McSparren, Clark

CLARK McSPARREN (deceased) was born in Erie, Penn., July 2, 1810. second son of Archibald and Margaret (McKay) McSparren. of Scotch-Irish descent. Archibald McSparren came to Erie Co., in 1802, and for years carried on his business, that of a merchant tailor in Erie. He was here during the war of 1812, and made some of the uniforms for the officers of Perry’s fleet. Our subject received his education in Erie and at the Waterford Academy, from which he graduated in 1829. He then clerked for three years in dry goods store. In 1833, he was appointed Cashier of Erie Bank, which position he retained as long as the institution existed. He, with a brother, then built the Erie City Mills; he subsequently bought his brother’s interest and continued the milling business alone till 1859, when he rented the mill. He was considered a good judge of real estate, and dealt in it extensively with more than average success. He married, Sept. 10, 1835, Mary Ann, daughter of Chester and Sarah (Steel) Jones, of English descent, and a native of Conn. Her family moved in a wagon, drawn by an ox team and one horse, from Conn. to Penn. in 1816. Five of the children born to this union are living— Albert J., a bookkeeper; Frank, with Stearns Manufacturing Co.: William Clark, with Union Oil Co., Buffalo, N.Y.; Charles; Archibald. Secretary and Treasurer of Art Novelty Co. (limited); Mary Emma (Locke). Mrs. Clark McSparren is a member of the Universalist Church of Erie. Mr. McSparren departed this life April 18, 1875, in Erie. He was a Republican in politics, and for nine years was a member of Erie City Council.