An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 376-377 ARTHUR T. CLARK, of Seattle, Washington, was born in London, England, in March, 1858, of English parentage and ancestry. He attended the schools of his native city until fourteen years of age, when he came on a visit to the United States, but afterward decided to remain in this country. He was then employed on a farm in New Castle county, Delaware, although he had never before engaged in agricultural pursuits; a few years later he turned his attention to gardening and the culture of plants. In 1877, with the starting of the Edison Telephone System, Mr. Clark went to Philadelphia as their lineman, a year later had charge of a section with the American Union Telegraph Company, and afterward was chief lineman of the American Rapid Telegraph Company. After the latter's consolidation with the Bankers' and Merchants' Company, Mr. Clark took their outside sections of about 100 miles, and with headquarters at Upper Darby remained with the company until 1882. In that year he found employment in electrical work in Tacoma, Washington, but, business being dull in that city, he shortly afterward engaged with the Victoria and Esquimault Telephone Company, at Victoria, British Columbia, taking a general supervision of the lines and work, and at the same time conducted a general electric business. In the fall of 1890 he came to Seattle, to accept the management of the Seattle division of the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company, and is now superintendent of the Second district, Northwestern division. This division covers the business south of Slaughter and north to the British Columbia line. Seattle is one of the best telephone towns in the United States in proportion to population, there being 1,050 telephones now in use in the city, and the central office makes an average of 16,000 switches every twenty-four hours. Twenty-two girls are employed in the central office, and fourteen men are also employed in looking after the lines, wires and instruments. Mr. Clark was married in Delaware, in 1881, to Miss Sarah Birch, of English parentage. They have four children: Laura A., Alice C., Edwin and Irene. Socially, Mr. Clark affiliates with the Ancient Order of Foresters, being Past Chief Banger of Court Friar, No. 7921, and Deputy High Chief Ranger of the Higher Court. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.