Dr Enos Edgar Clark
Enos Edgar Clark was born on October 5th 1864, son of Mr. William Milbourne Clark who was for many years a member of the staff of Waterloo House, King and Harbour Streets, and was also a respected member of Wesley Chapel in Tower Street. He was taught by the Rev. S. Roberts at Calabar and Wm. Pearce Esq. at the Mico. |
After leaving school he became a volunteer in the Telegraph Office of the Jamaica Government Railway; within six weeks he was sending and receiving messages. After his training as a clerk, he became Station Agent for several stations. His last location was Old Harbour. While working for the Railway he had an experience which was quite dangerous; he was telegraphing at Grange Lane one day, when lightning struck the wires and burnt the instrument there and at Spanish Town.
After a time he realised that there was little hope of promotion in the Government Service, so he resigned, and went on a visit to the United States, undecided as to a future career. In the USA he was attracted to the possibilities of dentistry as a profession and in September 1886 he entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia; he graduated in March 1888. He returned to Jamaica and started practice in Kingston. His diligence, skill and kindly courtesy were soon recognised, and secured for him a reputation as one of the best Dentists in the Island. The secret of his success was that he insisted on punctuality, and he was methodical.
When the Government placed Dentistry in Jamaica on a properly recognized footing by the passing of the Dental Law, it honoured Dr Clark by appointing him one of the Dental Board of Examiners. He was also a Secretary of the Jamaica Dental Association.
He took little active part in public life, devoting himself chiefly to his profession, but he followed current events in the island with interest. He always had a fondness for music and played a little on the violin and clarionet. He took an active part in the music at Wesley Chapel, where for some years he was Secretary of the Sunday School and later Superintendent. His friends sometimes met at his residence for musical practice and spent a pleasant evening.
(based on an article in the Jamaica Times, May 8, 1909)