JOHN H. CLARK, who holds a foremost place among the enterprising business men of Piqua, is a native of this city, his birth having taken place here on October 16, 1852. He is a son of Harvey Clark, who was born in Essex County, New Jersey, in 1823, and who, coming to Piqua in 1845, was long numbered subsequently among the enterprising and successful business men of the city.

Harvey Clark was for fifteen years a member of the grocery firm of Clark and Zollinger, and later became a member of the firm of Rouzer, Evans & Clark, founders and machinists. In 1873 he sold his interest in the latter concern and engaged in the quarrying of stone as a member of the firm of H.Clark & Son, they being owners of one of the valuable stone quarries south of Piqua. He also became one of the stockholders and directors of the Piqua Strawboard &, Paper Company, and superintended the building of one of their large plants in this city. After having thus contributed for a number of years by his active enterprise to the prosperity and upbuilding of Piqua, he retired in 1890 from active business life. His retirement was followed at no great interval of time by his death, which took place March 30, 1902, and which was sincerely regretted bv his numerous friends and his old business associates.

He was prominent in the local councils of the Republican party, and was elected and served for a while as mayor of the city, which position, however, he was forced to resign, on account of the pressing nature of his business interests.