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Dillon Prosser Clark (1850-?)
Native of Medina Township, Medina Co., Ohio, came to Bay City in 1882.

1905 History. Added April 2008.

History of Bay County, Michigan and Representative Citizens
Augustus H. Gansser, 1905

DILLON PROSSER CLARK.
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Dillon Prosser Clark, senior member of the firm Clark & Munger, one of the leading firms of architects at Bay City, Michigan, was born in Medina township, Medina County, Ohio, October 20, 1850, and is a son of James and Annie M. (Wright) Clark.

James Clark was born in 1823 in Argyle County, New York, and died in Ohio in the spring of 1877. In boyhood he learned the mason’s trade and worked at the same after he had moved to Ohio. He became a mason contractor, which business he conducted successfully to the end of his life. He married Annie M. Wright, who was a daughter of Orris and Elizabeth (Reece) Wright. Mr. Wright was born in New York but moved at an early day to Ohio and owned and operation an old-fashion water-power grist-mill at Johnson’s Corners. The mother of our subject died in 1893, aged 66 years. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark were: Dillon P., of this sketch; Della, wife of Albert Herkner, of Medina, Ohio; Clarence O., of Medina, Ohio; and Eugene E., of Cleveland, Ohio. The parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father served many years as a member of the official board.

After completing the common-school course in his native locality, Dillon P. Clark learned the mason’s trade with his father and worked with the latter for four years. In 1870 he entered into the business for himself as a contractor at Medina, and followed contracting there for 10 years, a part of this period being in partnership with Wallace Munger, father of his present business partner. During all these years Mr. Clark had devoted more or less attention to the study of architecture, at first as a recreation but later with the idea of giving the profession his entire time, it being one congenial in every way. His former occupation had laid the foundation, for the laws that govern building and construction are applied by every practical mechanic and must be thoroughly understood. Mr. Clark was not able, however, to avail himself of the advantages given in a school of architecture; his knowledge has been entirely gain through study and observation, assisted by a natural artistic ability.

In 1880 Mr. Clark began to follow architecture as a profession and on November 1, 1882, he came to West Bay City and opened office, four years removing to Bay City. While his work covers all kinds of construction, Mr. Clark makes a specialty of churches and public buildings. He superintended the construction of the Federal Building in Bay City, one of the finest buildings in the State; was one of the architects of the Phoenix Block; designed the Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches and many fine residences at Medina, Ohio; the Ridotto and many other fine buildings of both public and private character in Bay City and West Bay City; the Methodist Episcopal Church, Greenville, Michigan; Methodist Episcopal Church at Owosso, Sault Ste. Marie and Calumet, Michigan; for churches and numerous other buildings at Flint, the First Baptist Church at Alpena, Michigan, etc., etc. In collaboration with his present partner, the new Bay City Club house, the Genesee County Court House, sheriff’s resident and jail, the new Carnegie Library and four splendid school buildings at Flint, Michigan, have been designed, as well as a large number of church school buildings, business blocks and fine residences at various points throughout the State.