The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-18
A SKETCH OF JUDGE CLARK.
Based Upon Facts Given by Him to
the Writer.

the Writer.
Maitland, Fla, Feb 1.-THE telegraph
brings me the sad news of the sudden
death of my old and much-beloved friend,
Judge Richard II. Clark, whom supposed
from previous reports was likely to re-
cover from his recent illness. At my re-
quest, few years ago, he gave me some
facts in regard to his parentage, early
life and later career to be used by me in
the event of his death, which is my ex-
cuse for this hasty sketch.
Death came to Judge Clark as he was
nearing his 72nd birthday, he having been
born in the city of Savannah on March
a. 1924, and was the Oldest native-born
attorney of that city, Gen. H. r. Jack
son, Hon. John r. Ward and Gen A. r
Lawton having been born elsewhere He
was admitted to the Chatham bar on Feb
8, 1874, Judge Charles S. Henry being
men then. on the bench, with William Parker
OF his parentage Judge Clark always
spoke with tender and devout pride.
His father, Josiah H. Clark, was a ma
tive of Dorchester, Mass, and of an
English ancestry with a mixture of the.
Puritan and Cavalier, and came to Sa-
Vannah in 1878, where he engaged in mer-
camille pursuits. He died in 1892, ana
was buried in the old city cemetery but
at later period his remains were re-
moved to Laurel Grove cemetery.
Although a merchant, Josiah Clark was
deeply interested in music and literature
and cultivated both with considerable sue
cess. To this fact was due in a great
measure to the high intellectual culture of
Judge Clark and his distinguished brother
Rev. J; Q. A. Clark. d. D.. LID, the
eminent Methodist divine and author Be
ing of a ferVent religious nature, the elder
Clark found great pleasure in composing
hymns and setting them to music after
which he would lead the choir in singing
them. He was an official member of the
OLD Methodist church on South Broad
street, which he served with rare fidelity
The older prominent citizens of Savan-
nah will recall the fact that he also COM
posed the odes sung at the laying of the
corner stone of the Greene and Pulaski
monument on johnson square The odes
on the death of Adams and jefferson were
also written by him, and were selected
by the committee from a large number
sent in by other writers.
The mother of Judge Clark was Miss
Henrietta Gindrat, a native of Effinghar1
county, having been born between Ebe-
nezer and Sisters Ferry. Her father was
from the canton of Berne, in Switzerland
and descended from on all sides French
Protestants, who went to Switzerland on
the revocation of the edict of NanteZ But
he married a lady from Pitt county, N
c., of English descent. Mrs. Clark long
survived her husband, diving at Judge
Clark's home in Atlanta, at the ripe age
of AZ years, Jan. 6, 1873, and was buried
in his family lot at Rose Hill cemetery
Judge Clark. from his earliest youth. was
associated with and under the influence of
the most cultured and eminent men of
the period, his first male teacher being
Rev. Dr. George White the distinguished
Georgia historian, who was his instructor
from his seventh to his tenth year The
first twenty years of his life were passed
in Savannah and Effingham county his
school days ending at the Springfield
Academy. But before leaving that insti-
tuition he began the study of law under
the supervision of the able Matthew Hall
McAllister, who then had a summer res
idence in that vicinity. From there young
Clark entered the law Office of Charlton
& Ward, where he. succeeded Henry j.
Stewart and John Love Lawrie, and
where he had as his associates when clos
ing his studies, George S. Owens and John
F. Guilmartin.
Lack of pecuniary means not only has
tened his entrance into practice at the
bar, but caused him to seek more profit
able field for young lawyer in new
country, and he went to Albany Ga
then in Baker county, where he would be
assisted by Robert Lunday, a native and
old citizen Of Screven county, but then
living near Albany, whom the judge often
declared was the best friend he ever had.
Owing to a long spell of sickness the first
year in Albany was unpropitious, but the
5econd year he worked into a living prac-
tice, and from that time on he had no
cause to complain of his success.
Being an enthusiastic democrat he
early took an active part in the politics
of the day. which resulted in his election,
in 1S49, as state senator from the Thir- /
teenth district, then composed of Baker
and Early counties. He was also chosen
q member of the Senate of 1854. After
the expiration of this term, Gov. Herschel
V. Johnson made him junior counsel
with that great lawyer, Walter T. Col
quit, to represent the state before the
courts in a heavy litigation with the
creditors of the Bank of Darien, involv-
ing $250,000 However, in the midst of
this litigation, Judge Colquitt died, and
Gov. johnson being satisfied with ex-
Senator Clark's knowledge and manage
ment of the case, did him the high and
unexpected honor, to allow him to take
entire control of the case. In the final
trial before the supreme court at Mil
ledgeville, in 1855. Judge Clark had to
contend against Francis II. Cone. Rich ]
ard r. Cuyler John 3. Ward, Iverson l. |
Harris James Gardner and Alex. H. |
Cooper then among the foremost law
yers of the state. Late I'm life judge /
Clark was pleased to say that he priced |
this appointment by Gov. Johnson above |