1860's William Clark CDV Photo, Scotland to Amesbury MA to Elmira NY

#653

On reverse: "William Clark" is handwritten in pencil. Photo type: Original Vintage Victorian CDV or Carte de Visite Photograph. Date: circa 1860s. Photographer: James S. Sanderson, Galashiels. Scotland.

This photograph was taken in Scotland. There is a newspaper obituary for Mr. Clark, affixed to the back of this photo from an Amesbury, Massachusetts newspaper.
It reads: "A Former Resident is Dead: The Elmira N.Y. Free Press under date of January 29 contains a notice of the death of William Clark, agent of the woolen mills in that city where he had resided for 11 years and had become one of the city's best known citizens. Mr. Clark was born in Scotland in 1822; when 36 he came to Amesbury and was superintendent of the Amesbury Woollen Mills. He interested himself in town matters; was an able debater in the Philomathian Association, and a consistent member of the Congregational Church. He left here about 25 years ago, but has many friends in this town. Besides a wife, Mr. Clark leaves four children, T.M. Clark, of Dover, NH; Isabella, Mary and J.W.S. Clark of Elmira."

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
William Clark in the 1870 US Federal Census
Age in 1870: 44
Birth Year: abt 1826
Birthplace: Scotland
Home in 1870: Elmira Ward 3, Chemung County, New York
Household Members: Name Age
William Clark 44 head
Isabella Clark 41 wife
William Clark 18 son
John Clark 15 son
Isabella Clark 13 daughter
James Clark 11 son
George Clark 9 son
Jesse Clark 4 son
Ada Clark 2/12 daughter

Fibre & Fabric: A Record of American Textile Industries in the Cotton and Woolen Trade, Volume 12: 1890 - Textile fabrics: "DEATH OF WILLIAM CLARK: William Clark, who has for many years so ably fulfilled the duties of agent of the Elmira woolen mills, passed away peacefully at his late residence, No. 450 Sullivan street, on Jan. 29th at seven o'clock in the morning, surrounded by his immediate family. Mr. Clark had been in ill health for some time, owing to congestion of the lungs, which developed into pneumonia last Monday, and of which death resulted. Mr. Clark went to Europe during last May for the benefit of his health, and on his return to this country in August he caught a severe cold, and since that time he has been constantly failing, but not until this week had his condition been considered alarming. The deceased leaves a devoted wife and four children, namely: Thomas M. Clark of Dover, N.H.; Misses Isabelle and Mary Clark, who reside at the family residence, and J.W.S. Clark, superintendent of the woolen mills, and who has attended to his father's duties during his illness. It is unnecessary to state that a deep gloom has been cast over the household by his demise. The deceased was born at Jedburgh, Scotland in 1822, and was in his sixty-ninth year. He followed the woolen industry till he came to this country, when he settled down at Amesbury, Massachusetts, and engaged himself as the overseer of a thriving similiar industry. He stayed there several years, when he located at Little Falls, where he remained for thirty years, holding the responsible position of superintendent of the Mohawk mills, well known throughout the entire country. In 1871 he came to this city, and has for the last eleven years been connected with the Elmira woolen mills as their agent, and which position he has most successfully filled. His entire life was that of an honorable and strictly disciplined business man, and in his death our city loses an upright and conscientious citizen. —Elmira Evening Star Newspaper."

A wonderful early photo of William Clark as a young man, taken in his native Scotland. Note: Dover, New Hampshire, is in Strafford County. Elmira, New York, is in Chemung County. Amesbury, Massachusetts is in Essex County MA. This photo was found in Genesee County NY.  It is a beautiful old piece, with wonderfully clear Clark family genealogy info attached.

Size: 2.5 x 4 inches
      Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)