Joseph W. Clarke, Brownsville and Belle Vernon

Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County by Gresham and Wiley,
1889, p322
 Captain Joseph W Clarke was born July 21, 1825, in Clarksville, Penna. He
was reared on a farm, attended the subscription schools until sixteen years
of age, when he went to Brownsville and in two years learned engineering
sufficiently well to obtain the postion of assistant engineer on a
steamboat.  He was soon promoted to chief engineer, he next became pilot and
in a short time thereafter was a captain or master. He owned seven
steamboats: Tempest, two Clippers Leader, Tiger Sam, Charley Clarke,
Sampson, Baltic and Petrel.
 He was one of the most prominent coal operators on the Monongahela River,
at the time he owned the Tremont, Clipper and Rostraver mines. He operated
the sand works at Belle Vernon for two years.
 He was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Reed, daughter of Joseph Reed
and Mary Round Reed, natives of England. Her grandfather, Richard Reed, at
the time of his death left over one hundred descendants behind him.
Captain Clarke and his wife were the parents of eleven children: Mary A
Clarke, wife of W C Byers, M D, of Pittsburgh; Sarah N Clarke, wife of I E
Byers; Amy A Clarke, wife of Prof W D Rowan; Martha J Clarke, deceased; Cora
A Clarke, deceased; Virginia Clarke, Charles W Clarke, and John F Clarke.
Captain Clarke was a correct and successful businessman, attentive to the
wants of all who traveled with him, was well-liked wherever known, and was a
most highly respected gentleman.
He died at his residence near Belle Vernon July 3, 1889, was followed on the
5th of July to his last resting place in the Belle Vernon cemetery by a
large number of sorrowing friends and relatives.