Hubbardston People

Jonas Gilman Clark 1815-1900

Jonas Clark is most remembered in Hubbardston for building the Hubbardston Public Library and donating it to the town, along with 2000 books. The 3-story brick and granite building measured 60 x 36 feet with the library on the right side and the Post Office on the left side. Besides his philanthropy he was well known for his entrepreneurial spirit, his participation in the abolitionist movement and as the founder of Clark University in Worcester.

Jonas was born in Hubbardston in 1815 to William and Elizabeth Clark. He had 5 brothers and 2 sisters and grew up on the farm at or near 12 Barre Road. After his marriage in 1836 to Susan Wright of Hubbardston, they lived at 23 Main Street.  

Jonas built the house at 15 Main Street about 1849; his brother Leonard lived there for 15 years. During the 1920's there was a tea room there and "The Jonas Clark House" sign was added then, although Jonas never lived there. Maybe it was good for business.

Jonas was a carriage maker and traded carriages for hardwood, from which he made chairs that he transported to Boston and sold. He later went into the tin business and opened tin shops and hardware stores in Lowell and Millbury. Partnering with George Wilbur selling supplies for miners, Jonas spent 11 years in California. Most everything he was involved in became a successful venture and he accumulated great wealth.

Jonas and Susan never had any children and upon his death, most of his estate was left to Clark University.

Feature 2

Suspendisse nec congue purus. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

Feature 3

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus a ante congue, porta nunc nec, hendrerit turpis.