MORTICA MATLACK CLARK was born in Camden, New Jersey on January 19, 1881 to James and his wife, the former Amelia Griffin. He was one of nine children, only three of whom were still living in 1900, the others being younger siblings Bessie, 13, and John, 11. The 1900 Census shows the Clark family at 1032 South 8th Street in South Camden. James Clark worked as a boilermaker. He married around 1901. The 1906 City Directory and 1910 Census show him living at 1017 South 8th Street. The 1910 Census list him, his wife Emma, son John A. "Archie", and daughter Florence at the South 8th Street address. 

Mortica Clark was appointed to the Camden Fire Department shortly after the Census was enumerated in April of 1910. The 1912 Camden City Directory lists him and wife Jennie at 1017 South 8th Street. Sadly, Jennie Clark appears to have passed away during the  

1910s. Mortica Clark had remarried by September of 1918. Second wife Emma brought two children to the marriage, fraternal twins George and Catherine. He was still living at 1017 South 8th Street at the time.

The 1920 Census shows Mortica Clark and family at 750 Mount Vernon Street.

When the census was taken in April of 1930 Mortica and Emma Clark were living at 1455 Crestmont Avenue, just off Haddon Avenue, near Whitman Avenue. Of the Clark children, only Catherine was still living at home. He was still living at that address when the 1940 City Directory was compiled. Mortica Clark had been promoted to captain and was assigned to Engine Company 10 at that time. 

By the spring of 1942 Mortica Clark had retired from the Camden Fire Department. He moved to Palermo, in Upper Township, Cape May County, New Jersey. He was living there as late as the spring of 1942. Emma Clark passed away in 1947 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill) New Jersey. Mortica Clark died of lung cancer on August 4, 1940.