CHAPTER FIVE: THE CLARK FAMILY as it relates to us.

The earliest Clark appearing in the USA of whom we have record is Peter Clark (1819-83), the paternal grandfather of Dorothy Clark. His name appears in the 1846-47 Brooklyn City Directory BCD – (a sort of 19th century yellow pages) viz. “Clark, Peter - milkman - Kent Ave near Myrtle.” Probably he was involved in moving fresh milk from the terminal of the newly constructed LI RR to the Brooklyn waterfront for trans-shipment via the East River to the market in teeming Manhattan. This was a tough, labor intensive trade where strong backed, newly arrived Irishmen, knowledgeable with horses and wagons could prosper. Brooklyn history of the period treats briefly of this “industry.” The Eire RR brought 3,000,000 quarts of milk into NYC in 1842. Somehow Peter prospers and continues his listings in the BCD until at least 1874. In 1849, he is described as a grocer. In 1856-57 his residence and business is listed at Kent Ave near Flushing Ave. By 1870 he is listed in the coal business and by 1874 his son, Peter Clark Jr. is listed as clerk at 359 Kent Ave. To view photos of Clark family: http://picasaweb.google.com/padrepedro75/ClarkFamilyHousehold887SterlingPlBrooklyn#
In all available census records, Peter is always listed as born in Ireland. We have no solid information about exactly where in Ireland he was born nor the names of his parents nor reliable information about siblings, except for his older unmarried brother Philip (1816-86) who lived in the Clark household at 359 Kent Avenue as a border and was buried alongside Peter in the Clark plot Holy Cross Cemetery Brooklyn. There is a information about a Patrick Clark who is somehow related to Peter, perhaps a brother. (A grand-daughter of Patrick, Teresa “Tessie” Salmon (1876-1968) connects with the descendents of Peter in the 1920’s; for some years she was secretary to Harry Cochrane Esq. who was married to Mary T. Clark (1867-1937), a daughter of Peter Clark.)

When Peter was about 26 years of age he married Catherine Bradley (1826-93), also Irish born. She was called “Kate” by family members. According to her death certificate Catherine was 17 years of age when she arrived in USA. Catherine’s family Bible gives the wedding date August 15,1845 but supplies no details as to where the wedding occurred nor does it provide information on the Bradley family. Over a period of 20 years eight children were born of this marriage. Only three of their children left descendents: viz, Peter J. (1857-1930), Philip D. (1859-1935) & Mary T. (Cochrane) (1867-1937). As the years passed, Peter continued to prosper eventually becoming a board member of the Eastern Savings Bank, founded in 1860 by his close friend Samuel C Barnes. As early as 1842 in the BCD there is a listing for Samuel C. Barnes (1812-73), a public school teacher, who by 1862 while living on Kent Avenue becomes a school principal. By 1860 Samuel Barnes founds the East Brooklyn Savings Bank and is listed as its treasurer in 1869. Samuel is one of the two executors of the Will of Peter Clark. Both Peter & Samuel were Irish born although they were of different religions: Peter, Roman Catholic and Samuel, a Presbyterian and lodge member. My hunch is that somehow they became close friends, based on mutual respect. Samuel saw the need in growing Brooklyn of a trustworthy Savings Bank to help the many struggling families he came to know as a school master. Perhaps Peter Clark was his bridge into the Catholic Irish community. Peter Clark’s commercial success made him a potential investor in the new bank. Eventually Peter Clark became involved in the coal business and for a time Clark & Co. provided coal for public schools in Brooklyn, a curious coincidence. Did Sam Barnes somehow broker that connection?
On February 2, 1883, Peter Clark, now age 64, a relatively prosperous Irish immigrant, dies and after a Solemn Requiem Mass at his parish, St. Patrick’s Church Kent Avenue, is buried in a large new plot at Holy Cross Cemetery. A prominent and costly monument (removed in 1940) marked the grave. His will, dated 5/13/70, appointed his friend Samuel C Barnes and his older unmarried brother, Philip Clark as executors. Sadly by 1883, Samuel had been dead 10 years and Philip died 3 years after Peter. Family tradition says that the “fortune was soon gone.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Feb. 7, 1883 page 4,) reads: “Death of Mr. Peter Clark. The funeral of Mr. Peter Clark, of No. 359 Kent Avenue, one of the oldest residents of the Seventh Ward, will take place tomorrow morning from St. Patrick’s R.C. Church on Kent Avenue. Deceased was 64 years of age, nearly fifty of which were passed in this city. At one time he was one of the largest milk dealers on Long Island and was extensively engaged in the coal business. He acquired a fortune and was a large tax payer. Deceased was a lifelong Democrat, but never sought or held office. He was respected, and bestowed much on charitable institutions. He leaves a wife and five children.” (Presumably means 5 children still living at home since 7 children survived infancy.)
Peter’s widow, Catherine Bradley remained in the Kent Avenue house, cared for by her unmarried daughter Margaret “Maggie”, until her death in 1893. After similar funeral arrangements at St. Patrick’s she was interred alongside her husband. At some point later in life an oil painting (somewhat damaged) was painted of Catherine; this portrait survives together with her family Bible with some notations presumably in her hand. #359 Kent Avenue today (2008) is the site of a newly build condo almost under the Williamsburg bridge!
St. Patrick’s Church (Clark family parish) began in 1843 as the number of Catholics living in the Wallabout section of Brooklyn grew rapidly. An unused Methodist Church building on Kent Avenue near Myrtle Avenue was initially purchased as a place of worship but by 1856, a new larger church was built. The older structure was then converted into a parish school eventually under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy. We have no information about the early schooling of the Clark children but it is quite probable that some of them attended the parish school. Following the Civil War the Wallabout market was a big night time produce market and the area along Kent Avenue was the center of shipbuilding activities. During the Civil War Brooklyn was listed after Manhattan and Chicago as Lincoln’s third largest city. When Peter Clark arrived in Brooklyn about age 14 years, it was just beginning its rapid growth from a quiet area of farming villages into part of a great metropolis. It was a good time to be in the building supplies business!

Our interest now turns to the descendents of Peter Clark, particularly his son Peter John Clark (1857-1930), the father of Dorothy Clark O’Donnell. When Peter was of school age the Vincentian Fathers established a parish and school (St. John Baptist) on Myrtle Avenue about 1.5 miles from the Clark household. I suspect that Peter passed some of his early school years there. In any event by 1872, the 15 year old adolescent listed as living at 359 Kent Avenue Brooklyn, is now at a boarding school in Niagara, NY conducted by the Vincentian Fathers. School records indicate that he was studying Latin (Caesar & Cicero) & Greek, Algebra. (Xerox copies from Niagara University resident student’s account book records his expenses: watch repairs, violin lessons, tailor repairs, dentist, shoe maker etc.) St. John’s School on Myrtle Ave would one day grow into St. John’s University. The school in Niagara, NY would one day become Niagara University. Clearly Peter Clark Sr. had the foresight and financial means to provide for one of his son’s future. Available school records at Niagara only cover the year 1872-73. By 1874 the BCD lists Peter Clark Jr. 359 Kent Avenue as a clerk, probably for his father. In 1883 Peter Clark dies and his son Peter Jr. is now 26 years of age and presumably involved in some aspects of the Clark businesses. In 1884 according to the BCD, Peter is in the rubber business and his brother Matthew in the plumbing supply business. By 1887 the brothers are in the building supply business. These enterprises doubtless spring from the terms of the will; this provides funds for those heirs who are starting up businesses.
There is a long gap about which we know nothing except that in 1899, Peter is reported to have financial interest in a lucky horse named Oliver Mac. The family legend is that the horse won its big race in the afternoon and at 6 PM Peter now age 42 married Genevieve Fortune. It is a matter of record that the wedding took place on June 15, 1899 at 6 PM at O L of Victory Church in Brooklyn. This imposing stone structure, located in the rapidly growing Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn will be the site of numerous Clark religious celebrations. The children of the immigrants were moving on. The church, which still exists, is worth a visit. Check for photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/padrepedro75/PhilipDowlingClarkFamilyFotos#

Follow up to be researched: Descendents of Patrick Clark (somehow related to Peter Clark I). “ Tessie” Teresa Salmon came to wedding of Tom-Dot O'D; She was secretary to Harry Cochrane (Dot’s uncle by marriage); Tessie lived in NJ where the Clark-Salmon branch lived. I had contact with a lawyer descendent of this branch when he lived in Belleville, NJ. Working this branch MIGHT provide leads as to where in Ireland Patrick Clark came from!