The third and last Territorial Governor was James Clarke. Sometime in the autumn of the year 1837, when the trees were in the “sear and yellow leaf,” a printer boy of slender form and gentle appearance might have been seen crossing the laurel hills of his own State. Behind him rolled the water of the “Blue Juniata,” on the banks of which he had spent, in merry glee, his youthful days. He had heard and read of strange counties that lay far off toward the setting sun, through which broad rivers run, and spreading landscapes unfolded to human eyes the most rare and magnificent beauty. With his youthful gaze fixed upon that star which never sets, he set forth into the wilds of Wisconsin, a stranger in a strange land, an adventurer seeking his own fortune, depending upon his own exertions, with no recommendations save an honest face and genteel deportment. This young man was James Clarke, who afterward became the able, talented and popular Governor of Iowa.

     He remained in Wisconsin, working at his trade as a printer, until after the organization of the Territory of Iowa, when he removed to Burlington, where the first Legislature of Iowa assembled. After the death of Mr. Conway he was appointed by President Van Buren, Secretary of the Territory, which office he filled with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. During the time he held this office he contributed by his kind, gentle and amiable manner to soften the feelings of hatred and distrust which at one time existed between leading men of the Territory. Whoever had business at his office found him a kind, gentle, quiet, amiable man, always ready and willing to do whatever was desired of him, regretting, at the same time, that he could do no more. During the time he was Secretary he performed a vast amount of labor, but notwithstanding the large amount of business he transacted, he still found time to write for the press, and contributed many valuable articles touching the future greatness of Iowa.

     After he retired from the office of Secretary he again returned to the printing trade, and became the leading editor of the Burlington Gazette. To the columns of this paper he devoted his whole energies, and by so doing made it the leading Democratic paper of the Territory. In the early summer of 1845 President Polk removed Mr. Chambers, and appointed Mr. Clarke to succeed him as Governor of Iowa. Pervious to his appointment he had been elected by the people of his county a delegate to the first convention which assembled to form a Constitution for the State of Iowa. In this convention he distinguished himself both for his talent and personal demeanor, and contributed to the pages of that Constitution some of the great elementary principles which lie at the foundation of human rights. And although that Constitution was defeated, he still had the satisfaction of seeing their spirit and meaning transferred to another, and still continued as the fundamental law of our State.

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