Yolo-Tehama County CA Archives Biographies.....Clarke, Foster Noble 1874 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 10, 2005, 2:30 pm Author: Tom Gregory FOSTER NOBLE CLARKE A lifelong identification with Yolo county has given to Mr. Clarke an intimate knowledge of its agricultural possibilities and a firm belief in the future prosperity and importance of the region. As one of the native sons of the county, he cherishes for its institutions an affection peculiarly loyal and a faith intensely patriotic. His sentiments however do not find expression in office-holding, for he is averse to any participation in political affairs and prefers to concentrate his attention upon the supervision of his ranch near Knights Landing, a well-improved property consisting of two hundred and eighty acres adapted to the raising of grain and the pasturage of stock. As a specialist with stock he has engaged in raising cattle, mules and hogs and has found the stock industry an important adjunct to general farming. The founder of the Clarke family in America and in California was William J. Clarke, a native of Ireland, but from early life a resident of the United States. After a brief sojourn in Illinois, where he followed the cabinet-maker's trade, he came across the plains to California with ox-teams, a journey of six months bringing him to Sacramento July 4, 1849. He immediately went from that city to the mines and for some years he devoted his time wholly to the search for gold, in which he met with fair success. Upon leaving the mines he came to Yolo county and took up his present farm, later purchasing land near Dunnigan. Besides the two thousand acres which he owned there he also owned six hundred and sixty acres near College City, Colusa county, as well as a large stock ranch in Plumas county. His last years were spent in College City, his death occurring there in 1895. He served as justice of the peace at Dunnigan, and besides being a member of the Society of California Pioneers, he was fraternally associated with the Odd Fellows and the Masons. After he settled in Yolo county he met and married Katherine Tenny, who was born near Galena, Ill., and who survived him a number of years. Besides their only son, Foster N., they had three daughters: Elizabeth, Mrs. J. E. Caine; Margaret, Mrs. W. Powers; and May, the wife of G. E. Stover, and all reside in College City. At the home farm near Dunnigan Foster N. Clarke was born January 16, 1874, and there and at College City he passed the years of boyhood, meanwhile learning the rudiments of agriculture and also gaining a fair common-school education. After he had completed the studies of the common schools he spent a year in Pierce Christian College at College City and in this way, with the additional advantage of habits of thoughtful reading and careful observation, he has become well informed. He first engaged in viticulture at College City and in 1898 he located on his present ranch of two hundred and eighty acres, on which he has made valuable improvements. This is one of the oldest farm places in Yolo county, and he has about sixty acres in alfalfa, although his principal interest lies in the raising of mules and horses. In Woodland, April 6, 1898, he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Gates, who was born and reared in Red Bluff, Cal. The Gates family is of Southern lineage and Ross F. Gates, father of Mrs. Clarke, was a native of Tennessee, but came to California with other members of the family when a small child. In the early '50s Mr. Gates was engaged in stock-raising in Tehama county and now resides in Los Angeles county. His wife, in maidenhood Kittle Beckwith and a native of Shasta county, died in Red Bluff. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have three children, Wilson J., Alice May and Grace Noble. The family attend the Christian Church, Mrs. Clarke being identified by membership with that denomination. Fraternally Mr. Clarke holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he votes with the Democratic party. With careful thought for every detail connected with ranching, he is succeeding in his chosen occupation and now holds a position among the progressive farmers of his native county. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/clarke139gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb