Genealogical and Family
History of the County of
Jefferson,New York Vol 1
New
York Chicago - the Lewis
Publishing company - 1905 Transcribed by:
Kathaleen Smith
email me at kathaleensmith@gmail.com
for
lookups
CLARK
families
from pages V1 293-295, 647-648and from pages V2 1343-1345 CLARKE
families
from pages V2 800-804, 1177-1178
CLARK.
Those
of
this name in Jefferson county have been men of probity and
intelligence, and have borne an important part in the clearing of the
wilderness and the development of civilization. Not all appear to
be of one family, but it is probable that a successful tracing of their
ancestors would lead to one common parent in the dim past of the
colonial period.
(I) Among the early
English immigrants is found record of John Clark, who settled in
Middletown, Connecticut, and later removed to the adjoining town of
Haddam, where his descentants are still numerous. His son, William (II), was born
there in 1651, and died in 1688. (III) Nathaniel, son of William, was the father of Jabez (IV), who was
born in Haddam in 1717, and died in Chatham, April 25, 1765. He
settled in Chatham about 1742, locating on what is still known as
Clark's Hill.
(IV) Five brothers, William, Aaron, Moses, Ebenezer and John Clark, received a
grant of land in the northern part of the town of Chatham, in
consideration of their building the first bridge over Little River in
Middletown. Of the last two little is known, except that Ebenezer moved to New York,
in which he died. All were born in Middletown. Moses was born in 1718, and
died October 12, 1801; Aaron,
born
1721,
died in 1800. William,
the
eldest, was
born in 1713, and died September 26, 1812, almost one hundred years
old. After the grant of land was made to the five brothers, William settled upon it,
and chiefly supported his family by hunting and fishing. By trade
he was a shoemaker. His wife, Mary, was born in 1721, and
died February 18, 1797. They had two sons, Stephen and Samuel.
(V) Stephen Clark was born June
25, 1754 in Chatham and served with distinction in the struggle of the
colonies for independence. He always lived on Clark's Hill, and
died there October 3, 1852, in his ninety-ninth year. He had a
large family.
(VI) William Clark,
son
of Stephen, was
born July 3,
1783, on Clark's Hill, in Chatham, Connecticut, and died in Champion,
New York, in 1850. He came here in 1835, with his son, J. Hayden Clark, and
together they cleared nost of the seventy-five acres of land which they
took up, on Martin Street, where the grandson and great-grandson of William Clark now reside,
on lots 2 and 5. William
Clark was a Whig in politics and a Unitarian in religion.
He was married May 8, 1809, to Sophronis Post, who was
born October 14, 1785, in Chatham, and died in 1870, in Champion.
Her parents were Joel Post,
born
March
25, 1753, and Keturah
Jones, January 20, 1763, and they were married May 30,
1782. They died in Trenton, Oneida county, New York, the former
October 14, 1819, and the latter July 19, 1855, over ninety years of
age. William Clark's
children
are
noted as follows: William
Henry, born
November 12, 1810, lived and died in the town of Pinckney, Lewis
county. Thomas Nelson,
July
26,
1812, lived in Pinckney and Champion, dying in the latter town
July 1, 1893. Sophronia
Maria died when nineteen days old, and the second of that name
born September 22, 1816, married Orson Stewart ( see Stewart
).
(VII) Jedediah Hayden
Clark,
third son of William,
was born February 2, 1814, on Clark's Hill, and was just of age when he
came to the town of Champion. The land purchased by his father
had a small clearing and his first undertaking was the clearing of the
balance and the development of a farm. He cared for his parents
in their last days, added six acres to the estate, and carried on
general farming until his death, August 23, 1897, when he was over
eighty-three years old. When he became a voter he allied himself
with the Whig party, and was among the founders of the Republican
party. Both he and his wife were Universalists in religious faith.
He was married January 3, 1841, to Maria, daughter of James and Sally (Choat) Fulton (see
Fulton ). Maria
Fulton was born
February 15, 1817, in Champion, where she died February 10, 1857.
In 1857 Mr. Clark married Susan
(Waldo), widow of John
Gates, who died in March, 1865. His third marriage
occurred in October, 1867, when Lydia M. Southworth became
his wife. She was born April 5, 1823, in Rutland and still
survives, residing on the homestead.
(VIII) Chauncy Hayden
Clark, only
child of Jedediah Hayden,
was
born
February 2, 1843, on the farm where he now resides, and where
he grew up. He attended the local district school and the
Carthage and Gouverneur public schools, continuing during the winter
season until he attained his majority. In 1865 he bought the farm
adjoining the paternal homestead on the west, and subsequently acquired
the farm on the opposite side of the road, which he still
retains. The Yankee propensity for trade seems to have been well
developed in him, and he was engaged, profitably, in several lines of
business. At one time he traded a farm for a livery business at
Gouverneur, which he operated a few months and then disposed of,
returning to the home farm. For a period of four years he
operated a grist mill at Great Bend, and has been twice engaged in
butchering for the local trade. During the construction of the
paper mill at Deferiet, he catered to the demand for meats in the
vicinity two years. He has always dealt largely in cattle of all
kinds, and operated a dairy of twenty to twenty-five cows. He has
bought and sold lands extensively, and is now the possessor of nearly
fifteen hundred acres. He is a member of the Great Bend Grange,
in which he has held some of the offices, but is not now a regular
attendant. He embraces the Universalist faith, and is an active
promoter of the interests of the Republican party, believing them to
mean the best interests of the country. He has served two years
as collector of the town, and was re-elected to the second terms as
assessor in November, 1903.
Mr. Clark was married to Gertrude Buck, who was born
September 3, 1844, in Champion, daughter of Theodorus and Harriet (Carter) Buck, who
lived and died in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents
of two sons, Jay H.,
and Fred B., both
residing with their parents and assisting in the cultivation of the
farm.
ALEXANDER BONAPARTE CLARK.
Few
citizens of Antwerp are more thoroughly and justly esteemed in
every relation of life than is Alexander B. Clark, who is
the proprietor of a general store at Ox Bow village. He was
born in Rossie township, St. Lawrence county, New York, July 7, 1848, a
son of Robert and Margaret (Dickson) Clark,
and grandson of Robert
and Margaret (Black) Clark. Robert
Clark was born at Jedburgh, Scotland, in 1801. During his
early years he was deprived by death of a father's care and protection,
but his mother did all in her power to rear and educate him so he would
be able to lead a life of usefulness and activity. In the year
1818, when he was seventeen years old, he accompanied his mother to the
United States, settling in the town of Rossie. In 1822 he was
united in marriage to Margaret
Dickson, daughter of James
Dickson, and immediately afterward commenced farming on land
leased from George Parish,
a
large land owner in the town of Rossie, which vicinity was largely
settled by Scotch families. The land was very rough and rocky,
thus making it extremely difficult to till and cultivate, but being
imbued with a spirit of perserverance and pluck he stuck to his task,
and in due course of time was enabled to accumulate sufficient capital
to purchase a farm, and from the proceeds of this he purchased several
more farms in the same vicinity, thus being at the time of his decease
a large land holder. He was one of the founders of the
Presbyterian church at Ox Bow, which opened for divine services October
22, 1837, and from that time until his death he served as elder.
He filled several township offices, performing his duties in a highly
creditable and conscientious manner. His political affiliations
were with the Republican party. His wife, Margaret (Dickson) Clark,
whose family also came to this country in 1818, bore him ten children,
all of whom are now deceased with the exception of Alexander B. and John H., of Denver
Colorado. Another son, George,
left
a daughter, now Madge
Sutherland, a missionary in Burmah. A daughter, Jeannette, married Andrew Black, and died in
Coburg, Ontario, Canada.
The common schools of his native township
afforded Alexander B. Clark
a good opportunity to acquire a practical education in the rudimentary
branches, and for a period of time after laying aside his school books
he turned his attention to farming on the homestead. In 1885 he
engaged in the mercantile business at Ox Bow, which he has since
followed, and in which he has achieved a fair degree of
prosperity. His store is stocked with a general line of goods,
and by his prompt and courteous treatment of his patrons he has
retained their trade from year to year and is constantly adding new
ones to his list. When sixteen years old he joined the
Presbyterian church, and has held membership in the same ever since,
serving in the choir for a quarter of a century, and as superintendent
of the Sunday school for many years. Politically he is a
Republican, and fraternally a member of the order of Free and Accepted
Masons of Antwerp, New York.
Mr. Clark was married January 2, 1877, to Florence Hinsdale, only
daughter of George
and Harriet A. (Hamlin)
Hinsdale. George
Hinsdale was born in Antwerp, New York, November 11, 1819, a son
of Ira Hinsdale
( see Hinsdale, VII ).
BRAYTON
S.
CLARK, a worthy farmer and esteemed citizen of
Pierrepont Manor, traces his descent from New England ancestors, his
great-grandfather, John Clark,
having
been a resident of Rhode Island, and one of the patriotic
soldiers of the Revolution, and lived to be more than a hundred years
old. He left three sons, John, Jesse and Nathaniel, all of whom
emigrated from Rhode Island to New York, and were among the pioneer
settlers of Lorraine township. John
Clark, mentioned above as one of the three sons of John Clark of Revolutionary
fame, was born in Rhode Island, and came to this county in the early
part of the last century, finding his way from Rome by means of marked
trees. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Lorraine,
where he took up a large tract of land. He and his son James took part in the war
of 1812. Mr. Clark was a man of influence in the township.
He married Eliph Caulkins,
and
they were the parents of ten children, all of whom lived and died
in the vicinity. Mr Clark, while not equalling his father in
longevity, lived to be a good old age, dying at the advanced age of
eighty-four years. Datus
E.
Clark, son of John
and Eliph (Caulkins) Clark,
was
born September 18, 1809, on his father's farm in Lorraine township
and was all his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He lived
on the homestead until 1850, when he moved to the town of Ellisburgh,
and became the owner of three other farms in that township. He
occupied himself chiefly in dairying and the raising of stock, in which
branches of industry he was eminently successful. For his
services during the French Creek trouble he received a warrant for 160
acres of land. His political affiliations were with the
Democratic party, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He married Caroline, born December 22,
1816, daughter of Isaiah
and Lucy (Carpenter) Bateman,
the
former a farmer of Sandy Creek. Mr. and Mrs Clark had two
children: Brayton S.,
mentioned
at length hereinafter; and Lucy
Ambrosia, who died
October 28, 1869, at the age of eighteen years. The death of Mr.
Clark occurred July 22, 1893. He was a man who had been greatly
prospered in worldly matters, but whose best legacy to his descendants
was the memory of an honorable and useful life. His widow is
still living at an advanced age. Brayton
S.
Clark, son of Datus
E. and Caroline
(Bateman) Clark, was born December 29, 1845, on the old
homestead in Lorraine township, and was educated in the common
schools. On reaching manhood he decided to follow in the
footsteps of his ancestors and become a farmer for life. His
subsequent career has abundantly proved that his abilities as an
agriculturist are in no wise inferior to those of his
forefathers. He now owns the old home farm of two hundred and
fifty-seven acres, situated just east of the village of Pierrepont
Manor, which he continues to devote, as his father did, to dairying and
stock raising, making a specialty of the Durham breed. He is a
member of the Grange. In politics he is a Republican, and takes
an active part in the affairs of the organization. He and his
wife are members of the Baptist church of Mannsville.
Mr. Clark married, September 12, 1869, Celestine Jennings.
They have no children. Mrs. Clark is the daughter of Elias Jennings, a native of
Massachusetts, who came in early life to New York state and settled in
Jefferson county, making his home in Lorraine. He married Betsy A., daughter of Jesse and Virtue (Perkins) Clark.
The
former is mentioned above as one of the three sons of John Clark, Sr. Mr.
and Mrs. Jennings were the parents of two sons and three
daughters. Celestine,
who
was the youngest, was born October 25, 1845, in Lorraine, and
became the wife of Brayton
S. Clark, as mentioned above. Mr. Jennings died May 3,
1863, at the age of fifty-six, and his wife passed away December 29,
1885, being then seventy-six years old. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Jennings are remembered by their friends and neighbors with the respect
and affection inspired by their many estimable traits of
character. They were members of the Baptist church, of Mannsville.
JOHN CLARKE, who died at his
home in Watertown, April 12, 1865, was one of the most prominent
lawyers of northern New York, a man highly respected for his integrity
and ability and, therefore, trusted with great interests, and he never
betrayed a trust. From a long line of New England ancestors he
inherited those traits which have distinguished the American people,
both individually and as a nation.
(I) John Clarke, a native of
Great Mundon, Hertfordshire, England, came to America in 1632 and
settled first at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Four years later he
removed to Hartford, Connecticut, and in 1646 to Saybrook, where he
became an extensive landholder. In his old age he removed to
Milford, where he had a brother, George Clarke, and died
there in 1673. In the company with Captain Mason, under the
authority of the general court, he built the fort at Saybrook.
His wife is suposed to have been a Coley, and their children
were: John, Joseph, Elizabeth and Sarah. The second son
was lost at sea. The elder daughter married William Pratt, of Saybrook,
and the younger became the wife of William Huntington.
(II) John, eldest child of John Clarke, married Rebecca Porter and lived in
Saybrook.
(III) Major John Porter Clarke,
son of John and Rebecca (Porter) Clarke,
was born in 1655, at Saybrook, and died in 1736. He married Rebecca Beaumont, and had a
numerous family --- Abigail,
Rebecca, John, Joseph, Nathaniel (a graduate of
Yale), Temperance and
Samuel.
(IV) Samuel, youngest child of Major John P. and Rebecca (Beaumont) Clarke,
was born in 1702, and when twenty years of age married Mary Minor. Their
children were: Samuel,
Joanna, Stephen and Titus.
(V) Samuel, eldest child of Samuel and Mary (Minor) Clarke, was
born in 1723, and died in 1798. He married Patience Pratt, who died
early in 1761, and before the close of the year he married Azubah King, who died in
1810. He had a large family of children, namely: Patience (born in 1748,
died young), Minor
(died in infancy), Rebecca,
(died
young), Samuel
(who was drowned in 1786), Mary,
Patience, Ezra, Azubah, Rufus, a son unnamed, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, and another son
unnamed.
(VI) Ezra, son of Samuel Clarke (2), was born
and lived and died in Saybrook. He married Betsey Whittlesey.
(VII) John Clarke, son of Ezra and Betsey (Whittlesey) Clarke,
was born May 1, 1799, in Saybrook, where he grew up. He attended
the village school until sixteen years old, was early put to work,
being employed in a store. His thirst for knowledge was not
easily quenched, and he prepared for college by studying during every
leisure hour and reciting at night, after his duties at the store were
over, his preceptor being Parson
Hotchkiss, a learned man of Saybrook. In 1820, having
attained his majority, he went to Ovid, New York, where he taught
school. Late in that year he came to Watertown, where his elder
brother, Charles E. Clarke,
has
established a law office, and began the study of law with his
brother. In the meantime, to support himself, he taught in the
Factory District school during part of the year 1821-2. Near the
close of the last-named year he went to new York city and entered the
law office of Fessenden & Ketcham, and was admitted to the bar in
1824. In the autumn of that year he started for Savannah,
Georgia, in a sailing vessel, to establish himself in practice.
Through unflagging industry and rigid economy he had secured a small
stock of law books, clothing and other necessities, all of which were
swept away in the wreck of the vessel near Darien, Georgia, in a
terrific storm. But the measure of his misfortunes was not yet
full, and he was seized with an attack of yellow fever. After a
partial recovery, acting under the advice of his physician, he made his
way back to New York. Here were friends to welcome and aid him in
a new start in the world, and he set resolutely to work to obtain a new
footing. Being blest with a sound constitution, and having
recovered his health, he soon repaid those who had aided him, and
rapidly established himself in a lucrative practice. He came to
Watertown and became a partner of his brother, and his close
application to the duties of his office and the interest of his clients
brought him a brilliant professional reputation in all courts. He
was thorough in research, and had an immense capacity for work, and his
kindness of heart and fine mind and character won and retained
friends. Though somewhat abrupt and brusque in manner, his warm
heart and genereous nature were apparent to all who were privileged to
know him well. he continued in active practice until his death,
April 12, 1865. At the time of his funeral the city was draped in
mourning on account of the death of President Lincoln.
Mr. Clarke was a regular attendant of the
First Presbyterian church, and was active in establishing and
supporting the Jefferson County Orphan's Home, and in the general
promotion of education. He was a stern opponent of slavery, being
a lover of justice, and was in succession a Whig, "Knownothing."
Abolitionist and Republican. While loyal to the last-named, he
was conservative, and did not believe the cival war necessary.
During the last ten years of practice he was a partner of Delano C. Calvin. He
was attorney for large land owners of this section in the early days,
and defended many persons accused of participation in or aiding the
prosecution of the "Patriot" War. In February, 1840, he was
appointed surrogate, to fill a vacancy, and served subsequently by
election until 1844. His successor died before the close of his
term, and Mr. Clarke again fulfilled the duties of the office until a
new election. At one time he was considered by the Democretic
leaders as a candidate for judge, because of his well-known ability and
conservative character, but he did not desire the position, preferring
the emoluments and honor of a successful practice. In 1840 Yale
College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. John
Clarke was married, October 5, 1830, to Elizabeth Smith, who was
born in 1809, in Watertown, a daughter of William and Ellice (Nash) Smith, of
Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She died April 25, 1840,
survived by three of her four children. Elizabeth, the eldest of
these, resides in Watertown, unmarried. Mary Louise is the wife of Levi A. Johnson (q.
v.). Juliet
died at the age of fourteen years. Francis Grace became the
wife of George W. Knowlton,
and died in 1868 ( see Knowlton
).
In 1841 Mr. Clarke married Cornelia Catherine Ranney,
who was born at Adams, this county, a daughter of Butler and Orra (Heath) Ranney,
natives of Connecticut. She died October 14, 1892, aged eighty
years, and her memory is as dearly cherished by her foster children as
by her own surviving child. The younger, Helen Minerva, died at the
age of one year, and the elder, Cornelia, is the wife of Frederick M. Seymour, of
Watertown.
(VII) CHARLES
E. CLARKE, was a native of Saybrook, Connecticut, born
about 1789. Shortly after his graduation from Yale College he
began a course of study in the law in Greene county, New York,
continued the same in Jefferson county, and was there admitted as an
attorney in 1815. His career as a lawyer was distinguished by
sterling character, a display of comprehensive knowledge of the law,
and a steady devotion to the best interests of his numerous
clients. Having a command of language that was truely remarkable,
and being specially endowed with a vast store of wit, humor and
eloquence, he achieved success in his chosen calling and gained a
prominent position at the bar. Subsequent to the year 1825, when
his brother, John Clarke,
was admitted to the bar, a copartnership was formed by the two brothers
under the name of C. E. & J. Clarke, and this connection continued
until about the year 1848.
About 1830, or later, Charles E. Clarke purchased
a gristmill, sawmill and distillery at the Great Bend, the greater part
of which was formerly the property of Angel Potter, and in the
management and operation fo the same he spent the larger part of his
time thereafter. During the terms of the court he came and
assisted his brother in the preparation and trial of cases, taking the
leading part until after 1848, and assisting in important cases until
1850. He was elected to the assembly in 1839 and 1840, and in
1848 was elected to congress, and in these important offices his record
was conspicuously meritous. He enjoyed the confidence of his
constituents and the esteem of his colleagues for the energy and
fidelity he displayed in contending for the interests of the
people. In Watertown, New York, where he resided for many years,
he was held in peculiar honor, and there set an example of citizenship
which was well worthy of emulation. His death occurred in 1863,
at the age of seventy-four years.
(VIII) John Victor Clarke, son of Charles E. and Hannah (Sanford) Clarke,
was born November 14, 1859, in Great Bend, New York, and went to
Watertown with his mother after his father's death. He was
educated in the public schools of Watertown, and set about his own
support at an early age. Entering the employ of George B. Phelps, an
extensive railroad contractor, he rapidly acquired a knowledge of civil
engineering, and in 1886 became a member of the firm of Moffett,
Hodgkins, & Clarke, contractors. This included John F. Moffett and H. C. Hodgkins, well known
in connection with railroad and other construction contracts.
During his connection with this firm it removed headquarters to New
York city, where it was dissolved.
Mr. Clarke went to White Plains, where he
became interested in the Le Valley Carbon Brush Company, of which he
was made president. Through his energy and good business
management, it was made a success, and he was cut off by death in the
midst of a most useful and promising career, June 9, 1904. He was
a valued member of the Larchmont Yacht Club and the Colonial and
Knowlwood Clubs, and his kind nature, affable manners and unimpeachable
integrity brought to him and retained many warm friendships. A
true and worthy representative of a noble ancestry, his demise was a
distinct loss to the community at large, as well as to a sorrowing
family.
Mr. Clarke was married in 1884 to Miss Lucile Copley, daughter of Hiram Copley ( see Copley, VI
). Mrs. Clarke is a lady of good business qualifications, as well
as graceful accomplishments and fine personality, as is shown by her
successful management of the business bequeathed to her by her lamented
husband. Three children remain to comfort her in her bereavement,
namely: John Victor,
Copley and Carree Rosalind.
HENDERSON MILLER CLARKE was
for a number of years a well known factor in business circles in
Watertown, and is a native son of this place, born on the 2d of May,
1860. About forty-five years ago his father, Joseph Clarke, accompanied
by his wife, came from England to America. He belonged to an old
English family, and in his native country acquired his education
through seven years' attendance at the common schools. He learned
the trade of carpenter and joiner, and for many years devoted his
energies to the art of wood carving, winning for himself an excellent
reputation in this particular branch of his trade. Crossing the
Atlantic, he settled in Kingston, Canada, where he remained for a year,
after which he removed to Watertown, New York, where he won for himself
a most enviable reputation and gratifying success in the field of his
chosen endeavor. There are many evidences to be found to-day in
Watertown of his superior workmanship. Many exquisite designs in
wood-carving in the old Paddock mansion are proof of his superiority in
his chosen vocation, and have received the highest encomiums of
hundreds of lovers of the art, many of whom have come long distances to
Watertown in order to obtain new ideas in wood-carving from the work
executed by Mr. Clarke. In early manhood in England he wedded
Miss Mary Miller, who
was about his own age and was likewise of English parentage. She,
too, was educated in the English schools. For many years both Mr.
and Mrs. Clarke were devoted members and earnest workers in the
Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred when he was
seventy years of age, and she survived him for only a brief period. Henderson
Miller Clarke, reared in his parents' home and educated in the
public schools of Watertown, entered upon his business career as a meat
cutter, and followed that pursuit for a considerable period. He
afterward held the responsible position of manager for the Armour
Refrigerating Company in Watertown for many years, and as a retail
dealer in meats in his native city he gained for himself an enviable
reputation for honorable dealing, his uniform courtesy and obliging
manner making him popular with his numerous patrons. He, too, is
of the Episcopalian faith, being a communicant of Grace church of
Watertown. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy.
On the 30th of June, 1890, Mr. Clarke was
united in marriage to Miss Julia
Pauline O'Leary, the wedding being celebrated at the home of her
parents, James and Ellen O'Leary, near
Potsdam, New York. Her father and mother, natives of Ireland, are
still living upon their farm at Potsdam. Their daughter Julia was born there April
14, 1871. She is of the Catholic faith, and holds membership with
the church of the Holy Trinity at Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke
occupy a comfortable home at No. 12 Gothem street in his native city.
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