USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 6
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Remember us to the Doct. family tell the children to write to Mr. Ranger and family the kiness he shew me I cannot forgit-when I look back to Shrewsbury think how I part. ed with Orpba and Lidia and the little chil- dren what little prospect of ever seeing them more it will bring teers but, Son, I must leave. Remember your kind parent.
STEPHEN CLARK.
Jan'y 8th this Morning is like a Spring Morning you must excuse my writing as it was wrote late at Night and no way to mend my pen."t
LYMAN-first son of Stephen Clark, a law- yer by profession, died at New Portage Ohio, May 20, 1826, unmarried. By nature a man
* Asahel had his house at Glen's Falls, with nearly all its contents burned a short time before.
t The above letter is written in very fair business band for an old man.
MILES built the old turnpike in Fair Hav- en before he moved to Ohio. He continued to live at New Portage .- A successful, much re- spected citizen, stable, temperate and religious, engaged in many important works and useful' improvements in the new settlement in addi- tion to the duties of his profession as a phy- sician until his death. He was born in 1780 and died in 1827. He married his wife in Mt. Holly. They had one son and several daughters. Mrs. Miles Clark died suddenly (leaving an infant daughter) in 1825.
DR. RUSSELL CLARK.
OBITUARY from the Sandy Hill Herald.
DIED, at his residence near this village, May 30, 1849, Dr. Russell Clark, aged 67 years. He was born in Vermont, pursued his preliminary studies there, completed his professional education in Philadelphia, and removed to this piace some forty years ago. He was a skilltul physician-among the Very first in northern New York, and devoted the best energies of his life to his profession, in a wider range of practice than usually falls to the country physician. Always on
* By the Hon. Charles Rogers, son in law of Dr. Clark
1770854
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the alert, the poor patient was visited with the same alacrity as the rich. No fervor of summer's heat, no sweeping of the savage tempest through the gorges of the mountains of Warren the serverest winter day ever ar- rested his progress to the bedside of suffer- ing. All hours of night and day-for nights and days in long succession, has he traversed the broad extent of Washington and the wildest of the most desolate quarters of the adjoining County of Warren. His nature was all sympathy and kin iness, his heart was a stringed instrument, vibrating to the best impulses of our nature. A generous act, a noble deed swept over it in melting soft- ness ; no act of inhumanity or baseness was heard along its chords. He belonged to a family celebrated for talent, one that has il- lustrated the learned profession by the splen- dor of their genius. Death has made great gaps in that family of brothers. Their re- mains lie scattered in different states, but their lives, though divergent, have been united in the memories of their boynood and the affections of riper years; and we trust the grave is but the portal to a union eternal.
RUSSELL CLARK was born in Wallingsford, Ct. * 1782; married Aurra, daughter of Capt. Seth Wheeler of Sudbury, Vt Chil- dren, a son, Dr. Erskin G. Clark, now liv- ing at Sandy Hill, Wash. Co., N. Y. and a daughter, Mrs. Susan A. (Clark) Rogers, now living at the same place-widow of the late Hon. Charles Rogers.
Dr. Russell Clark used to write popular whig songs. The following is chorus to one of Harrison's tunes, sung to the tune of " The Cumpbells are coming."
Hurrah ! for the Hero that lives at North Bend, The farmer and statesman and poor man's friend, We like him in war and we like him in peace, They like him out West and we like him down East.
ASAHEL CLARK.
Born in Mt. Holly 1784; graduated at Middlebury College in 1807; studied law with Mr. Shepherd of Granville N. Y., after- wards of Vergennes, Vt. ; married to Lydia Finney of Shrewsbury in 1806; Children : Nelson Napoleon, born at Shrewsbury, Vt., and De Witt Clinton, born at Granville N. Y .; He practised as a lawyer at Gran- ville and Glens Falls, N. Y .; died at Glens Falls, in 1822.
His widow married in the fall of 1826, Hon. Ezra Meech, then member of Congress, who died in the fall of 1856; and Mrs. Meech, May, 1857, removed to Burlington where she now lives aged 88 years. t Nel
. Says his daughter, Mrs. Rogers.
t See biography in Shrewsbury papers.
son N. graduated at West Point ; entered to9 United States Army ; wounded in a due., died, aged 21. * (D W. C. C. (Gen.) lawyer, editor, confidential clerk of the U. S. Senate, died at Burlington, Aug. 1870. A further account of whom may be expected in a sup- plement to Burlington in the IV. volume of this work.
Asahel Clark stood high in College; dur- ing his last year, desirous of comsummaneg his marriage with Miss Lydia Finney to whom he had been some years engagei. Le thought, as it appears by an old letter from Gov. Israel Sinith, then a member of Con- gress, of a clerkship at Washington.
" City of Washington, March 13, 15:3. Dear Sir:
Your letter dated the 27 of Feb'y is re- ceived. I will attend to your request aci endeavour to procure for you a c.erassy during the next session of Congress, the cost- pensation of which will be sufficient to de- fray your expenses to and restience at Wasa- ington during that time. I can obir pro- ise you iny best endeavours in this business but cannot give assurances of success. There are a great number of persons constas: 7 looking out for vacancies.
When you see your beloved Lydia For must make my respects to her for i thise of her as you do, that she is a charming girl and will make you an excellent wite.
Yours sincerely, ISRAEL SMITE."
Mrs. Meech says when Mr. Clark found that a clerkship would only support him-e.f he abandoned the idea, and made arrange- ments to enter at once, after graduating, up- on the study of his profession. He deav- ered the oration at the dedi cation of the Gras- ville Academy in 1809; was a popular ich of July orator, an able speaker a: rollecal conventions, took an early and leading part in politics, was a republican and free mason, and held a Major's commission in the regi- ments of the Hudson in 1812-14.
Plattsburgh, Aug., 14, 1512.
My Dear Lydia :
I wrote you from Albany, on Sunday last, giving a detailed account of my tour with the British Adjutant General and the result of our interview with Gen Dearsorce, to wit a suspension of hostilities for the present, which letter I presume you have Rec'd before this. I returned in the Fellura- able quick passage of a day & auf :> Albany. Nothing new has occurred Fully iny return except I am this moment mitt - i that another Flag of Truce has arrived va
* See Finney Family in History of Shrewsbury.
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our lines with dispatches but of what nature I am not informed.
On my return I found the shirts you have so kindly forwarded to me, * and thre two letters you have still more kindly writ- ten me. I am grateful to you, My Dear, and to heaven, the source of blessings, for all your kindness heretofore, but especially for your kind and affecuonate remembrance and attention at the present moment-en- gaged in employments, to me entirely new, and uncongemal with those sympathies which more or less govern me, I feel mny hours of leisure hang heavily on my hands.
The Bearer, a soldier who goes home, has this moment called for the letter and is un- Patient. Adieu My Love.
Your unchangeable CLARK. My Dear Lydia.
Plattsburgh, Oct. 30, 1812. My Dear Lydia :
I take the earliest opportunity which has presented to inform you of my arrival here after a tedious and very ill provided passage of 4 days on the Lake. Indeed the last night we were out it was doubtful for several hours what would be the fate of the Vessel and consequently of us. Capt. Toby aid to Gen. Chandler, and myself, worked on deck most of the night, without hats for the wind blew so hard we could not wear them.
We yet remain here and when we shall be permitted to go to Champlain I cannot tell. Gen'l Bloomfield refuses to let us go as yet, assigning as a reason that if Gen'l Pettit moves on, his approach will alarm the Enemy. Arrangements are evidently mak- ing to have a little fighting done soon. .
I send this by Capt. Yale who goes to Al bany with the Prisoners, taken the 23d inst by Maj. Young at St. Regis. It was a bril hant little enterprise for our Mihiua, and we feel a little proud that the first stund of Colors taken during the war has been taken by a Detachment of our Brigade. The whole No. of Prisoners taken was 40 including 2 Capts. 1 Lieut. One Ensign was kuled, poor fellow. A considerable quantity of milita- ry stores were taken. I intended to have
* He always wore the grand old ruffled shirt ruffles, a fingers-width from the throat down the bosom-length, elegantly platted and laid over back, which the care- ful young wife never suffered any other fingers but her own to iron and plate. He dressed with scrupulous care, was u man of distinguished handsome mannere ; a gentleman who was the warm and intimate friend of Gov. Clinton, noted for his personal elegance and pol- ished conversation. The Governor not unfrequently dined at the table of Mr. Clark, his fair Lydia presiding as hostess. Mrs. Meech has an oit painting of Mr. C. which shows a fine head and countenance, but said not to equal the subject. An elderly gentleman, a cousin of Madam, gazing at it ouce with me, exclaimed, rais- ing his hands emphatically, Ah ! but it does not look as well. He was the finest looking man-the hand- somest man, I ever saw.
written you from * W Hall and sent the flan- nel you mentioned, but Wing went off with out my knowing it and carried off my Buf- faloe skin which I meant to have brought with ine as I have no bedding of any kind.
I cannot now calculate with certainty what time I shall be able to go home. The Paymaster has not yet returned from Albany but is daily expected. I hope my dear, you will have somebody see a little to the divid- ing that corn when harvested. I hope Mr. Ranger will not neglect to do the work to the barn. If he should I wish you my Dear to speak to him on the subject.
I borrowed 5 pounds of nails from Sam. Skinner which I forgot to replace. I wish they might be got of Farr and paid. Now my Love, I believe I have put tasks enough upon you to suffice till my return. Do my Dear write me every chance. Tell Neison & De Witt to be good Boys. Adieu My Love. Heaven bless you. A. CLARK.
Capt. Yale is waiting. My Dear Lydia.
City of Washington, Monday, March 9, 18 --. My Ever Dear Wife :
You will undoubtedly be surprised on receiving a letter from mne of this date at this place (If you are so fortunate as to receive it) but after what has taken place since i felt home, nothing ought to surprise us now adays. The delay of the Vice President s arrival kept me here in suspense 10 days without being able to do anything, expect- ing him daily. But from my interviews with the Secretary of War, I had no doubt that the Statements the V. President would make on his arrival would produce an imme- diate adjustment of my clain without an application to Congress. So thought the Vice Pres't ani other Gentlemen here, ac- quainted with such business; and so I have not the least doubt would have been the fact had it not been for that ridiculous and at the same time infamous publication in New York, in which I am introduced to the Administration at Washington as being so important a character as to be at the head of a grand national piot to blow up the present Government and place Mr. Clinton at the helm. .
It was like the breaking out of a Volcano on Capitol Hill. I dont know that the Presi- dent or Heads of departments actually kept within doors to avoid immediate distruction, when they found the Grand Conspirator was within the City ; but it was a day of dark faces ; t'was like the discovery of some pow- der plot. I contess I was never so much sur- prised as I was to see myself thus suddenly at- tacked on so large a scale and connected with the man, who of all others is the most dread- ed here, as his prime Minister in this great work of overturning the Government. I could not but foresee the result in the suspen- sion of my business until the public mind
ยท Whiteball.
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could be set right by being undeceived, which is I believe now effectually done, and instead of its having the effect, eventually, which was intended either to injure me or Mr. Clin- ton, it must result in the disgrace of that infamous, base and wicked faction in N York which has some of its creatures very near us, who I shall not be surprised to find the Au- thors of that vile fabrication, and if I do it will be a day of sad accountability to them They will not find mne standing alone in un- equal contest with their damnable machina- tions. You will pardon my saying so much on this subject, My Dear, and think what must be my feelings to be kept here so much longer than you or I expected when we parted, the suspense of my business, and my painful anxiety about you from my pro. tracted absence, waiting from day to day for something satisfactory to write and hoping tomorrow would produce it, have combined, I believe, to make me as unhappy as I ever deserved to be in this world. Nothing but my occasional wrath and the high notice of some important Friends here has interrupted my melancholy for a fortnight.
But I'll say no more, twill all be over shortly. I am under great obligations to the Vice President for the interest he has taken in my behalf; it has been more than I could have expected. My claim for indemnifica- tion against the Hudson Regiments is now before the Senate and the Chairman has just told me I shall have a good report in the morning and the V. P. assures me it shall be acted on immediately. This is the first moment I have been able to write you any thing to be depended on such has been the strange state of things. I have settled my oid account against the Government and got my money, about $ 200.00 and were it not for my distressing delay, I should have nothing to regret on the journey. I will write to Whitley day after to-morrow, by which I hope to inform when I return.
I enclose you $ 20. and send this under cover to Alpheus Doty, not daring to trust to G. Falls P. Office. Pa's love to De Witt. I hope he is a good boy.
Adieu, My Love, God Bless and make you more happy than, in his absence from you, your affectionate
Husband can be.
Mrs. L. Clark. ASAHEL CLARK.
Compl'ts to Capt. Powers & Wife & Whit. Love to Julia.
Major Clark received a land warrant for services in 1812.
In July, 1820, he visited his parents and family in Ohio. He writes back to his wife: " Father is actually in better circumstances than I ever knew him since my remembrance. Miles is said to be getting rich and I think it is so. Russell's farm here, aside from all his other lands is quite a little fortune.
The country is fruitful to abundance, but you are asking in your mind what are you going to do ? have you got Ohio mad ? I cannot tell you yes, my Dear *
* (His family had been trying to draw him to Ohio to settle, as a great place for a young and talented lawyer to rise in.)
Mother, Lorry and all the rest cross this letter with their love-God bless and protect you my dearest Lydia.
A. CLARK."
His wedlock was one of those olden and most beautiful of love-marriages. Dear, aged Madam Meech always speaks of him as a husband of unalterable and unequalle i affec- tions; in very pleasant proof of it, she has the loveliest package of love-letters before and after marriage, that we have ever turned over.
Mr. Clark did not need a new country to help him to rise in. He was already too em- inent at the Bar in the State of New York, too popular in politics in Warren County, to render a remove even to Ohio, prospectively more attractive.
Many years after he was in his grave his son, while pursuing his law studies, writes to his mother :
" Judge Davis (in whose office I am) did not know until this evening that I was the son of Asahel Clark. In the course of a conversation with hun this evening, I asked him if he knew father ? He said no ; but on learning that Asahel Clark was the man, he was in an ecstacy of astonishment. He immediately says to me : " Asahel Clark was the most eloquent man, I ever, in the whole course of my life knew, by far. He was infinitely above competition." I have seen (said Judge D.) Judge Dwight sit with his mouth open for an hour, on the benen, com- pletely carried away by your father's elo- quence. He then told me a number of an- ecdotes of him, ending by pronouncing him in elocution the first man in the State of New York. He then said to me : Clark, have you any of your father's eloquence ? If you have you have got a fortune. Thus it is that law- yers, who knew my father, speak of him to me ; in a manner which a son most loves to hear, and makes me prouder of him dead than of all the honor and consideration, I have ever hoped to attain."
We have an old printed address, as early as 1816-one large sheet, four columns.
" ADDRESS
TO THE ELECTORS OF WARREN COUNTY." Closing paragraph :
" Finally, Fellow Cit- lizens, the Candidates are before you, their
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characters are open to your inspection. If you are captivated with the splendid misery which follows in the train of " legitimate kings " vote for its admirers. If you wish to see the barriers of your coun- try broken down before an invading enemy, vote for their apologists and abettors. But, if you wish to reward the Veteran for his toils-the Patriot for his labors, and see the Institutions of your country perpetuated to your children, vote for the Republican Candidates.
April 27th, 1816.
ASAHEL CLARK.".
Mr. Clark, the summer or fall of his death, was promised by the leaders of his party, the nomination for Member of Congress. The caucus was warned. Mr. Rogers, anoth- er noted lawyer, while pledged to Clark, worked secretly for himself. Mr. Clark, by his faithful wife,* who with a woman's in- stinct distrusted the ally, and by others was warned. It was never in the nature of a Clark to doubt a man that proffered friend- ship ; and from his popularity, talents and friends enlisted he had no reason to ex- pect anything but success when he fell sick-but for a few days apparently-from overwork. Rogers seeing an opportunity rallied his supporters, secretly, (to Mr. Clark's party) got up a caucus just twenty- four hours ahead of the caucus appointed to nominate Clark, and got out the nomination for himself. "It struck," says our authority* " like a thunderbolt" in the county-friends in hosts, flocked to Clark. "The nomina- tion was illegal." " A warning should be out at once and the whole county rallied-the Rogers nomination called and tried, and Clark yet should go;" so his numerous friends assured him, pressing to his sick room. But the disappointment in Rogers -in a friend and politician of his own par- ty-the excitement from the cause and press of excited friends to his room was too much. "No ;" he said "it shall not be." " Let. hint go." Typhus fever succeeded rapidly. He died within a week, He was first in- terred at Glens Falls-later his ashes were removed to the burial-lot of his brother, Dr. Russell Clark, in the village of Sandy Hill, N. Y.
STEPHEN, 5th son of Stephen Clark, died while in Middlebury, Vt. (where he had en- tered college) in 1804, aged about fifteen.
GEN. ORVILLE CLARK.
BY E. D. BAKER.| *
Soon after his advent to Sandy Hill, Mr. Clark, by his natural suavity of manner and general gentlemanly deportment, won the respect of not only the young men of his own age, but of the public generally. That enterprise and love of the beautiful, which were characteristics of his whole life, were early developed. A neglected dwelling, or a filthy street, he could never tolerate, and all, that departed from the strictest rules of cleanliness and propriety were sure to meet with unrestricted condemnation at his hands. He was soon admitted to practice in what was then known as the County Court, presi- ded over, by those afterwards eminent jurists, Walworth, Willard, Cowen and others, whose names are identified with the jurisprudence of our County, and the State, which was honored by their legal lore. Soon after he was admitted to the County bar, Mr. Clark was engaged in a trial which created great interest in the entire community, which to- gether with the fact that it was his first ef- fort, attracted a crowd to the court-room. He had proceeded but a little way in the trial when all became convinced of the wisdom of his client in selecting the young lawyer to manage his cause. The address to the jury astonished not only his friends, but drew up- on him the encomiums of the older members of the bar, many of whom had few peers and few equals in the State. From this Mr. Clark rose rapidly in his profession, and was not long in placing himself side by side with the veteran practitioners of the day, and not many years elapsed before, with common consent, he took his stand at the head of the bar in the County, and his fame as a lawyer brought him clients from almost every sec- tion of the State.
At an early date Mr. C. evinced a military talent which soon attracted the attention of the public and by the voice of the people he was placed in one position after another un- til the highest military honor was conferred upon him by his appointment as Maj. Gen'l. His love for the military soon diverted his attention from his profession to a certain de- gree, but it was not until after many years that he abandoned that profession, which
* Former Editor of the Sandy Hill Herald -- a political and personal friend of the General.
* Mrs. Meech.
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his talents so eminently fitted him to adorn, for renewed activity in other branches of business.
It was not to be expected that one gifted as Gen'l C. could long escape the notice of the political party with which he affiliated. His political addresses were plain, convinc- ing, argumentative and truly eloquent. From his first advent as a public speaker until the time of his death, Gen'l C. took an active part in every important political campaign. He was a great favorite with his party but if possible a greater favorite with the niass- es, with whom he had a greater influence than almost any other man.
When his popularity was approaching its zenith, by the unanimous voice of his party Gen'l C. was nominated for State Senator, at a time when the 4th Senatorial District com- prised one eighth of the State. He was elect- ed by the largest majority ever given to any candidate in the district; Soon after enter- ing upon his duties as Senator, he became pit - ted against the late Sa nuel Young, one of the most eminent statesmen of his day. Al- though Gen'l C. and Col. Young belonged to the same political party, the divisions in the party placed them in antagonism, and the friends of both gentlemen looked forward with interest to the time when they should meet to contend for the mastery, and when it was known that Gen'l C. was to address the senate every nook and corner were filled to repletion, and it is no exaggeration to say that a more masterly forensic effort Was never listened to in the State. The New York Herald, in alluding to the speech, said . " The statesmanship and oratory of the Senate of the United States have come down to the Senate of New York "-Suffice it to say Gen'l C's. victory was complete, and the " Lion of the Senate " was forced to yield the peerage to his comparatively youth - ful competitor. With such a reputation, Gen'l C. soon attracted the attention of the leading members of his party, and had his ambition been equal to his talents he might have won any position in the gift of the peo- ple of the Empire State, but his active hab- its led him into the more practical business of life, in which he was at times eminently successful and at others unfortunate, but from the latter he would rise to renewed exer- tion and success.
Gen'l C. turned his attention to rail-road matters. It was mainly through his efforts that a bill was passed through the New York legislature authorizing the New York Cen- tral Rail-Road to take stock in the Great Western Railway of Canada, which hastened the building of that important link in our great western thoroughfare.
With the late Gov. Paine, Gen'l C survey- ed a route through Texas, for a road which if completed would have been the main line of the Southern Pacific Rail-Road. Through the apathy of northern capitalists and the unsettled state of the money market nothing more was done than to attract attention to what must eventually be the only sure and secure route from the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean. *
From Texas Gen'l C. went to Iowa to take charge of the improvement of the Des Moines river. Good and bad fortune alternate with him until death put an end to his active lite. Had he possessed an inordinate love of mon- ey he might have amassed a fortune; but he was liberal to a fault and seemed to care nothing for money save obtaining it, and when obtained it was free to all who sought it. The poor never asked in vain, and so long as he had, it was freely given.
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