Person:Charles Clarke (43)

Charles C. Clarke died at his home in Walworth, Wis., May 14, 1913, in the eightieth year of his age.
He was born in Unadilla Forks, N. Y., December 1, 1833, being the eldest son of Dr. Henry Clarke, and his third wife, Lorinda Coon Clarke. When he was about four years of age, his parents removed to Chicago and after two years again moved, coming to Walworth.
On January 1, 1856, Mr. Clarke was united in marriage to Mary B. Sherburne of Walworth. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have lived together fifty-seven years, and to them both they were wondrously happy years. Their life has been spent in Walworth, Chicago, Rockton, Milton Junction and finally in the old home community.
While the Rev. L. E. Livermore, pastor of the Walworth Seventh Day Baptist Church, was holding revival services, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke came from Rockton to attend these meetings, and it was then that Mr. Clarke gave his heart to God, was baptized, March 4, 1876, and soon thereafter joined the Church. While living at Milton Junction his membership was transferred to the Seventh Day Baptist church there, but later on, returning to make his home in Walworth, his membership was returned to the Walworth church.
Mr. Clarke and four brothers - B. F. Clarke of New York, O. P. and F. J. at Walworth, and Milton J. of Janesville, and a host of relatives and friends are left lonely and sad because Uncle Charlie is gone, but we all rejoice in the memory of a noble life.
Mr. Charles C. Clarke lived among his fellows as an honored citizen, a successful business man, a Christian gentleman and in his home a cheery, helpful, homeful, loving companion.
Funeral services were held Sabbath morning, May 17, in the church, and were largely attended, many relatives and friends coming from a distance. The body was laid to rest in the Walworth Cemetery. H. E. B.

Charles C. Clarke has for the past twenty years been a prominent stock dealer at Milton Junction, Rock County. He is a man of active temperament, who has had a wide experience in life, gained by extended travel and by following various vocations. Reared a farmer, and inheriting from his father, who was a practicing physician, a keen and comprehensive mind, he has found in the stock business a congenial and most profitable field for his talents. Mr. Clarke was born in Madison County, N.Y., Dec. 1, 1833, son of Dr. Henry and Lorinda (Coon) Clarke, natives of New York. The father was the son of a Rhode Island farmer, who lived to an advanced age, and reared a large family.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Daniel Coon, was a native of New York State, and there followed farming through his long life; he left a large family. Henry Clarke, the father, practiced medicine in Madison County, N.Y. In 1836 he came West, and for two years lived at Chicago, Ill., then a struggling but ambitious village, in 1838 removing to Walworth, Wis., where he continued the practice of his profession until his death, in 1853, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife survived until 1896, passing away at the age of eighty-two years. Both were prominent members of the Seventh-day Baptist Church. Dr. Clarke was an influential citizen, as well as a successful physician.
He was a member of the State Legislature in New York, and was elected to discharge the same legislative duties in Wisconsin.
He was the father of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, of whom six survive; Charles C., our subject; Benjamin F., of Los Angeles, Cal.; Oliver P., of Walworth County, Wis.; Frederick J., of Walworth; John M., of Milton Junction; and Hannah M., wife of Lafayette Cook, of Cecil, Wisconsin. Charles C. Clarke was four years old when brought by his father to Walworth County, where he was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the district schools. Seeking a more active life than that presented by the farm, Mr. Clarke in his younger years went to Chicago, where for three years he kept a grocery store. Then for a time he served on the police force of that city. In 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, Col., and for a year engaged in mining. Returning to Chicago in 1861, he became a contractor and builder for a number of years, after which he spent seven years engaged in flour-milling at Rockton, Ill. In 1880 Mr. Clarke came to Milton Junction. For one year he conducted a lumber business in connection with stock dealing, then gave his entire attention to the latter business, which grew steadily under his wise management, and which he has continued ever since. For the past fourteen years his brother, John M. Clarke, has been associated with him in the stock business. They have attained marked success and our subject ranks as one of the best and most favorably known business men of Rock County. He is a stockholder in the State Bank at Milton Junction. Mr. Clarke married Jan. 1, 1856, Miss Mary B. Sherburne, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Atwood) Sherburne, natives of Vermont, who in 1844, with their five children, migrated to Wisconsin and located in Walworth County, where they engaged in farming. Of this family, Phoebe is now the widow of Lucian Covey, of Chicago; Edwin is deceased; Mary B. is the wife of our subject; George A. is a resident of Covert, Mich.; and Emily R. is the wife of Edgar O. Burdick, of Milton Junction. Joseph Sherburne died in Walworth County in 1876, aged seventy-four years, and his wife died in 1891, aged eighty-two years. Both were members of the Seventh-day Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Clarke, John Sherburne, was a Vermont farmer, and lived to about the age of seventy-two years. Her maternal grandfather, Elijah Atwood, was also a Vermont farmer. He was killed in middle life by the kick of a horse. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are prominent members of the Seventh-day Baptist Church. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the school board of Milton Junction.