The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-02-09
times In primitive log school house
with puncheon floors and rude benct
fashioned by the WoOdmall's AK. -

-
with puncheon floors and rude benche
fashioned by the woodman's ax..
:. Here Lydia Hornell spent her gftl
hood and her early womanhUOd, m
indeed her life was mainly spent in tbf
vicinity, and her affection IVES aivenstx
that beautiful region until'the time i
1872 when she came to Minnesota ant
transferred her allegiance and affectit]
to her adopted home. It WAS not b.
accident that Mr.. Clarke and his famf3
~ chose their new home in tile vicinitis1
of Okabena Lake, and upon II spot
where the simmer Of its waters wsls
visible with the first cleaning OF sthes9
morning sun and the last glow ct. tlssa
eyentide.. ,.-. :, .s5s7s z:7s .sSs ~, III
Mrs. Clarke inherited the vigoro,is
religious spirit of her father. llis sloge s,t
a pioneer,life. and his readiness 10 sacs'
rifice himself for the good Of the COM
smunity III which he.liyed. She ini,etis
tied from her New England mother
fine perceptions, love for the beanti-
ful in nature; art and literature, and n
quick and ready sympathy wnl, those
about her. In the Hornell family the
ties Of kinship and family affection
were exceedingly strong, and this fam
lily characteristic transmitted to the
succeeding generations.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarke were married
ut White Lake, Michigan, in 1916 and
these two dwelt together AZ years: Her
home life was characterized by u gen.
epous. christian hospitality. Her hear.
was large enough to (lnd \ place for all
comers, and her hospitality was often
extended to those whom Others NIGH,
not choose AS guests. She had the pow
er If discovering the pleasant traits j..
people who were not always agreeable
aud making them complete ly at home.
| She did not confine her nother!y af
fec:ion to her own children, but he,
| nephews and nieces found Il welcome
to her loving heart hardly less warm.
and more than one homeless young
girl found mother and \ home IN her.
g In the social life Of the community
she Was always al important factor.
She had that merry heart that doetl,
good like a medicine and that contagi-
Gus spirit spread its influence all
around her. She took All active inter-
est il the public questions Of the DAY
and one of my earliest recollrctions
dates back to the campaign of 1856
when, at public political celebration
i committee Of voters from b ,th par
lies struggled in vain +ffo,,s to cut ;
beautiful loaf of cake Which Mrs. Clarl
had stuffed with cotton in order to il
ustrate the saying that cotton i.
king"
She WAS always in sympathy Will
the yonng. All her lif. l,ng SHE main
tanned close frit ndshi., with Snuu,
people. ~~She4.eltl The secret If ,...s,s-,
ual you'll, and maintained close friend
ship with young peopls 70 the day q
her death.
LII 1S7, Mr.. and Ms. CLARK, viii
Mr.. and Mrs. Newton, their son.in Law
and daughter, Came to Wothingtu,
among the tirst settlers Of tie Nation
al Colony. Tue to l'er pioneer ances
try, and her eirIhood's experience, Mr.
Clarke, although then 81 years OF age
entered with Est into the new life
She went to housekeeping in u CLAIM
) shanty, wrote enthusiastic letters t,
!, her eastern friends about the brau,y o
the prairies, and her delight III the vii,
flowers which grew in such profusion
cultivated new friendships among he
neighbors, became al active part of til,
! social. literary and religious life of IL,
community, interested herself in tn
welfare Of the new settlers. aud becam
here, rs everywhere, u center of breez,
and sunshiny life.
When the grasshoppers came, ant
year after year of disappointment al,
misfortune crushed the hopes and em
bittered the spirit of the unf,rtunat
J settlers, Mrs. Clarke's real value wa
J made manifest. No misfo1tue coul,
sour her nature. No disaster could be
cloud her hopeful spirit. In tho mids
of disaster and poverty she organic 4
social gatherings, promoted Thanks
: giving and Christm IS entertainments s
and Fourth of July celebrations, h-lpe,
the poor from her own slender re