NJHUNTER-L Archives

From: Lorretta Sinclair <>
Subject: [NJHUNTER] CLARK/RAMSEY
Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 11:59:52 -0500

I have this biographical sketch in my notes. Thought I'd pass it on in
case someone finds a connection. I have many CLARK's of Hunterdon County,
NJ, beginning with Jeremiah Clark b 1760 d 1845 md Margaret Ritchey of
Bucks Co., Pa. Their ch: William, Richard, Enos, John, Josiah and Margaret
md John Pyatt. All the children lived in Hunterdon County. Jeremiah and
Margaret Clark bought a 175 acre farm in Hunterdon Co in 1796, possibly had
a brother Thomas Clark who md sister of Margaret, Ann Mary Ritchey in Bucks
Co., Pa.

Samuel Clark. In perusing the history of this sterling old citizen of New
Germantown, Hunterdon Co, the most casual reader finds much of interest,
and his numerous friends here and elsewhere will be thoroughly pleased to
have the privilege of tracing the story of his life. Indeed, his life very
nearly spans this century, and he has been a witness of much of the
marvelous growth and development of the United States. Having lived in the
state of New Jersey, he is practically one of her sons, though he is a
native of a sister state.
Abel Clark, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, and was a
youth of a dozen years or more at the time of the Revolutionary war. He
was about sixteen, and with some other lads of about his age was engaged in
herding some cattle near the shores of the ocean, when a British gunboat
landed some soldiers and captured the boys, as well as the cattle, taking
them on board the ship. The men of the home colony were, with few
exceptions, away fighting the battles of their country, and thus the boys
were an easy prey to the enemy. Young Clark was conveyed to New York,
where he was imprisoned six months, or until General Washington was in Long
Island, and secured the lads freedom by exchanging a British soldier for
him. Afterwards Abel Clark participated in several skirmishes, and when
the war had come to a happy termination he returned home to Old Milford.
There he married Lois Smith, and six sons and a daughter were born to them;
of these our subject is the only survivor.

The birth of Samuel Clark occurred in the vicinity of Old Milford, Conn.,
April 1, 1810. From the time he was twelve years until eighteen he
attended private schools during the winter season, thereby gaining his
education. When he was sixteen he went to Great Falls., N.H., to learn the
mason's trade. The great man of his home neighborhood, hearing that he was
going, gave him $5 to take with him, a wonderful sum to a lad in that early
day. While working as an apprentice, having bound himself for a term of
four years, he was employed in different places in New Hampshire and New
York receiving only $3 a month, and this amount he had to turn over to
William Winship, the man to whom he had bound himself. When his time was
up he turned his attention to carpentering during the winter, making $11.50
a month. In the following spring he went to Geneva; N.Y., and remained
there three years, doing mason work. He then started out as a salesman for
Holt and Chidsey, of Geneva, which firm later removed to Easton, Pa. The
young man stayed in the employ of that company about seven years, and with
them came westward to Easton, driving a team through New York and this far.

In 1836 he settled in Lebanon, NJ., where he established himself in
business, and conducted a store successfuly for twelve yers. He then sold
but, investing the sum realized in a hotel and small farm. The hotel he
carried on successfully for twenty-four years, then rented it until 1896,
when he sold out his interested in the same, and has since lived retired
from business. He was a pioneer in the fruit or peach culture, planting
the first orchard in this locality. He has occupied about every office in
the township, discharging the duties of each post with fidelity and to the
entire satisfaction of all concerned. Formerly a Henry Clay Whig, he later
became a Democrat, but is liberal in his views. He was once nominated for
the assembly and for sheriff and has been a freeholder of Tewksbury
Township. Though he has been so often before the public in these different
capacities, he whas been more actibve in the promotion of the political
interesets of friends than he has his own. During the Civil war he ewas
tpast the age of service, but his ardent patriotism was not satisfied until
he had thoroughly manifested his willingness to be actively represented,
and, after doing all in his power to aid the Union cause, he furnished two
men for the ranks, to go in his stead. Many yeasrs ago he helped to
establish a Masonic lodge in this locality, this being Stewart Lodge No
34., F.&A.M., formerly of Peapack, but later removed to White House and
then to Clinton. Mr. Clark is a past master of this lodge.

October 29, 1836, the marriage ofSamuel Clark and Sarah, daughter of James
Ramsey, of Lebanon, was solemnized. The Ramseys are old and influential
people in these parts, and some of them are represented in this volume. O
the seven children born to our subject and wife four are living, viz.:
Alvah, a prominent attorney of Somerville, NJ., and at present a member of
the legislature; George, a farmer in the neighborhood ofLebanon; John, a
stock dealer in Califon; and Charles, an attorney in the city of Honolulu,
Hawaii. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are exceptionally well preserved, both bing in
complete possession of their faculties, physically and mentally. They
celebrated their golden anniversary in 1886, and, are consequently now in
the sixty-third year of thier happy married life, a record that is rarely
surpassed. One of their grandschildren, George Martin, Jr., is in business
in New York City, and makes his home with his grandparents. He is at this
time a member of the New Jersey legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are both
members of theDutch Reformed church of Lebanon, one of the oldest
congregations in this county. They enjoy the love and high regarcd of all
who know them, and their well-wishers are legion.

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• [NJHUNTER] CLARK/RAMSEY by Lorretta Sinclair <>