Genealogical Records: Pennsylvania Colonial Records, 1600-1800s
Colonial & Revolutionary Families, Vol II, Powell Evans, P 780
Clarke Merchant, born in the Ogletorpe Barracks, GA, where his father was then stationed, entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD and graduated there in 1857. He served throughout the Civil War in the United States Navy as commander, under Admiral Porter. He resigned from the navy in 1867 and engaged in business in Philadelphia until his death in May, 1904, having become one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the city. He was the founder of the firm of Merchant & Co., now Merchant & Evans Co., and president of the Schuylkill Traction Co. He married in 1863, Sarah Schoenberger Watts, daughter of Henry Miller and Sarah(Schoenberger) Watts, of Philadelphia. Powell and Julia Estelle(Merchant) Evans have one chile, Anita Merchant Evans, born Mar 20, 1900.