Clarks Trading Post: Celebrating 90 Years

Before it was Clark’s Trading Post, it was Clark’s Eskimo Dog Park, shown here in an early postcard.

To tourists and natives alike Clark’s Trading Post in Lincoln New Hampshire seems to have been around forever.  Taint True.

[Editor’s Note: this story was originally written in 2008 and updated now in 2018]. But they’ve been around long enough that in 2008 the Clark Family celebrated 80 years of being a major “pit-stop” for countless tourists making their way through our White Mountain region. [2018 is the 90th year in business].

The son of a physician, Edward P. Clark was born in Mamaroneck NY. He enjoyed the outdoors, and one of his first jobs was selling “raw pelts”  He loved to hunt and trap.  Edward’s wife Florence was an outdoors woman in her own right. She was the first woman to conquer Mt. Washington by dog sled.  Twice in January and April 1932 she reached the peak with her team. (Arthur T. Walden was the first person to achieve this feat, and did it in a blizzard).

Back when the “trading post” first began in 1928 “Ed Clark’s Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch” primarily featured sled dogs and on the side he and his wife Florence sold souvenirs, “tonic,” maple candy, and other important staples. Their famous black bear didn’t appear until 1931. And it wasn’t until 1949 that Ed’s sons Edward and W. Murray started training the bear for shows.  1973 was the last year that visitors could see an “Eskimo” dog.

Before his death, W. Murray Clark was the “patriarch” of the family business, with the third generation already involved.

Janice

–Clark’s Trading Post Official Web Site–

–Roadside America: Clark’s Trading Post (Great Photos)–

–Clarks Trading Post Photo Essay–

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**CLARK GENEALOGY**
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James Clarke, son of William & Mary (Weston) Clarke, was b. 1602 in London, England, and d. 19 Dec 1674 in Stratford, Fairfield Co. CT. He married 11 Apr 1652 in New Haven CT to Sarah Harvey. She b. 1622 in England. ?other marriages.
Children of James & Sarah (Harvey) Clarke:
1. James Clark, b. 1640 New Haven CT
2. Sarah Clark, b. 18 Feb 1642/43 Milford CT
3. Mary Clark, b. 6 Jan 1644/45 New Haven CT
4. Susan Clark, b. 1647 New Haven CT
5. +Ebenezer Thomas Clark, b. 29 Nov 1651 New Haven CT
6. Samuel Clark, b. 9 Feb 1653/54 New Haven CT.

Ebenezer Thomas Clark, son of James & Sarah (Harvey) Clark, was b. 29 Nov 1651 in New Haven, New Haven Co. CT and d. 30 Apr 1721 in Wallingford, New Haven Co. CT; He m. 6 May 1678 in New Haven CT to Sarah Peck. She b. 1659 in Hartford, Hartford Co CT; he m2d) Jane –; he m3) Mary Peck; he m4) 22 Dec 1696 in Wallingford CT to Elizabeth Parker. She b. abt 1673 in New Haven CT.
Children of Ebenezer T. & Sarah (Peck) Clark:
1. Caleb Clark, b. 6 March 1678/79 Wallingford CT
2. Sarah Clark, b. 22 Aug 1681 Wallingford CT
3. Josiah Clark, b. 6 Feb 1682/83 Wallingford CT
4. Stephen Clark, b. 18 Dec 1686 Wallingford CT
5. Hannah Clark, b. 18 Aug 1689 Wallingford CT
6. Sylvanus Clark, b. 1 Feb 1691 Wallingford CT
7. Obadiah Clark, b. 17 Oct 1694 Wallingford CT
Children of Ebenezer T. & Elizabeth (Parker) Clark
8. Elizabeth Clark, b. 24 Sep 1697 Wallingford CT
9. Eliphalet Clark, b. 28 Dec 1698 Wallingford CT
10. Susanna Clark, b. 27 Apr 1700 Wallingford CT
11. Caleb Clark, b. 6 Sep 1701 Wallingford CT
12. Phebe Clark, b. 20 May 1703 Wallingford CT
13. Abigail Clark, b. 8 June 1705 Wallingford CT
14. +Daniel Clark, b. 7 Feb 1711/12 Wallingford CT
15. James Clark, b. 29 Sep 1713 Wallingford CT
16. Susanna Clark, b. 30 Sep 1717 Wallingford CT

Daniel Clark, son of Ebenezer Thomas & Elizabeth (Parker) Clark, b. 7 Feb 1711/12 in Wallingford, New Haven Co CT and d. 17 Aug 1774 in Wallingford CT; He m1) 17 Sep 1741 in Wallingford CT to Elizabeth Miles. She b. 18 Sep 1718 in Wallingford, CT. He married 2nd 6 Feb 1759 in Wallingford CT to Abigail Horton.
Children of Daniel & Elizabeth (Miles) Clark:
1. Lois Clark, b. 12 Nov 1743 Wallingford CT
2. Archibald Clark, b. 1 Sep 1745 Wallingford CT
3. Mary Clark, b. 20 Nov 1749 in Wallingford CT
4. Daniel Clark
Children of Daniel & Abigail (Horton) Clark
5. Mary Clark, b. abt 1760
6. Abigail Clark, b. 15 June 1762 Wallingford CT
7. +Ebenezer Clark, b. 15 Jan 1769 in Wallingford CT

Ebenezer Clark, son of Daniel & Abigali (Horton) Clark, b. Wallinford CT 15 Jan 1769, d. 15 Sep 1847; resided Rye NY;  m. 10 July 1794 in NY to Hannah/Ann Marselius/Marselis/Marcelis, dau of Andries & Catharine (Fisher) Marselius/Marcelis [an old Dutch NY and New Jersey family]. She b. 5 March 1769 in NYC. Ebenezer was a merchant of New York City where he lived in New York City, at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway. As the growth of the city pressed he moved to the corner of Houston street, where surrounded by an extensive garden he occupied a large wooden house (now torn down); when further pressed he moved in 1821 to Rye, in Westchester Co NY, where he lived until his death. He built a home on Blind Brooke in Rye NH. He also donated the funds used to build the Presbyterian Church in Rye NY, that was dedicated June 28, 1842.
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Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003 > Obituary > New York, New York > 1854
1854–On Sunday, Feb 12, at the residence of her sister, Mrs. Ebenezer Clark, Rye, Westchester County, CATHARINE, widow of the late John II. Sickels, of this City, in the 59th year of her age. [b 1795]
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Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003 > Obituary > New York, New York > 1858
OBITUARY–PARSONS, at Rye, Westchester County, on Wednesday morning, Oct 13, Matilda, daughter of the late Ebenezer Clark, and widow of Edward Lamb Parsons. [more about funeral]
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Children of Ebenezer & Hannah/Ann (Marselius/Marcelis) Clark:[probable more]
1. Maria Clark, b. abt 1796 m. 22 Dec 1831 in Rye NY to William Howe Whittemore
2. +Andrew Clark, b. abt 1800 New York City
3. ?Oren Clark, b. 24 March 1806 in Hampton, Windham Co CT
4. Caroline Clark, b abt 1818; d. 1908, age 90; ?m. Lafayette Chesley?
5. Matilda Clark, d. Oct 13, 1858; m. Edward Lamb Parsons. He b. England, came to NY when he was 19. After marriage he purchased an estate at Rye NY called Lounsberry, adjoining the Jay estate, which was his summer home. In March 1839 he was lost in the wreck of the packet, Pennsylvania on the coast of Cheshire, returning to New York. Their son, John Edward Parsons was b. 24 Oct. [see bio]. The other son was William.
. Herbert Parsons [see] was John’s son.

Andrew Clark, son of Ebenezer & Hannah/Ann (Marcelis) Clark, b. 12 Apr 1796 in New York City, baptized 15 May 1796 at First Street Christ Episcopal Church in NYC; d. 8 July 1863; m. Charity Shirl(e)y. She b. abt 1803-1810 in NY
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U.S. Census > 1850 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Rye
Andrew Clark 50 M Farmer 25000 America
Charity Clark 40 F America
Ann E. Clark 20 F America
Ebenezer Clark 19 M America
Matilda Clark 15 F America
Thomas Fram 24 M Laborer Ireland
Lawrence Fram 30 M Laborer Ireland
Ellen Matenlen 30 F Servant Ireland
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U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Rye
Andrew Clark 60 M Farmer 30,000/5000 NY
Charity Clark 53 F England
Ebenezer M. Clark 28 M Farmer NY
Matilda Clark 19 F NY
Sarah Lerby 20 F Domestic Ireland
Margaret Dolan 35 F Domestic Ireland
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Obituary–CLARK – April 11, 1887
At the residence of her son, Ebenezer Clark, Rye, N.Y. on Saturday, April 9, CHARITY SHIRLEY, widow of Andrew Clark. Funeral at Rye Presbyterian Church Tuesday, April 12 at 2:30 PM. Trains leaves New York at 1 P.M.
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Children of Andrew & Charity (Shirley) Clark:
1. Ann E. Clark b abt 1830 prob Rye NH
2. +Ebenezer Marselis Clark, b. 25 Nov 1832 in Rye, Westchester Co. NY
3. Matilda Clark, b abt 1841 prob Rye NY
[Note: One grandson was John E. Parsons, a noted New York Lawyer and Philanthropist, who died at age 85 in 1915. He m1) Mary D. McIlvaine. She d. 1896 and in 1901 he m2) Mrs. Florence V.C. Bishop, the widow of David Wolfe Bishop. One of his daughters m. D. Percy Morgan. His son Herbert m. Elsie Clews, dau of Henry Clews.
[Note2: John E. Parson’s Brother William H. Parsons]

Ebenezer Marselis Clark, son of Andrew & Charity (Shirley) Clark, b. 25 Nov 1832 Rye, Westchester Co. NY; m. 25 November 1861 in Bridgeport, Fairfield Co. CT to Emily Peck of Black Rock CT. She b. 27 Dec 1841 Black Rock CT and d. 8 Sep 1892 in Harriston, Westchester Co. NY at age 44. He was a farmer, Presbyterian, Republican. [see his son’s biography below].
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U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Harrison > District 104
Clark, Ebenezer M. W M 47 Farmer NY NY England [b abt 1833]
Clark, Emily W F 37 wife Keeps House NY NY Conn [b abt 1843]
Clark, Edward M. W M 17 son at school NY NY NY
Clark, Annie K. W F 10 dau at school NY NY NY
Clark, Charity W F 77 mother at home England England England [b abt 1803]
Ford, Maggie W F 19 servant house work Ireland Ireland Ireland
Kirby, James W M 18 servant works on farm NY Ire Ire
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Children of Ebenezer M. & Emily (Peck) Clark:
1. +Edward M. Clark, b. 7 Sep 1862 in Rye, Westchester Co. NY
2. Anna “Annie” Knower Clark. b January 1870 Rye, NY; d. June 1941 in Indiana; m. Alfred Butterworth of Cincinnati Ohio, son of Isaac Wales & Edith (Potts) Butterworth. He b. 19 July 1866 in Indiana and d. May 1961 in Indiana. Children [BUTTERWORTH]: Edith Emily (b 9 Oct 1892 Ohio); Ruth C. (b Oct 1891 Ohio), Alfred Lindley (b 31 March 1897 Ohio), and Edward Clark (b. 1901 in Indiana).

Edward Marselis Clark, son of Ebenezer & Emily (Peck) Clark, b. 7 Sep 1862 in Rye, Westchester Co NY; d. 10 September 1938 in Mamaroneck, Westchester Co. NY; m. 13 October 1887 in Mamaroneck NY to Eleanor L. Pullman, dau of Rev. Joseph Pullman of Mamaroneck NY. She b. May 1866 in CT, and d. 13 March 1950 in Harrison, Westchester Co. NY. In 1934 he was 1st VP of Union Savings Bank of Westchester Co NY
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Stories, Memories & Histories > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, 1899, page 150
EDWARD M. CLARK M.D.
Dr. Edward M. Clark, a successful practitioners of the healing art in Mamaroneck, was born September 7, 1862 in the village of Rye, Westchester county [New York]. His father, Ebenezer Clark, was a native of the same place, where he has spent the most of his life as a farmer. He has been retired some twelve years, living now with the children. He is now sixty-four years of age. In his religious predilections he is a Presbyterian, and in his political a Republican. His father, Andrew Clark, was a native of New York city, and accumulated considerable property in New York. Late in life he retired from business and purchased a farm, in 1821, at Rye, Westchester county where he passed the remainder of his life, dying September 14, 1847 at the age of seventy-eight years. Religiously he was a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he held the office of ruling elder. Among his many liberal donations to the church was a gift of five thousand dollars for the erection of the house of worship at Rye. He was very strict in his religious principles. Being solicited on one occasion to take stock in the New York & New Haven railroad, he refused unless the company would agree to run no trains on Sunday.
Mr. Ebenezer Clark married Miss Emily Peck of Black Rock, Connecticut, who departed this life about forty-four years of age, leaving two children–the subject of this sketch and Annie K., who became the wife of Alfred Butterworth of Cincinnati Ohio. Mrs. Clark was an intelligent and zealous member of the Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Edward M. Clark, whose name heads this brief sketch, was reared at his parental home, attending the public schools and the Park Institute at Rye. At the age of eighteen years he entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York City, where in March 1885, he graduated. After spending a few months as assistant physician in the out-patient department of Bellevue Hospital, at the same time engaging in general practice in the city, he came to Mamaroneck, and since July 1896, he has been a practitioner here with the success that follows thoroughness and painstaking care. A few months of this time, however, he temporarily filled the place of an absent physician in New York. He is a member of the Westchester County Medical Association, and is examining physician for the Royal Arcanum of Mamoroneck.
Dr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor L. Pullman, daughter of Rev. Joseph Pullman of Mamaroneck, and they have one son, whom they have named Edward R.
In his political principles the Doctor is a Republican, but is not active in political movements; and in religion he is a member of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Order of Forresters of America.
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Rye > District 112
Clark, Dr. E.M. Head W M Sept 1862 37 married 13 yrs NY NY CT Physician
Clark, Eleanor wife W F May 1866 34 married 13 yrs 1 ch 1 living CT Ireland England
Clark, Edward P. son W M Aug 1887 18 single NY NY CT at school
Williams, Charles A. servant black M July 1868 31 single VA VA VA Coachman
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Rye > District 112
Clark, Edward M. Head M W 48 Widow 25 NY NY CT Physician, General Practice
Clark, Edward P. son M W 28 single NY NY NY Clerk Furs & Skins?
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U.S. Census > 1920 United States Federal Census > New York > Westchester > Mamaroneck > District 164
Clark, Edward M. Head M W 57 married NY NY NY Physician, General Practice
Clark, Edward P. son M W 21 single NY NY NY Dealer, Raw Furs
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Child of Dr. Edward M. & Eleanor L. (Pullman) Clark:
1. +Edward Pullman Clark, b. 5 Aug 1887/1888 in Rye or Mamaroneck, Westchester Co NY, and died 10 November 1957 in Lincoln, NH. He is buried in Greenwood Union Cemetery in Harrison, Westchester Co. NY.  He married 22 Oct 1922 to Florence Loretta  Murray in New York City, in The Little Church Around the Corner.   She was the daughter of William Joseph & Emma Jane (Stillman) Murray.  She was b. 25 Apr 1900 in Manhattan, NY NY, and died 22 Feb 1950 at Glenbrook Sanitarium, New Hampshire. She is buried in Lincoln NH. They had two sons, Edward and W. Murray, who continued in their footsteps.