James Clarke (1810-1877)

CLARKE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/19/2011 at 11:06:17

Bellevue Leader, Bellevue, Iowa, February 7, 1877

Another Old Settler Gone
Mr. James Clarke died at his residence in Green Island yesterday morning, in the 67th year of his age, after a somewhat protracted illness. Mr. Clarke was among the oldest settlers of the county, and being an honest, upright man, his memory is entitled to the respect and sympathy of the little world in which he moved, and where he was so favorably known to all.
Mr. Clarke was a native of County Caven, Ireland, where he was born in 1810. He came to America to seek his fortune in 1826 when he was but 16 years of age, and lived for some time in Ohio. He afterwards went to Indiana where he was married in 1839, when he moved to Illinois and contracted to build some portion of the first railroad ever constructed in that state. From there he came to Jackson county, Iowa, in 1861, and settled on the spot where he died, one-half mile north of the present village of Green Island. There he raised his family and commanded the esteem and confidence of his neighbors to such an extent that he was their Township Justice of the Peace for a period of nearly thirty years. He held many other local public offices in his time, such as County Swamp Land Commissioner, and member of the Board of Supervisors.
He was the founder and owner of the Town of Green Island, which he caused to be laid out some five years ago. Within the past year financial difficulties assailed him, because of his too liberal disposition to help others, and these troubles, together with a hemorrhage of the lungs, ended his life.
Mr. Clarke had many friends, and was the friend of everybody. His house and his purse were always open to those who stood in need of charity, and we may well regret that we have lost from our midst so good a friend and obliging neighbor. His funeral will take place from St. Joseph church in this town tomorrow. Peace be with him.