CLARKE, FREDERICK SUMNER

CLARKE, PHELPS, FINNEGAN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/17/2004 at 16:42:29

Biography reproduced from page 727 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Frederick Sumner Clarke is well known as a representative of real-estate interests in Iowa and is the owner of the finest dairy and stock farm in Kossuth county. He makes his home in Algona and his activity is regarded as a valuable asset in business circles of this section of the state. He was born in Algona, May 21, 1881, and his life has been characterized by the spirit of enterprise that has been the dominant factor in the rapid and substantial upbuilding of this section of the country. He is a son of Andrew Dwight and Mary Jane (Phelps) Clarke. In the graded schools of Algona he began his education and later attended successfully the Todd Seminary at Woodstock, Illinois, the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, Michigan, the Culver Military Academy at Culver, Indiana, and received his business training from the Humboldt Business College at Humboldt, Iowa. He entered business circles in connection with his father, a real-estate dealer, under the firm name of A. D. Clarke & Company, Ltd. From the beginning he has enjoyed a prosperous career, for he started out with the firm purpose of thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase of business and there are few more thoroughly informed concerning the real-estate market or more capable of placing a correct valuation upon property. He is also a prominent representative of agricultural interests, being the owner of the finest dairy and stock farm in Kossuth county, being known as the Lund Farm, consisting of three hundred and fifteen acres, upon which are commodious and substantial buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The family residence is one of the finest cement houses in Algona, located on Minnesota street, one block south of State. He also owns other lands in Kossuth county as well as four fine farms in the famous corn belt of southern Minnesota, and in connection with his father he is still interested in lands in North and South Dakota, southern Tennessee and northern Alabama.

On the 29th of August, 1908, Mr. Clarke was united in marriage by the Rev. Campbell of the Congregational church of St. Paul, Minnesota, to Miss Helen May Finnegan, who was born on a farm in Riverdale township, Kossuth county, September 29, 1883, and is a daughter of J. J. Finnegan, who was an early settler and landowner of Riverdale township but now makes his home in Tracy, Minnesota. He is the owner of several fine farms in Lyon county, that state. Mrs. Clarke is a graduate of the kindergarten department of the Mankato (Minnesota) State Normal School and also an artist, doing water color, china, crayon and pencil sketching. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clarke has been born a daughter, Mary Marlea, whose birth occurred July 1, 1909, in Algona, Iowa. They are members of the Congregational church and are interested in the moral progress of the community, while in social circles they are prominent.

In politics Mr. Clarke is a republican and is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Knights of Pythias at Algona and the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Watertown. A lifelong resident of Kossuth, he is widely known and his many sterling qualities—his business enterprise and capability, his fidelity in friendship, his devotion to his family and his uniform courtesy—have placed him high in the public regard.