The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-06-18
HENRY JAMES CLARK.
Prominent Business Man and Respected
Citizen Passes Away.

In the death of Henry James
Clark Bloomsbury loses one OF her
most prominent business men, and
most highly respected citizens.
The end came on Sunday night
at 10. 20 o'clock, after only few
days illness with cold. He was
down stairs on Friday, though
he was quite feeble, and after retir-
ing that night he was not able to
leave his bed again. He twice ex-
pressed the belief that this was his
last illness. His death was quite
unexpected, and but few knew that
he was i'll.
Mr.. Clark had been engaged in
the mercantile business in this
town for about forty years. He was
a man of strict integrity, and en-
loved the confidence and esteem of
all who knew him. He was for
many years a director of the
Bloomsbury Water Company, and
the Bloomsbury National Bank,
and treasurer of the Bloomsbury
State Normal School.
Mr.. Clark was member of the
Episcopal church, and was always
liberal supporter of St. Pauls.
His contributions for improvements
and additions were among the larg-
est, as we'll as his regular pledges
for the support of the parish. He
was a 32nd degree Mason.
Mr.. Clark was born in Catawissa,
on November d, 1929 His boy
hood was spent there, and after
learning the timers trade he went
to Pottsville to live. Later on he
came to Bloomsbury and clerked
for Charles Doebler in the Ex'
change Hotel. About 1851 he
went to Muncy to live, having pre-
viously been married to Miss Sarah
Hagenbuch. They resided in
Mupcy until 1864, when they re-
turned to Catawissa and Mr.. Clark
bought the Susquehanna House.
About a year later he sold out,
and came to Bloomsbury and pur-
chased the Exchange Hotel proper
ty which he conducted until it
burned down in 1869. In 1870 he
engaged in the store business alone
and after two or three years he
took in John Wolf as a partner
In 1875 he purchased Mr.. VOLTS
interest and took in his son Bruce
as a partner, and this firm existed
up to the time of Mr.. Clark's S
death their store being one OF the
finest in this section.
Mrs. Clark died March I6, 1890.
The surviving members OF his
family are his son, H. Bruce, and
Miss Sadie Van Tassel, his niece,
who has resided with him for some
years past.
The funeral was held on We'd
nesday at one O clock at the house,
Rev. ]. w. Diggles, rector of ST.
Paul's church officiating A large
number of members of Washington
Lodge. f. and A. M. attended in
a body. The pall-bearers were A,
Il. Schoch, Paul E. Writ, Col. J !
G. Freeze, Geo, +. Elwell, w. II.
Moore, c. B. Robbins, J. Russel
Smith and H. M. Lovelace, the
two latter representing Muncy
Lodge No. 2oe, of which Mr.. Clark
was the last living charter member
At the grave, after the services
of the Episcopal Church, the Ma
sonic burial ceremony was conduct
ed, those taking part therein being
Fl. A. McKillip Esq, Rev. +. X.
Hickman, and Rev. J. w, Diggles'
Some beautiful selections were
sung by Caldwell Consistory Quar-
tette, Messrs. Colley, Ent, Yost and
Yetter, at the house and cemetery.
And so closed the last chapter
in the life of a man who was SELF
made, who was honest and upright,
energetic and enterprising, genial,
generous, and kind-hearted, a good
citizen, and an esteemed friend.
Peace to his ashes!