Biography:

Dr. Richard Allan Clark was born in Trafalgar Township, Ontario on the 28th of November 1848.  Dr. Clark was the 2nd of 6 children born to Joseph Clark and the former Eleanor Shain. His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Hannah Francis Clark, Lucy Clark, Arthur Delbert Clark, Adam Clark and Isabella Helena Clark.  According to the 1871 census, Dr. Clark was 22 and living with his parents in Trafalgar Township.  Under occupation the census records that he was going to school.  According to the 1892 Ontario Medical Register, he joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 12th of April, 1872.  It does not reveal his medical education.

Dr. Clark married Louisa Matilda Coon on the 11th of June, 1873 in Milton, Ontario.  Mrs. Clark was born in Halton County, Ontario on the 9th of November, 1847.  She was the eldest of 4 children born to Isaac Shaw Coon and the former Jane Elliott.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; John Coon, George W. Coon and Mary Jane Coon.  Her mother died on the 25th of March, 1856 at the age of 29.  Mrs. Jane (Elliott) Coon was buried at the Fulton Stone United Church in Fulton, Ontario.  Mr. Coon married 2 possibly 3 times after the death of his wife Jane and he had more children.

Dr. and Mrs. Clark had a son, Joseph Allan ‘Mansfield’ Clark who was born in Trafalgar Twp, Ontario on the 5th of December 1874.  A second son, Charles Wallace Commander Clark was born to them on the 18th of January 1878 while living in Drumbo, Oxford County.  Baby Charles died of cholera in Oakville on the 23rd of July, 1879.  He was buried at Springcreek Cemetery in Mississauga, Ontario.  According to the 1881 census Dr. and Mrs. Clark and their son Joseph Allan Mansfield Clark, resided in Oakville where Dr. Clark was a practicing physician.

In 1885, Dr. Clark advertised in the Ontario Business Directory and Gazetteer as practicing in Ridgetown.  The 1891 census lists the Clark family as living in Ridgetown and further, it records Dr. Clark was a physician and druggist.  An ad in the 1893 Ontario Business Directory and Gazetteer, showing that Dr. Clark was still practicing medicine in Ridgetown.

Dr. and Mrs. Clark moved to St Thomas, Ontario in early 1894.  Mrs. Clark died in St. Thomas on the 4th of May, 1894.  She was buried at Springcreek Cemetery in Mississauga.

Dr. Clark married Anne Bateman on the 1st of November, 1899 in Detroit, Michigan.  Mrs. Clark was born in 1863, the daughter of James and Mary Bateman.  At the time of their marriage, they both indicated that they resided in Toronto.  The couple eventually settled in Brown Township in Michigan, where Dr. Clark practiced medicine.  Dr. and Mrs. Clark had a son Harold Richard Clark who was born on the 18th of October, 1906.  According to 1930 and 1940 U. S. census’, the family resided on Hudson Ave., in Detroit.

Dr. Clark died in Detroit on the 22nd of February, 1945.  At the time of his death, he resided at 2915 Hudson Ave. in Detroit.  Dr. Clark was buried at Springcreek Cemetery located at 1390 Clarkson Road North in Mississauga.

*Dr. Clark’s son Mansfield Clark married Luella V. Tourlettotte on the 7th of August, 1903 in Welland, Ontario.  Dr. Mansfield Clark (and his family) were listed in the 1910 U.S. Census as living and practicing in Michigan as a physician and surgeon.  He and his wife Luella had a son, Allan D. Clark, who was 5 years old in 1910.

**The webmaster gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Ron Cabot, Bill Christenson and Lesley Buchanan, Cemetery Manager, St. Thomas Cemetery Company.   Mr. Cabot and Mr. Christenson searched the cemetery plot, but a tombstone for Dr. Clark was not located.  The photo attached is the tombstone of Mrs. Clark.

***Dr. Clark’s son, Harold Richard Clark served with the United States Military during WWII.  He died on the 20th of February, 1990.