- 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.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 109-110.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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