Sperry Park Genealogy - Person Sheet
Sperry Park Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Alanson Clark 
Birth25 Dec 1810, Seymour, CT
Death15 Jan 1879
FatherJonathan Clark (1783-1848)
MotherAmelia Osborn (1787-1885)
Spouses
Notes for William Alanson Clark
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pg. 385
“WILLIAM A. CLARK was born in Seymour,
Dec. 25, 1810, and died Jan. 15, 1879. He was en-
dowed with inventive genius of a high order, and his
justlv celebrated expansive bit, which he invented
and manufactured is one of the most valuable inven-
tions in the tool line that has ever been perfected in
this country. His large factory in W estville, which
was built in 1S70, was a model of its kind. He
conducted this establishment until his death, turning
out small hardware, bits, hollow augers, etc. It is
also claimed that Mr. Clark invented friction match-
es, previous to 1S35, ^"d before his location in West-
ville he manufactured them in Woodbridge, finally
turning that business over to his son, Frank E. He
[employed?] about fifteen hands in the factory, and
seventy-five hands in niakinc; the boxes, mostly
women and children in their own homes, and turned
out twenty thousand gro-s per year, using sixty
thousand feet of lumber. The work was done
niostlv by hand. However, ^Ir. Clark's skill was
not confined wholly to invention and manufacturing.
lie was an up-to-date farmer, his skill in husbandry
being unsurpassed in his locality. ^
On June 10, 1841, Mr. Clark married Emily
Dibble, a native of Woodbridge, and daughter of
John Dibble, who was born in Woodbridge. where
he followed farming all his life. He married Bet-
sey Hine, who was born in Woodbridge, a daughter
of Moses Hine and granddaughter of Stephen Hine.
Philo F. Dibble, the father of John Dibble, was born
in Woodbridge, and his father, John Dibble, who
graduated from Yale, came from Danbury, Conn.
After their marriage William A. and Emily (Dib-
ble) Clark settled in the town of Woodbridge,
they were the parents of four children : Will-
iam Eugene, Theodore Dibble, Frank Emerson
and Jessie A. (Mrs. Xewton). William Eugene
died when he was twenty-six years old ; Theodore
Dibble died at the age of thirty-one years ; Frank
E. lives in California. Mrs. Clark, the mother, is
still living. Jonathan Clark, the father of William
A., was a farmer in Woodbridge. He married
Amelia Osborn, and had two sons, Elizur and Will-
iam A. George Clark, the father of Jonathan, was
the fifth in descent from George Clark, the settler,
who located in Milford in 1639.”
--Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families .. (Volume 1, pt.1), page 95.
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/chicago-beers-jh--co/commemorative-biographical-record-of-new-haven-county-connecticut-containing-b-ree-528/page-95-commemorative-biographical-record-of-new-haven-county-connecticut-containing-b-ree-528.shtml
pg. 385
“WILLIAM A. CLARK was born in Seymour,
Dec. 25, 1810, and died Jan. 15, 1879. He was en-
dowed with inventive genius of a high order, and his
justlv celebrated expansive bit, which he invented
and manufactured is one of the most valuable inven-
tions in the tool line that has ever been perfected in
this country. His large factory in W estville, which
was built in 1S70, was a model of its kind. He
conducted this establishment until his death, turning
out small hardware, bits, hollow augers, etc. It is
also claimed that Mr. Clark invented friction match-
es, previous to 1S35, ^"d before his location in West-
ville he manufactured them in Woodbridge, finally
turning that business over to his son, Frank E. He
[employed?] about fifteen hands in the factory, and
seventy-five hands in niakinc; the boxes, mostly
women and children in their own homes, and turned
out twenty thousand gro-s per year, using sixty
thousand feet of lumber. The work was done
niostlv by hand. However, ^Ir. Clark's skill was
not confined wholly to invention and manufacturing.
lie was an up-to-date farmer, his skill in husbandry
being unsurpassed in his locality. ^
On June 10, 1841, Mr. Clark married Emily
Dibble, a native of Woodbridge, and daughter of
John Dibble, who was born in Woodbridge. where
he followed farming all his life. He married Bet-
sey Hine, who was born in Woodbridge, a daughter
of Moses Hine and granddaughter of Stephen Hine.
Philo F. Dibble, the father of John Dibble, was born
in Woodbridge, and his father, John Dibble, who
graduated from Yale, came from Danbury, Conn.
After their marriage William A. and Emily (Dib-
ble) Clark settled in the town of Woodbridge,
they were the parents of four children : Will-
iam Eugene, Theodore Dibble, Frank Emerson
and Jessie A. (Mrs. Xewton). William Eugene
died when he was twenty-six years old ; Theodore
Dibble died at the age of thirty-one years ; Frank
E. lives in California. Mrs. Clark, the mother, is
still living. Jonathan Clark, the father of William
A., was a farmer in Woodbridge. He married
Amelia Osborn, and had two sons, Elizur and Will-
iam A. George Clark, the father of Jonathan, was
the fifth in descent from George Clark, the settler,
who located in Milford in 1639.”
--Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families .. (Volume 1, pt.1), page 95.
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/chicago-beers-jh--co/commemorative-biographical-record-of-new-haven-county-connecticut-containing-b-ree-528/page-95-commemorative-biographical-record-of-new-haven-county-connecticut-containing-b-ree-528.shtml