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Andrew J. Clark
At about this time (1862), Barker stopped selling for White and formed another sewing machine company together with Andrew J. Clark, called their machine "The Pride of the West" and later the "New England Machine".
Around 1862, William Barker and Andrew J. Clark began producing the "Pride of the West" machine, later calling it the "New England Single Thread Hand Sewing Machine", after moving the plant to Orange, Massachusetts, in 1867.
Over the next few years, the New England machine and the "Home Shuttle" were their two most significant products.
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In 1865 Mr. Clark bought out his partner and in 1867 a new firm was organized with the name of A. F. Johnson & Co., the works were enlarged and the manufacture of the well-known “Gold Medal” machine was begun.
In 1869 the firm was reorganized as a corporation, taking the name of the machine, with Mr. Clark as president and John Wilson Wheeler as secretary and treasurer.
The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1931/vol.21)
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John Wilson Wheeler began working as a carpenter and when he was 24 years of age became a clerk in a general store. He worked there for seven years, then bought the store from his employer, Andrew J. Clark, who then went into the building of hand sewing machines. John Wilson Wheeler continued the store for four years and in 1867 joined Clark in the sewing machine business.
In 1867 the Barker-Clark combination having developed the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company, moved the plant to Orange, Massachusetts just as his former employer Thomas Howard White had done and a stock company was formed on April 27 of that year.
In 1867 A. J. Clark had joined the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company.
The first annual meeting of the Board was held on July 31, 1867.
A. J. Clark was elected President, with John Wilson Wheeler Secretary-Treasurer and Stephen French as Superintendent.
Andrew J. Clark died October 1882 after which John Wilson Wheeler became Vice-President.