Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-07

LOCAL INTELLIGENC
The Late Hon. Samuel Clark.

We are indebted to the Rev. Joseph Chandler of
West Brottleboro, for copy of the discriminating
and valuable biographical sketch of our late respected
townsman, the Hon. Samuel Clark prepared by him
for and read before the Vermont Historical Society ot
its late meeting in this village The subject of this
paper was so well and widely known in this sec,ion
that we are sure our readers will be pleased as We
were, with the memoir. Ed. PHGSIx1
1t is well that we have the aged among us
for our respect aud affection; and also for III
testimony they can give in favor of virtue and
piety. And when they are taken away II is
well that we pay the respect due to their men,
DRY and it would be better if we would al
ways show our regard for them not alone bv
funeral obsequies, mourning garb, and words
of eulogy, but rather by cultivating the virtues
which their life illustrated, and by initiating all
that was good in their characters.
Hon. Samuel Clark, member of this So
ciety, whose death at the age of 81 gives &C.
casion for this notice, was for many years
prominent and highly respectable citizen of
Brattleboro. He was born in Labanon, Conn,
bia, on the 2Sth of Feb. 1777. His father was
Samuel Clark, of Lebanon, son of Timothy
Clark of the same town, whose father with a
Mr.. Dewey, purchased a tract of land of the
Indians, which tract was called, down to late
day the Clark & Dewey purchase. There is a
tradition that the first ancestor of these Clarks,
in this country came from England in the ship
Ann, in the year 1922.
Through his mother, Sarah Cushman the
subject of this notice was lineal descendant,
in the seventh generation, of Robert Cushman.
who came to Plymouth, Mass in 1921, and
who though, not a clergyman, nor even
"Teacbing Elder prepared and delivered
sermon, on Wednesday Dec. ~, the day before
he sailed for England. This was the first SER
mon delivered in New England that was prin-
ted. The main facs of his life, with list of
his descendants in This country, are recorded in
the volume OF "Cushman Genealogy," prepared
by Hon. Henry w. Cushman of Bernardston,
Mass, TO which volume we are indebted for the.
main facts of this sketch.
The family Of which our deceased friend was
the ninth consisted of seven sons and four
daughters. After the death of his brother Eli
phas in 1850, who died at Toland Ct at the
age of 80, he was the sole survivor of the fam
lily. Till Is years of age he labored on his
fathers farm in Lebanon. Then, after attend
ing High School for about four months, he
went TO Massachusetts, and for about three
years, he was engaged in teaching school, and
as clerk in country store in Bernardston,
Greenfield, and Leyden. He then removed to
Dover, w., where he resided for some six wears.
engaged in mercantile business. Sept. /, 1900,
he m arried Susan Johnson who was born Sent.
177S in Ellington Ct, daughter of David John
son of Dover Vt. In 1904 he removed to
Guiford where he prosecuted his business sue
cessfuly for nine years. In 1918 he went back
to Dover. which town, in 1914 he represented
in the State Legislature. In 1915 he took up
his residence in West Brattleboro, and for
about fifteen years, carried on mercantile bust
ness there. In the years 1920 and 81, and also.
1925 and 26, he was the representative of the
town in the Legislature. For three wears.
commencing with 1927 he was member of
The Council Of this St~tr. In 1899 he wos fin
Assistant Judge OF the county court for this
county. In 1886 he was delegate from this
town to the convention for revising the Consti
tuticn. While in the Legislature, he was chief
ly instrumental in obtaining the charter of
Brattleboro Bank of which he was for twenty
years following, director For thirteen years
he was one of the Trustees of the Hosbital for
the Insane, in this town. For period OF thirty
five years he was an active member of the
Board of Trustees of Brattleboro Academy.
ever manifesting lively interest in the Insti,u-
ton by his large contributions for building and
other purposes, and by his fatbfulness as
Trustee to promote the welfare of the school.
and to secure its regular and efficient manage
ment.
His religious life is supposed to have conf
menced during the year 1888, at which time, in
company with many others, he joined the Con.
gregational church in West Bratteboro. then
under the pastoral care of Rev. Jedediah L.
Stark
This brief record of the leading facts of his
life shows that he was in his sphere, strong
man; fitted by nature, and by the wise and dill |
igent use of his energies to exert an influence
in society. Though possessed of strong feel
ings, his judgment was sound, and his opinion
was much valued by his neighbors. While he
was not over cautious, he was not rash. Pru-
dence and sagacity were marked traits in his
character. Another pleasing trait was his rea-
diness to make amends for anything done under
The impulse of excited feelings, which he was
led afterwards to look upon as wrong. He was
not one of those men, of assumed infallibillty
who make it point never to take back any
thing, and never TO acknowledge themselves
He did not claim infallibility, nor
perfection. In the many instances where he
was called upon to express his opinion, and to
give his vote, he seldom hesitated to declare
himself faithfully and frankly upon the point
IN question and almost as often, he would ex
press his Willingness to acquiesce in the de-
cision OF the majority against him. In all mat
tiers, however, involving moral principle, or
that seemed to him of superlative Importance,
he was firm and unyielding; and he brought
all the energies of his strong and impetuous
nature to bear upon the business of maintain