Tallien Morley Clock (1857-1928)

Portrait courtesy of the "Klock Connections" Family Newsletter, February 2005.

   Erie County, Ohio native Tallien Morley Clock's public life bears a slight similarity to that of Finney Reform Loomis, who was profiled here back on October 12. Both were lifelong Ohioans and both were prominent newspaper publishers in their respective counties. Both also had fleeting involvement in politics. For nearly half a century Mr. Clock was one of Erie County, Ohio's noted newspapermen, being connected with the Erie County Reporter as its editor and publisher. In addition to success in the publishing industry Clock also made strides in the political life of his native city of Huron, Ohio, where he served as mayor for a total of fourteen years. 

   Born in Monroeville, Ohio on October 4, 1857, Tallien M. Clock was the son of David and Emma Bishop Clock, respective natives of Erie County, Ohio and Chautauqua County, New York. His unusual first name has variations in spelling, being given as "Taliem", "Talien" and "Tallien", the last spelling being featured in his biography published in 1916's two-volume "Standard History of Erie County, Ohio." 

   Clock would attend the public schools of Monroeville and in the early 1880s began to learn the printing trade, eventually moving to Chicago in 1882 to begin work as a "compositor" on the staff of the Chicago Times newspaper. He remained here for two years, returning to Erie County in 1884 to assist his father (the founder of the Erie County Reporter) in the day-to-day running of that paper. Tallien Clock married sometime in the early 1880s to Elsie Pierce (born 1864) and later had one daughter, Marian Grace (1883-1971).

   Following the death of his father David in 1905, Clock "assumed individual control and ownership" of the Erie County Reporter, and his lengthy stewardship of that paper saw him become "known far and wide as a fearless and able publisher. Some of his special articles were copied by metropolitan newspapers and were highly praised." 

  In addition to his newspaper work, Clock served Huron, Ohio in a number of different political capacities, including stints as clerk of the town board of education and President of the village council. He also served as a delegate to various Republican county and state conventions. In 1904 he succeeded William C. Heymann as Mayor of Huron, Ohio, and served six years in that office. Clock would be returned to the mayor's office after these terms, eventually serving a total of fourteen years as Huron's mayor. Tallien M. Clock died in Huron on November 3, 1928, at age 71. He was survived by his wife Elsie and daughter Marian and was subsequently interred at the Riverside Cemetery in Monroeville, Ohio.