Thomas Clark

Thomas Clark, a pioneer citizen of the Ojai Valley, was born in Ireland, November 14, 1842. His parents, Bernard and Annie (McCarron) Clark, were also natives of Ireland. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native country, and, in 1855, came with his parents to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where his father purchased a farm. mr. Clar, Sr., was a faithful member of the Catholic Church all his life, and died in 1865. Mr. Clark is one of a family of three children, all now in California, and his sister, Mrs. Thomas Thompson, lives on an adjoining farm. After working for some time on a steamboat, mr. Clark next engaged in the saw-mill business, and sawed lumber to aid in keeping the rebels out of New Orleans. In 1861 he returned to Wisconsin and there met the lady who afterwards became his wife and has been a faithful helpmate ot him thus far on life's journey. She is also a native of Ireland, and of the same town in which Mr. Clark was born, her maiden name having been Annie Murphy. She was a daughter of Hugh Murphy, who was a native of Ireland, a devout Catholic all his life, and who lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years. After his marriage, Mr. Clark worked a year in Chicago and then, in 1864, came to Sonoma County, California, where he rented a farm. In 1868 he bought 150 acres of land in the upper Ojai Valley, lived on it for a year, and then moved upon his present ranch of 180 acres. Here he has expended much labor in improving the land, clearing off the brush and stones and "making the wilderness to bloom like the rose." He has erected a comfortable home and has one of the finest ranches in the valley, and his success is due to his own industry and enterprise. On this ranch is plenty of fruit, which was planted for home use, but they now have more than is needed for that purpose. Mr. Clark has a splendid vineyard and makes his own wine, a superb article, and has it in his cellar for years, growing better as it gets age. In addition to cultivating his own land, he rents other lands and raises large quantities of choice wheat. Mr. Clark is giving some attention to the raising of Morgan horses, Poland-China and Berkshire hogs and Jersey cattle. They also raise a great many fine chickens. mrs. Clark is a lady of refinement and takes much pleasure in the cultivation of flowers, which are found in profusion around her home, and in bloom all hte year. The beautiful pictures and many ornaments which are found in her cozy parlor also go to show her good taste.

    One day a minister called to see Mr. Clark while he was at work in his vineyard, and, after following him around a while, he said: "Mr. Clark, I must congratulate you. The Lord has placed you in a fine vineyard." "Yes," said Mr. Clark, "but the Lord had nothing but brush and stones here when I came here." When they first settled in the valley, there were only three families in it - the families of Messrs. Ayers, Lucos and Proctor. The grizzly bears were plenty and quite familiar. Mrs. Clark says they would lift a panel of fence and set it to one side and pass through easier than a man could. They were thinned out and gotten rid of by poisoning. During eight years of his residence here, Mr. Clark owned and ran the Ventura grist mill, in company with Mr. McGuire.

     The subject of this sketch belongs to the Democratic party and is often a delegate in their county conventions. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

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