source: VW Co. Historical Society files

The William Clark children were a very musical group. (Wm A. Clark was Post Master in Van Wert). Pictured left to right: John Frederick Clark, Charles William Clark, Princess Clark Long, Margaret Clark Freeland, Alice Clark Davis, and Maud Clark Scott.

Charles Clark (b. Oct. 15, 1865) left Van Wert at the age of 21 to study voice in Chicago and then later in London. His first appearance at Chicago was with the Thomas Orchestra and after that time, he made six tours of this country. In 1904 he moved to Paris where he became the first American to sing at the Conservatoire concerts. He gave many recitals in England, and toured in Italy and Germany. He was a noted baritone and teacher of voice in both American and Europe.

Princess Clark Long (b. 1862) studied voice in Chicago and then joined the music department staff at Tri-State Normal College in Angola, Indiana. After her marriage in 1887, she entered church work as a singing evangelist. She was given the name of “Sweet Singer of Kentucky.”

In 1949, Alice Clark Davis wrote-

“The story I have in mind goes back many years to the old Methodist church which stood at the corner of Jefferson and Jackson Streets. Before this Church was built the meetings were held in our Grandmother Clark’s home. As you may know, our father with the first musical director when the Hymns were lined, two lines at a time. They had no organ then. Later, when they bought an organ, Villa Little Hall was the organist. Her sisters, Eliza and Rachel, daughters of Rev. and Mrs. Cyrus Little, were members of the choir and I think our sisters, Lula and Princess, also sang in the choir. My sister Maud and I, at the age of ten each earned a dollar toward helping to build the present church.”

She continues-

“As the years went on, a new pipe-organ was installed, operated by water power and I think Alice Webster Taylor was the first organist. The organ had to be pumped, of course, with a lever. The first pumper was Sam, or as he was called, Sammy Foust. Later on, our brother Fred, at a tender age, was the official pumper….The next member to join the choir was our brother Charles, along with Dayton Hard, a faithful tenor for years. I was fourteen years old and Maud was thirteen when we joined.”

Fletcher Webster was director of the choir for a number of years. On his retirement I was appointed director, which position I held for three years. I felt the responsibility so greatly, that our sister Margaret said she dreaded for Friday night to come, for I was so cross or worried until Monday morning…. I remained a member of the choir until I was twenty-nine years old, when I went to Boston to enter training school for nurses.”

Alice and her husband, Evan D. Davis, returned to Van Wert in 1910 where they both became choir members. Alice retired from the choir in 1927, but Evan remained “at his post until 1940.”