Biographical Sketch of James W. Clarke, Jefferson County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

**********************************************************************

James W. Clarke, postmaster at De Soto, was born in Culpeper County,
Va., in 1846, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Murphy) Clarke, of
Irish descent.  The former a native of Orange County, Va., born in 
1803, was a whellwright by trade, and served in the Mexican War.  By
his marriage to Miss Murphy three children were born.  Mr. Clarke 
died in Virginia in 1853.  Mrs. Clarke (whose birth occurred in Cul-
peper County, Va., in 1820) married, after coming to Missouri, Rev.
James Keen (deceased).  She had come to this State in 1851.  James W.
Clarke is one of the three children by his mother's first marriage.
A brother, John T., served as chief clerk in the State auditor's
office, at Jefferson City for fourteen years, and his sister, Mary A.
became the wife of A. J. Norwine, of Mineral Point, Mo.  Young Clarke
accompanied his mother to Missouri when young and obtained his educa-
tion in the common schools.  In 1863, during the progress of the war,
he enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Missouri Regiment, Shelby's bri-
gade, under Capt. Williams, and served for two years, surrendering at
Shreveport, La., in June, 1865 after having participated in numerous
engagements, among which was the battle of Fort Scott.  The winter of
1864-65 he passed in Texas.  In 1874 he married Miss Jennie Taylor, a 
native of Franklin County, Mo.  In 1875 he established a livery stable
at Mineral Point, Mo., of which he was proprietor two years, and the
following five years was engaged in merchandising.  In June, 1886 he
received the appointment of postmaster at De Soto, under Cleveland, 
and assumed charge of the duties of that position in November follow-
ing an office which he still holds.  Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have two 
children: Latty Howard and Carter.  Politically he is a Democrat.  
Mrs. Clarke is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Clarke be-
longs to the A. O. U. W.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================