ALVA CLARK

We, Alva Birtrous and Neva Elizabeth Long Clark, like many other Henry County citizens have been asked to write our family history as our part in the Bicentennial celebration. We come from a long line of industrious farmers, with school teachers scattered along through the generations. Most of the people who came to a new, usually wooded region such as Henry County once was, had scant formal schooling, but they did have the intellect and practical early training to clear that land and make a success as farmers. Some of them came from families of culture which stamped its print upon them. So it was with our own forebearers.

Alva Bertrious and Ralph Raymond, the children of James Montrose and Sophia Elizabeth Trietch Clarck, grew up on the family home farm two miles west of Holgate on State Route 18, Flatrock Township.

Each taught school several years before turning to farming. Ralph married Donelda, daughter of Christian Deckrosh and wife. They have three daughters. Mrs. Noel (Lela) McClure had one son; Mrs. John Carroll (Elizabeth-Betty) Rush has four children, Mrs. Don (Josephine) Meyer has four children.

Alva's paternal grandfather, the youthful Delbert Clark, was fatally shot in the throat while hunting and died leaving the four week old James Montross. The mother, Elizabeth Weaver Clark, then married Henry Huston who raised James as his own son along with his own children, Eva (Mrs. Ebb Robinson), Harrison, and Milton. Delbert's own father was an officer of Northern troops in the Civil War, had two daughters Mae Jenkins and Chardon.

Alva's maternal grandparents were Nicholas and Mary Biderwell Trietch, parents of another daughter Emma (Mrs. John Franz), sons, William; Nicholas, wife Julia Wahl, had three daughters; Henry, wife Ola Bordner, three sons; Adam, wife Emma Rettig, three daughters; George, wife Emma Brick; Charles, wife Laura Brick, one son Paul, a farmer.

All of these people were Methodist; some later ones married into Lutheran denomination. The women were accomplished home-makers and skilled in quilt making.

Alva B. Clark's wife, Neva Elizabeth, is the eldest child of Noah and Eva Afton Turk Long. Enid Louisa, second child, always active as a Sunday school teacher, taught school a short time, married a farmer, John A. son of Adam Krohn and wife, of Grelton. They had one daughter, Dorothy, wife of Richard Kieffer, McClure, who have five children, and Richard is an accountant. The third child was George Armel Long, wife Helen Hartley of York, Pennsylvania. He farmed several years then moved to York and built up a very successful family business in the building trades, particularly roofing. He has sons George Jr. and John, and Mona Jean.

We, Alva and Neva had four children. Helen Elizabeth, Robert Long, James Clifford and Ramona Afton. Helen was an honor student in music at Defiance College and taught public school music a short time, and was an accomplished violinist. Her husband Harold A., son of George and Loretta McMaster, Desher, was a star student at Defiance College and Ohio State University, excelling in math and physics. He was founder and president of Permaglass and developed and built all the methods and equipment necessary for the production of tempered glass.

[Photo, p. 138] The Mary Clapp Family — Liberty Township. Standing, left to right: Mrs. Chas. Clapp, Chas. Clapp, Lester Clapp, John Clapp, Rev. Daniel Fredrick, Eugenia Clapp Fredrick, Lena Clapp Carpenter; small children: Martha Clapp and Emerson Fredrick; seated: Mrs. Mary Clapp.

The possessor of a fertile and versatile mind, he has dozens of patented inventions to his credit. He is outstanding in his fields of endeavor and is personally known, recognized, and honored around the world. Their children were honor students: Ronald in mechanical engineering, has a small factory producing machine parts. His wife, Carolyn Helen, daughter of a minister of music in city churches has a beautiful voice; she and Ronald take active parts in vocal and instrumental music in their church. They have one child. Jeanine teaches special primary classes. Her husband, Thomas E. Sandwisch farms, and they have four children. Nancy taught; her husband Robert Cobie is manager of a glass plant. Alan works with his father in building tempered glass furnaces, and is married.

Both sons of Alva and Neva enlisted and served as lieutenants in World War II — Robert in the Coast Guard and James in the Army Transportation; both were honor students and both taught vocational agriculture. Robert's wife, Kathryn, a home economics teacher, is the daughter of Carl V. and Clara Smith, Clyde, Ohio. Robert farmed the large Smith farm, took an active part in farming, civic and church activities. In 1962 he died as a result of a tractor accident. Their children, Jean Louise was a semi-finalist and Richard Carl a finalist in the National Science Foundation Examinations and recipients of large scholarships. She is now a trained nurse, her husband, James Miller, a computer technician. Richard is studying in metal research. James Clark left teaching to enter the production of tempered glass. His wife, Marie Helen, daughter of Elmer and Mary Boggs Gustwiller, was deputy treasurer of Henry County. Their daughter, Rosemary, a teacher, married Jon Tietkemeier, a computer technician; Dale, Dennis, and Carol Ann all students, all except Dennis are active musicians. Rosemary was homecoming queen, and received the John Philip Sousa Award. Alva and Neva's youngest, Ramona, is a good pianist, and played for her church and Sunday school while in high school; later while a secretary in the office of the Toledo University President, she played a program each day on the University Memorial Chimes. Her husband, Robert John, son of Carl and Nellie Greenler, mechanical engineer, has worked a number of years in supervisory positions in Ford Motors glass plants at Dearborn, Michigan, and Nashville, Tennessee; he was plant manager at Nashville July 1, 1971, to January 1, 1974, and is now general manufacturing manager of glass division of four plants. Their daughter, Patricia and husband, Steven Cotten took business courses; Joyce is studying economics.

Alva Clark farmed a number of years. He was on the Holgate School Board two terms, during which time heaccepted the position of Clerk of the Board, July 1, 1926, retiring March of 1967. Both Alva and Neva took active parts in the Methodist Church, community and Masons and Eastern Stars. Neva studied music as a girl. For the last fifteen years he has devoted leisure time to painting, oils in particular.

Neva was the child of Noah and Eva Afton Turk Long. Noah was a community leader in adopting newly found scientific farming methods. Eva was always ready to give aid to her neighbors. They gave their children Neva, Enid and George all the educational and cultural advantages available. Noah Long took great pride in his 160 acre attractive home farm two miles northeast of Holgate.

The Longs came from England in 1720; Clarks later, Turks from Wales. Neva's ancestor Michael Weaver came from Germany in 1769; Biderwells and Trietches came later. Michael Weaver came as Captain of Militia and son Philip age 10 as drummer boy, later as soldier of the Line, served all the way through the Revolution, and with Washington at Crossing of the Delaware. The seven sons of John and Anne Long including Noah, Neva's ancestor, served in Pennsylvania Militia, all during the Revolution.

Submitted by: Neva Clark (Mrs. Alva Clark)