Polk Co. IAGenWeb

CLARKSON, RICHARD P. — Or "Dick," as he is familiarly and better known, was born in Brookville, Indiana, April 16, 1840. He was literally raised in the printing office of his father. He came to Iowa with his father in 1855 and remained with him in the arduous work of taming a wild prairie until 1861, when he came to Des Moines and entered the office of the State Register as a compositor. October 8, 1861, he enlisted as a private in company A, Twelfth Iowa infantry. He was captured at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and for seven months received the murderous hospitality of rebel prison pens, when he was exchanged and returned to his regiment and served through his term with a valor and heroism which fairly entitled him to shoulder-straps. When mustered out of the service her returned to Grundy county and engaged in agriculture until 1870, when he became connected with the Register, and at once assumed the position of business manager, devoting his time so assiduously to his post, from eleven o'clock in the morning until midnight, as to become especially noticeable. He is emphatically a man who "minds his own business." At a recent reunion of the Twelfth regiment he was present, which was the only time he has been absent from his desk for nearly nine years. He is cautious, firm in purpose, honorable and strictly methodical in all his transactions. To his excellent business qualifications is the establishment largely due for its remarkable financial success. He is reserved in manner, of few words, yet has in reserve those qualities of mind which enable him to write well on any topic he may select. He is popular with those who know him best. Like his father, he is a firm friend and a disagreeable enemy. He is generous where generosity is deserving. In business circles he stands high for his unswerving integrity and stability. Though not a boisterous politician, he began political life at a very early date in a boisterous manner. In the summer of 1840 his mother was selected to present a flag to the Harrison Guards, of Brookville and make the presentation speech. That was in the log cabin campaign of Old Tippecanoe. Dick was in swaddling clothes, and, when the hour came for the presentation, he was turned over to the tender care of a friend. Dick set up a rebellion instanter, pugnis et calcibus, and made more noise than all the people on the ground, whereupon his mother took him, and, holding him on one arm, delivered her address and presented the flag, like the Spartan mother she was. He was married in September, 1866 to Miss Aggie Green, a native of Illinois. They have four children: Elizabeth, John, Frank and Bertha.