* A portrait has been posted on-line at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~westklic/wcportrait.html
WILLIAM L. CLARK, resident engineer for the United States government at the Cascade Locks and a man of a vast fund of practical experience, is one of the leading civil engineers in this part of the country. He has gained every part of this instruction while he followed working, by careful study after hours. While in some respects the college man has the advantage of trained professors, still there is nothing that can take the place of practical field work and the man who studies principles out at night and puts them into practical execution the next day, is more thoroughly drilled and equipped in his profession than can be done by any other method William L. Clark is thoroughly conversant with every part of his profession and has mastered it as few men have. He was born on May 19, 1867, in Sauk county, Wisconsin. His father, Newton Clark, was a native of Illinois and a civil engineer of great experience through Wisconsin. He is now residing in Portland. Our subject's parents moved to Hood River when he was about eleven years of age and there he completed his literary education in the public schools and the private school of T.R. Coons. He soon took a position under his father who was in the government employ and by him was thoroughly trained in civil engineering and remained with him until nineteen. Then he entered the employ of the Northern Pacific railroad under John Q. Jamison, assistant engineer of the Northern Pacific railroad. He was then in charge of the construction of Stampeded tunnel and our subject worked there until that enterprise was completed, being associated with various leading engineers during that time. Then Mr. Clark engaged on the Southern Pacific Railroad in various engineering enterprises until 1893, when he was appointed to the important work at the- Cascade Locks under G. W. Brown. In July, 1900, he resigned that position and accepted the position of district city engineer in Portland. In May, 1903, he was appointed to his present position aid is discharging the duties encumbent upon him in a very efficient manner.
At Middleton, Idaho, Mr. Clark married Miss Mary E. Mabee, on November 6, 1898. She was born in Dade county, Missouri, the daughter of S.P. and Jane Mabee, natives of Indiana. The father enlisted in the Civil war when very young and served four years. He is now living in Missouri. Mr. Clark has two sisters, Grace Dwinnell and Jeanette.
Mrs. Clark has five brothers, George, Frank, John, Joseph and Jacob H., and two sisters, Ada Pyle and Cora Polly. Mr. Clark has one son, Newton, Jr. four years of age. Our subject is affiliated with the A.U.U.W., while his wife is a member of the Christian church.
In political belief, he holds with the Republicans and is an active worker for the interests of his party. He is a young man of promise and scholarly attainments and stands exceptionally well with the people in his profession.
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.