CLARK M. UNDERWOOD is a son of James, and a grandson of Abraham Underwood. The latter was descended from one of nine brothers who were English Quakers, and came to America with William Penn. Abraham Underwood was born in 1765, in Philadelphia, Penn., and after the Revolutionary war, engaged in mercantile pursuits at Baltimore, Md. About the year 1800 he came to Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn., and there followed his trade of tailor. He reared a family of five children, of whom George is the only one yet living. Another son, Cyrus, has been one of the most prominent and useful citizens of Washington county, and served for twenty-four years as member of the school board of Monongahela, and recorder of Washington county one term. He was a man of unusual intelligence, and very popular in the community. He died in 1885. The father removed to Monongahela City in 1832, and worked at his trade until just before his death, which occurred in 1840. He was a member of the Whig party. With other brothers’ families he was a member of the M. E. Church. James Underwood, son of Abraham, was born in 1810, in the house which is yet standing, on the homestead near Brownsville, Penn. He there learned the trade of a coverlet weaver, making the old-fashioned but beautiful bed clothing so seldom seen in the present day. He followed his trade until thirty years of age. The increasing use of machinery then obliged him to abandon the business, and he learned ship carpentry in the yards at Brownsville, Penn. In early manhood he was married to Miss Lydia Bright, who was born in 1810, and the following children blessed their union: Clark M.; Cyrus, who was for thirty years a resident of Chicago, and is now the wealthy manager of large safe works at Elizabeth, Penn.; Catherine, Mosoria, both of whom died in infancy; Sarah, wife of Rev. Fanning, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Maggie, widow of Joseph Powell, who died in 1889, living with her mother in Fayette county, Penn. After locating in Brownsville, Mr. Underwood continued to follow his trade until ten years prior to his death in 1884, in his seventy-fourth year. In politics he was a Republican, and served as school director for many years, and was also a member of the M. E. Church. Continuing to reside on a farm, four miles from Brownsville, and two and a half miles from his birthplace, until his death. The mother is yet living with her daughter in Fayette county, Penn. Clark M. Underwood was born January 14, 1834, on Front street, in Brownsville, Penn., and learned ship carpentering of his father, with whom he worked for ten years. He then engaged in the shoe business at St. Louis, Mo., and sold out when the Civil war began. Commissioned by the Secretary of the Navy, he entered the navy as master ship carpenter, serving on the famous "Essex," under Admiral David D. Porter. He was aboard one of the vessels, the "Lafayette," which ran the blockade at Vicksburg in 1863, and participated in many other well-known engagements. At the close of the war he returned to Washington county, Penn., and settled on a farm near Claysville, where he resided until 1866. He then sold the place and moved upon another farm in West Finley township, residing there for twelve years, and in 1878 sold that property, and lived in Monongahela City for two years, in the residence he bought from Henry McKaine on Chess street. In 1880 he bought the beautiful farm in Carroll township, where he is now living, containing 104-1/4 acres of land, situated a short distance from Monongahela. He was married May 4, 1852, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Benjamin Foster, who was then living in Monongahela. The following children were born to this union: Ida, Mrs. H. B. Carroll, of West Finley township; Charles, who resided in Dakota for several years, and recently moved to a farm in Iowa; Edward E. Underwood, residing in Morton, Kans., is an extensive grain buyer; Clarence P., living in Nebraska, has a farm of 480 acres; Frank, the youngest son, is a student in the West Pennsylvania Medical College, and will graduate in 1894;, and Margaret, a teacher in the public schools of Washington county, is the youngest child. Mr. Underwood is an independent voter, always casting his ballot for the candidate who is best fitted for the office, regardless of his party preferences. In religious faith he and his wife prefer the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 655 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Laura M. Thomas of Enfield, CT as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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