John Henry Clark 1904-1971

John Henry Clark

24 Apr 1904- 26 Aug 1971

PopPop, Dad, Uncle Bob,and Aunt Geri

Eldest son and second born child of David James and Martha Matilda (Hanson) Clark. 

Born at 1601 N. Front St., Fishtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

My PopPop growing up he was just PopPop my fathers Dad. I know he loved to fish and often took his sons and sons in law down to Jersey for some deep sea fishing.  He was an electrician and worked for Midvale Steel in Nicetown, Philadelphia. He also ran his own business that he and his brothers started repairing washers, refrigerators and other appliances. After a time he bought his brothers out and was the sole owner.

Aunt Geri 

Aunt Geri 

                                                         

Aunt Judy

For reasons I still do not know his favorite name was "George". he called us all that at one time or another. 

My memories of "the Shop" as we called it are seeing my poppop taking apart and fixing all different types of machines. he would spy us sneaking around the various machines playing and always had time for us. Many of us picked up some repair skills just observing him work. Oh the many questions we would ask of what, why and how? He would always patiently explain what he was doing and answer us with no mind to the countless times we would ask. All of his sons and many nephews also worked at the shop at different times The Shop was called Clarks and was at 4307-09 Main St. Manayunk, Philadelphia. In talking to my cousin Bob son of his brother Andrew, I learned that before the 4307-09 location it was located a block down on the opposite side. I do not know the address but I remember the building as it had a fuel pump in front.

My cousin Bob at the shop

 My Dad and Uncle Bobby working in the Shop

4307-09 will always be The Shop to me. My grandfather owned both buildings and the living spaces above them. Different relatives lived in 4309 at different times. My dad, mom and my siblings and I lived there when I was about 4 or 5 years old, Uncle David and Aunt Sabine, Cousin George and Kay, Aunt Pat and Uncle Bill are just a few,  My PopPop and MomMom lived above 4307. I cannot remember them living anywhere else. I can still picture the place in my mind and all the memories come flooding back. if I close my eyes I can still feel his whiskers on my cheek.

My cousin Billy, Uncle Ray and my sister Rose outside the Shop

Until I started my research I knew nothing else about my PopPop but since then I have learned a lot.

PopPop was born on his fathers birthday, what a gift he must have been. From 1911 to about 1917 he lived in Sicklersville NJ and 3 of his siblings, Andrew, Leslie and Margaret were born there, while he and his other siblings were all born in Philadelphia. From the stories told his father wanted to try his hand at farming and my Great great grandfather bought him a farm in Sicklersville, but he returned to Philadelphia by 1917.

Poppop lost his father in 1919 and became the man of the house. According to his mothers will " he has always been my stand by thru life" upon her death she left him with the charge of his younger siblings who were "not old enough to take care of themselves." His mother died in 1927 shortly after the birth of her 11th child, also named John for her second husband John William Paulie. His older sister Ellen had gone ahead in 1926, and his youngest sister Martha  in 1922 at the age of 2.  PopPop is also his youngest brothers' Godfather.

To my PopPop family was and is everything. With the exception of young John who was raised by his father PopPop took on the raising of his siblings Andrew-16, Leslie-14, Margaret-12, and William-9. These 4 lived with my grandfather. he made sure that they also kept in touch with their youngest brother John they often visited and took him for outings. Edna, Charles and David married.

It was not until he was sure they could fend for themselves that he married around 1932, My father his eldest son was born when PopPop was 29 years old, followed by 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

This is the PopPop I will always remember

All this I discovered recently. I do not remember if he ever told us of his growing years. He may have but given our youth we may not recall it. There is some confusion about where he was born but with research and Andrews son Bob verifying the information I know I have his history correct. Aside from his Return of Birth above I also have his Death Certificate that lists David Clark and Martha Hanson as his parents information supplied by my MomMom though it does state Sicklersville as his place of birth. Given his age at his parents passing and the responsibility of raising his younger siblings this could just have come about by way of confusion due to siblings being born there.

These links lead to more Information:

John Henry Clark

Wiki/Clark-15782

Spouse: Ethel Elizabeth Miller
Children: John Henry Clark Jr

Siblings:

Leslie Ewing Clark