IRA PERCY CLARK

CLARK

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 20:02:46

IRA PERCY CLARK, teacher, Corning, was born in Geneseo, New York, in 1838, a son of Elias and Mary Clark, natives also of that State and of English descent. The father died in 1849, but the mother is still living, hale and hearty. She is, as was her husband, a member of the Presbyterian Church. The senior Clark was a classical scholar.

Mr. Clark, our present subject, was trained in Temple Hill Academy and Princeton College, at the latter of which he was graduated in the class of 1859, with the degree of A. B. His self-dependent career he began as a teacher, going South and establishing an academy. A few years afterward he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1872. The same year he came to Corning and began the practice of his profession. At length he was elected Justice of the Peace, and such was the extent of his business in that office that he was almost entirely excluded from practice as an attorney. On the expiration of his term he refused re-election and returned to practice; was once chosen a member of the School Board, and was prevailed upon to take charge of the public schools, and under his management they rose to the first position. The average attendance was 450, including forty-five non-resident pupils, and there were ten teachers. The course ended with four years of high- school studies. Mr. Clark excels in school discipline, making it appear as if the harmony among the pupils was a mutual agreement among philosophers.

In 1869 Mr. Clark was married to Miss Hattie M. Maxwell, and their children are Maud, a graduate of Painesville (Ohio) College; and Ira P., in school. The family are Presbyterians. Mr. Clark is still a classical student, having one of the finest private libraries in the State, which includes works of ancient literature, on history, theology, philosophy, education, etc., besides many valuable works of reference. Politically he is a stalwart Republican.