History of Connellsville, (Fayette County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

William Andrews Clark Biography

William Andrews Clark, senator, was born near Connellsville, Pa., Jan. 8, 1839. He was brought up on a farm and was prepared for college at Laurel Hill academy. In 1859 he removed with his father's family to Iowa, where he worked on the farm, attended Iowa Wesleyan university, taught school winters, and studied law. In 1863 he crossed the plains to Colorado, located at Central City and engaged in quartz mining. In 1864 he went to the new gold fields of Montana and mined until he had obtained $1500, when he opened a store at Virginia City and sold miners' supplies, also engaging in banking. In 1872 he purchased a group of mines near Butte which proved to be of almost fabulous value, and he became the wealthiest man in the state, his fortune being estimated at $60,000,000 in 1899. He travelled extensively in Europe and maintained a residence in Butte and one in New York city. He paid $42,000 for the Fortuny painting, "The Choice of a Model," and became the owner of rare canvases from the brushes of Corot, Rousseau, Cazen, Diaz, Lhermitte, Daubigny, Millet, Dupr? and Troyon. In 1888 he was the defeated Democratic candidate for representative in the 51st congress and in 1890 was defeated in the contest for U.S. senator. In 1893 he was chosen by the Democrats as their candidate for the U.S. senate, but a "deadlock" defeated an election. In 1899, however, he was elected senator as successor to Lee Mantle for the term expiring March 3, 1905.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor