History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 447

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. CLARK. Mr. Charles A. CLARK, manager of the Reedsburg Canning Company, was born on what is now the County Farm, Jan. 21, 1866, son of James B. and Clarinda (CARVER) CLARK. His paternal grandfather, Daniel CLARK, was a native of the Empire State, and at an early date came to Walworth County where he remained until 1849, when he came to Sauk County, settling on a farm on Narrows Prairie. James P. CLARK was born in Herkimer County, N.Y., and was in the California Gold Rush of 1849, after which he returned and located also on a farm on the Prairie. In 1871 he sold his farm to Sauk County for a Poor Farm and Asylum, and moved to Reedsburg, where he afterward resided. He purchased a farm west of the river, and erected a brick house where the U. B. church now stands. James B. CLARK held many offices in the early history of the town of Reedsburg and was its chairman for many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Clarinda B. CARVER, was a daughter of Daniel and Amanda (SKIDMORE) CARVER, also early settlers of Reedsburg, the story of whose coming is given elsewhere. Amanda SKIDMORE was a sister of Mrs. Eber (Harriett SKIDMORE) BENEDICT, and a representative of several early American families. Mr. and Mrs. James CLARK were the parents of four sons, Frank and Irving, deceased, Albert H., of Washington, D. C., and Charles A., our subject.

Moving to Reedsburg with his parents in 1872, Mr. CLARK is one of the older residents of the city, and was a pioneer in the electrical business in Reedsburg. Always an active businessman, he served on the County Board for nineteen years, for nine years chairman of that board. He has been a member of the City Council and the Library Board, and during the World War was appointed by Governor Phillip, Federal Appeal Agent and was chairman of the County Council of Defense.

On December 14, 1892 he was united in marriage to Martha THORNTON, daughter of John and Hannah (HARRISON) THORNTON, of Ironton. Her paternal grandfather, Rueben THORNTON, was a native of England, and came to America in 1849, locating on a farm in the then town of Marshall (Ironton). His son John was a native also of England and came with the family to America and in 1856, married Hannah HARRISON, daughter of George and Martha HARRISON. George HARRISON was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, March 2, 1792, and died Feb. 25, 1867; and Martha, his wife, was born in the same place, May 25, 1798, and died Sept. 30, 1869. In 1847 the George HARRISON family immigrated from England, the male members of the family and Hannah coming to a track of wild land in the town of LaValle, while the mother and daughters procured employment in the textile mills of Massachusetts. Later, the mother came west and Hannah went east to work in the mills with her sisters. After spending some time in these mills the three sisters came west to live. Unable to come any farther than Madison by rail, one of them was left in charge of their baggage while the other two, Hannah and Martha (Mrs. Charles PEARSON), set out on foot, and walked the entire distance, arriving at LaValle, a little after midnight on the second day, having spent one night without shelter. John and Hannah (HARRISON) THORNTON were the parents of five children: Jane and Edward, who died in infancy, Rachel (Mrs. John CONKLIN) who was killed in an auto accident in 1923, Harry THORNTON of LaValle, and Martha (Mrs. CLARK).

Mr. and Mrs. CLARK were the parents of two children, James and Lucille; James married Katherine KLEB, and has a daughter of Emma Lou, and resides in Edgerton, Wis., where he holds a responsible position with the Highway Trailer Company. Lucille married Richard BUTLER, who is a teacher in the Manitowoc High School. They reside in that city and have one child, Charles William. In 1924 Mr. CLARK took over the managership of the Reedsburg Canning Company, and at the present time is its President and manager. Mrs. CLARK has ably performed the secretarial duties of the office.

Submitted by Carol