Prominent among the business men of Piqua is Harry Clark, as he is familiarly known. His active connection with the business interests of the city has done much to promote its commercial activity and thereby advance the general prosperity. He was born in Piqua on the 16th of October, 1852, a son of Harvey Clark, whose birth occurred in Essex county, New Jersey, in 1823, and who came to Piqua in 1845. He has since been recognized as one of the leading business men of the city, and his executive power, sagacity and untiring energy have brought to him a handsome competence, which is the merited reward of his labors. For fifteen years he was a member of the firm of Clark & Zollinger, grocers of Piqua, and later he became a member of the firm of Rouzer, Evans & Clark, founders and machinists. He continued in the latter department of industrial labor until 1873, when he sold his interest and became part owner of one of the valuable stone quarries south of the city, the same being operated by the firm of H. Clark & Son. The father still has an interest in this enterprise, which is now being managed by our subject, but in 1890 he retired from the active cares of business life and now spends the winter months in Redlands, California, where he has a beautiful home. He was also one of the stockholders and directors of the Piqua Straw Board & Paper Company, and superintended the building of one of the large plants here. In 1849 he married Mary J., daughter of Henry Kitchen, and unto them were born seven children. Mr. Clark was one of the representative men of the city and has left the impress of his strong individuality upon public improvement along many lines. Not only has he contributed to the general prosperity of the city through the establishment and conduct of many business enterprises, but has also been a leader in temperance work, and is a prominent Republican, who has exerted a strong influence politically. He has served as mayor of the city, but was forced to resign on account of the demands which his extensive business made upon his time. He is an active member of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal church, contributing liberally to its support and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He has been very successful in his business affairs, and is the owner of valuable property, including a fine bearing orchard of ten acres in California and much city property in Piqua. All that he has is the reward of his own efforts, having come to him as the result of carefully directed labors, of enterprise, sound judgment and unflagging perseverance.

His son, Harry Clark, has succeeded to his place among the prominent business men of Piqua. His boyhood days were passed in this city and by a liberal education, completed by a high school and commercial course, he was fitted for life's practical duties. When quite young he became his father's partner in the ownership and operation of the stone quarry and continued to conduct the same until 1889, when they sold out. Eleven years later, however, in 1898, they again purchased the quarries, which they now lease. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Clark embarked in the lumber business with the Piqua Lumber Company, which was afterward merged into the Piqua School Furniture Company, at which time Mr. Clark disposed of his share in the enterprise. He has since devoted the greater part of his time to the management of the interests of the Piqua Hosiery Company, with which he is officially connected as vice-president and manager. He was one of its organizers, the company being formed in 1886, with an authorized stock of sixteen thousand dollars. Later the business was reorganized and the capital stock increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. They manufacture all kinds of knit underwear, and the sales amount to about seventy-five thousand dollars annually. Their trade is constantly growing and the output of the factory is now very large and is shipped to many important markets. Mr. Clark is also a director of the Third National Bank, and of its directorate his father was also a member for many years. He is an excellent financier, is far-sighted in his dealings, forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution, his judgment is rarely at fault and his reputation is above question.

With a just appreciation of the privileges and duties of franchise, Mr. Clark has given close and earnest investigation to the questions affecting the weal or woe of the nation, and his careful study has led him to give an unfaltering support to the Republican party. He is now treasurer of the Republican county central committee, and does all in his power to promote the growth and secure the success of the party. He, too, belongs to the Green Street Methodist Episcopal church, and is serving as one of its trustees. His character is positive, his disposition genial, and his circle of warm friends is extensive.