Hon. Spencer CLARK, his grandfather, was an early settler in Lunenburg and purchased and cleared the famous meadow farm of about 600 acres extending nearly three miles along the Connecticut river, always known as the CLARK farm. John S. and George CLARK resided on this large estate and jointly conducted it prior to the Civil war. 

      John S. CLARK enlisted in the Eighth Vermont regiment; on the organization of his company was chosen captain and proceeded to Louisiana with the BUTLER expedition, and died in the hospital in March, 1863. 

      Captain J. S. CLARK was a stanch and true man, a noble type of the Vermont volunteer, who resigned the pleasures and ambitions of home to maintain the Union. 

      The widow of Captain CLARK left the farm soon after her husband left for the seat of war, and John C. resided in Detroit, Michigan, from July, 1864, to November, 1869, where he completed his education in the city and private schools. 

      He soon after came to St. Johnsbury and took a position in the First National bank in 1870, where he remained three and a half years, when he became cashier of the Chelsea (Vermont) National bank, holding that position ten years. In 1883 he returned to St. Johnsbury as assistant cashier of the First Nationa1 Bank and in January, 1886, became cashier. 

      In 1893 he was appointed treasurer of E. & T. FAIRBANKS & Co. a position which he still fills. In May, 1895, soon after the death of Colonel Franklin FAIRBANKS, Mr. CLARK was elected a director of the company as his successor and was appointed its secretary. 

      He is secretary and treasurer of the St. Johnsbury Electric company and a director of the First National bank. In 1894 he was elected to the legislature from St. Johnsbury, where he served on the committee on ways and means, on banks, and other important committees. In 1896 he was appointed on the staff of Governor GROUT with the rank of colonel. Colonel CLARK is a member of Passumpsic lodge, No.27, F. & A. M., and the Mizpah Lodge of Perfection. He married in 1886 Miss Lida E. PUFFER of Chelsea, Vermont. Their pleasant home on Summer street is cheered by the presence of four children, Robert Puffer CLARK, who is employed in the Fairbanks office, Margaret Robinson, Arthur Dana, and Dorothea CLARK. 
 
 
 

Source:  Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company, 1904, page 69-71.

Prepared by Tom Dunn December 2004