Abraham Clark
by Carol Baize
Abraham Clark was a coal dealer in Osnaburg. He was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1814, son of Jacob and Susanna (Bowman) Clark. He moved to Osnaburg Twp. with his parents at the early age of two years, where he was raised upon the farm, clearing up the forests and assisting at the heavy labor of a new county.
In 1845 he began for himself and purchased his present homestead, the Kuntz farm, which he has improved in buildings, until it is one of the attractive rural residences of Osnaburg Twp. Mr. Clark continued working the coal bank, already opened by his predecessor, supplying the various manufacturing establishments located at Canton, Akron, Alliance, Fort Wayne, and other points at a distance. From 1860 to 1878 Mr. Clark was the principal coal dealer of Osnaburg Twp., ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 bushels per annum. One secret of his success was he never leased his mines to other parties, but was a direct manager and overseer of his own business. His coal land is a tillable farm of 144 acres, lying at the western edge of Osnaburg village.
In addition to being an excellent grain farm, Mr. Clark has given it a reputation and a name as a fine fruit hill with its natural complement, an extensive apiary.
In 1835 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Catherine Reatlinger of Osnaburg. The fruit of this wedlock is four children – three boys and one girl. The boys are all worked on the farm. Mrs. Catharine Clark died 1865. Mr. Clark was remarried to Mrs. Mary Meizer of Osnaburg. Abraham died January 7, 1895.
