McMillan, D. D., soon after making their home at Washington. Of their numerous children William, father of Thomas S., settled at Cannonsburg, where he engaged in mercantile business and was the “village squire.” His wife, nee Agnes Shields, was a daughter of Mathew Shields, of Chambersburg, Pa. In 1804 they removed to Beaver, Pa.

After Thomas S. Clarke had completed his education at Jefferson College (Cannonsburg), he spent a short period as clerk with his uncle Robert at Brownsville, Pa., and in 1819 went to Wheeling, Va., where he was employed in the forwarding-house of Knox & McKee, being on the great commercial highway of the olden time (the “National Pike”) for transportation to the west, which held its supremacy over Pittsburgh until the completion of the Pennsylvania state works. He was sent with a bargeload of produce to New Orleans in 1824, and sailed thence to New York, arriving in time to learn that John Quincy Adams had been elected president by Congress. In 1825 he came to Pittsburgh and opened a branch house of Knox, McKee & Co., the style of firm being McKee, Clarke & Co. Soon after the opening of the canal, in 1832, Mr. Clarke became a member of the firm of D. Leech & Co., the first to operate through freight and passenger lines on the state works. In 1834, with Capt. John Vandergrift, he put in operation the first stern-wheel steamer on the Ohio river, named the Beaver, and made daily trips between the village of that name and Pittsburgh. This line was subsequently extended to Wellsville, and a steamer bearing the name of that village was added. Mr. Clarke also became interested in a line of freight-boats to New Castle before the completion of the canal to Erie, thus reaching out for the northwest trade. In 1842, with his brother-in-law, William Thaw, he formed the firm of Clarke & Thaw, and in 1843 resumed operations on the canal, establishing the Pennsylvania & Ohio line with boats and cars on the state works. This enterprise was profitable up to the year 1855, when the Pennsylvania railroad made inroads on the business. At this period Mr. Clarke associated himself with a new firm under the old name of Leech & Co., his Pittsburgh associate being George Black and his Philadelphia associates W. F. Leech and George W. Harris. At this period the Pennsylvania railroad secured the services of this firm, with their vast transportation experience, to take charge of its western freight business to gather freight from all points in the west; also to transfer the same at Pittsburgh. Other business engagements requiring Mr. Black’s entire time and attention, at the end of nine months he retired from the firm, William Thaw becoming his successor. Prior to this connection with the Pennsylvania railroad the firm were large owners of steamboats on the western waters, among the most important being the palatial daily line of sidewheel boats between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, extending to Louisville, St. Louis and New Orleans. The books of the firm contained the names of one hundred steamers in which the firm owned a partial or total interest. Through those interests Mr. Clarke made a comfortable fortune.

While accumulating a competency, Mr. Clarke found means and time for many unostentatious acts of charity. He contributed liberally to the churches and to charitable societies, his gifts being freely offered; and when civil war swept over the land his heart and purse were at the service of his country. His kindly nature revealed itself to all with whom he came in social contact, and the duties of an active and laborious business never chilled or made indifferent his warm heart. To this rare trait were added quick perception, decision, integrity and untiring energy. On July 5, 1831, Mr. Clarke married Eliza, daughter of John Thaw, a woman whose life-companionship was an ideal one in all the relations of wife and mother. Much to his sorrow, she was called away Aug. 11, 1864. Two children survive him: Charles J., who was many years his father’s partner, and Agnes Shields, wife of Elias D. Kennedy, of Philadelphia.