354 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



land, by dint of hard work and economy in the 

 course of a few years Clark found himself in a po- 

 sition to get into business in a small way on his 

 own account. As foreman and cutter in Cleveland 

 he acquired a practical familiarity with what' lies 

 under a bullock's hide that was of distinct ad- 

 vantage in his subsequent career as a breeder and 

 feeder of good cattle. He had an interest in his 

 brother-in-law's little butcher shop in Elyria, but 

 his own fondness for the fields led him to give 

 most of his time to the 80 acres he had under lease 

 near town.* 



•In view of the extraordinary success afterwards attained by 

 Mr. Clark in the American Hereford trade, his own narration of 

 how he first "got on his feet" in Ohio will be of Interest and 

 should serve as an inspiration to young men of today. He says: 



"The party to whom I engaged myself as a farmhand when 

 I first arrived in America was well acquainted with a Mr. Pro- 

 bert, the owner of a meat market in Cleveland. He also was an 

 Englishman and hearing that I was anxious to obtain employ- 

 ment sent for me to come to Cleveland and see him. I responded 

 and when I met him he said: 'You are working on a farm? Do 

 you not think you would like a job at butchering?' I told him 

 I had never done any butchering, adding, 'But I am open to 

 anything I can do and make a living at. I am out here to do 

 the best I can.' He said, 'I will tell you what I will do when 

 your time is up.' I went back to the farm for eight weeks but 

 took sick during that period, losing that much time, so I had 

 to stay ten weeks. As soon as the ten weel^s were up, I went 

 back to Cleveland and Mr. Frobert said, 'I can give you a lob 

 in the pork room at so much a month and your board.' I said, 

 'I am not here to ask for wages. I am here to work, and if I 

 am of any use to you I would like to get something for it and 

 If not, you can, of course, discharge me at any time.' 



"I worked in the pork room there for about six months and 

 finally he said to me, 'I want you to come into the market.' 

 There were seven of us in the market, cutting. I worked as 

 one of the cutters for about a year. Finally the foreman of the 

 market took sick. I had been there at that time ' for about 

 twelve months, but had never asked for a raise; but the pro- 

 prietor said to me, 'Thomas, I am going to give you |20 a month 

 and after awhile I will raise you again.' I said, 1 have never 

 asked for a raise and whatever you think I am worth I will 

 work for.' He said, 'The foreman is leaving and I want you to 

 take charge of the market-.' I said, 'That is a pretty big thing 

 for me to undertake. Here are men who have been here 10 or 

 12 years. It does not look right for me to take hold and be 

 foreman of this market.' He said. 'I want you to do it.' I said, 

 'I don't think I can undertake it.' He said, 'I know you can.' 



"When. I went in as foreman he raised my wages to $60. I 

 never asked to get a raise because I did not think I could fill 

 that position. It was a big thing for me. I had to weigh meats 



