From 1867-03-02 The Prairie Farmer

The partnership of Orlando Clarke and Isaac Utter was established in 1852 as Clarke & Utter (or as Clark & Utter, the spelling of Clark's name being notably inconsistent). They continued until 1876 as operators of the Rockford Iron Works when the partnership was dissolved; the Works were taken over by the newly formed Utter Mfg. Co. Meanwhile, Clarke moved to Portland, Oregon, where he established sawmill machinery manufacturer Portland Iron Works.

During their decades of operation, Clarke & Utter made a drag saw and a circular saw, lathes, drilling machines, and steam engines among other products. Both men were mechanically inclined and obtained patents on some of their inventions.

Information Sources

• 1862-12-13 Prairie Farmer (New series, vol. 10 No. 24) page 371, in a long article on the Rockford Sugar Cane Growers' Convention. "Orlando Clarke, Rockford.—Three specimens sirup, one from an early imphae [sorghum]. Obtained 22 gallons from one-tenth of an acre. Manufactured 180 gallons, with Clarke & Utter's evaporators, at a cost of 10 cents per gallon."
• 1870-09-03 Scientific American page 146, illustrated article on an "Improved Steam Generator and Water Heater". "This boiler was patented March 23, 1870, by Orlando Clarke, and is manufactured by Messrs. Clarke and Utter, Rockford Iron Works, Rockford, Illinois."
• 1900 book History of Rockford and Winnebago County Illinois, by Charles A. Church, page 234: "Orlando Clark... established himself in business on the West side race, where he remained until 1851, when he went into business with Mr. Utter on the new water-power." Page 322: "In the spring of 1853 Mr. [John H.] Manny was urged to come to Rockford by Orlando Clark. The preceding year Isaac Utter came from the east, and formed a partnership with Mr. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Utter. In the spring of 1853 there were manufactured one hundred and fity of Mr. Manny's combined reapers and mowers, in Clark & Utter's factory..." Page 339: "Isaac Utter was a native of New York. He came to Rockford in 1852, and formed a partnership with Orlando Clark, on the ater-power. For twenty-one years he was associated with Levi Rhoades, in the manufacture of paper. Mr. Utter was a stockholder in the People's Bank and in the Winnebago and the Second National. He was a man of great energy, and good judgment in business affairs. Mr. Utter died May 7, 1888. He was father of Mrs. J. M. Fraley." Page 365: "Marquis L. Gorham was a native of Vermont, and came to Rockford in 1857. He obtained a patent for a seeder manufactured by Clark & Utter..."
• 1905 edition of the above-mentioned History of Rockford and Winnebago County Illinois, by Charles A. Church. Page 75

  In 1851 Orlando Clark began the erection of a foundry on the water-power. He came to Rockford in 1847, and established a foundry on the west side race, where he remained until the old dam went out in 1851. He was one of the incorporators of the new water-power company a few months later.

  In 1852 Isaac Utter came from Warsaw, N. Y., and formed a partnership with Mr. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Utter. In the spring of 1853 this firm manufactured one hundred and fifty combined reapers and mowers for John H. Manny. In 1869 the firm manufactured one thousand Gorham seeders. Their output also included sugar mills, evaporators and steam engines.

  Pages 714-715:

  Isaac Utter, who died on the 7th of May, 1881, was a pioneer settler of Rockford, whose activity contributed in substantial measure to the upbuilding of the city through many years, and hardly an enterprise of importance had been established here in which he was not financially interested or to whose success he had [not contributed] by his wise business counsel and co-operation. He was born in Eaton, Madison county, New York, January 17, 1809, and resided there until 1837, when he removed to Angelica, New York, which remained his place of residence until 1840. He then took up his abode in Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, where he built a woolen mill and was engaged in the business of manufacturing cloth until 1850. During the succeeding two years he was not actively connected with business enterprises, but in 1852 he came to Rockford and from that time until his death was a most valued factor in industrial and commercial circles of this city.

  Here he first formed a partnership with Orland Clarke in Rockford Iron Works and they continued in business for years, conducting a foundry and machine shop. The partnership was maintained until 1876, at which time Mr. Clarke withdrew and the Utter Manufacturing Company was formed. In the meantime Mr. Utter had become interested in other business enterprises. In 1865, associated with Levi Rhodes and his son, Charles M. Utter, he built the Rockford Paper Mills and in the spring of 1866 began the manufacture of paper, the plant being successfully and continuously conducted since that time. During his business career he invested in various Rockford enterprises....At his death he left an estate valued at about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which was equally divided among his wife and children... He invented a number of implements in connection with his manufactory although he never attempted to secure a patent on these...

• 1922 book, History of Oregon Volume II, page 704, in a biography of Harry T. Clarke.

  ...Born in Rockford, Illinois, December 4, 1864, he was a son of Orlando and Susan M. Clarke, both of whom were natives of Rhode Island, the Clarke family having been there established at an early period in the colonization of the state. Orlando Clarke brought his family to the Pacific northwest in 1882, establishing his home in Portland where he entered business circles as the founder and promoter of the Portland Iron Works, the plant being now located at Fourteenth and Northrup streets. The father continued as president of the business until his death and made for himself a creditable place in industrial circles of the city. His demise occurred in 1888.

  Harry T. Clarke acquired his education in the schools of Rockford, Illinois, and was a young man of eighteen years when he came with his parents to Portland. He at once entered his father's iron foundry but desirous of improving his education he attended night school while thus employed...Upon his father's death he entered the office and became president of the concern, with an experience back of him that was gained from thorough training and broad familiarity with every detail of the work. The Portland Iron Works were devoted to the manufacture of sawmill machinery of which they made a specialty and their output was of such excellent quality as to win a very liberal patronage. Through his long association with the machinery business, especially in the manufacture of sawmill machinery... He was called to his final rest on the 13th of June, 1919.