Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-20
JUDGE R. W. CLARKE,
A Prominent Man in BrattlebOrO
Half a Century,
Died In HornellsvIIIe, N. YEA Lave
yer who Held Many Public Omcss
and Had Military Rank Of Coions

Died in HornelIsvIIIe, N. YEA Law
yer who Held Many Public Omc,s
and Had Military Rank Of Coions
Judge Ranslure w. Clarke died Sunday
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Milo
M. Acker of Hornellsville, n. Y, with
whom he had lived several years. He had
been confined to his bed several months.
but the end came suddenly and unexpect-
Ranslure w. Clarke was born in Will.
iamst own, Vt, In 1916 His parents were
Elan and Cynthia Clarke. He prepared
for college at Black River academy at
Ludlow and at Randolph academy. He
entered Dartmouth college in 1888 and
graduated from that institution in 1912
Soon after his graduation he became prin.
cioal of the Black River academy. He
held that position for three years, and dur
ing that time he studied law in the office
of p. T. Washburn, who was governor of
Vermont in 1869. Mr.. Clarke came TO
Brattleboro and completed his law studies
in the office of j. Dorr Bradley, and was
admitted to the bar at the September term
of the Windham county court in 1916. He
practiced his profession in Brattleboro un-
ill his removal to 4ornelsville, n. Y, in
1893.
Judge Clarke was for many years a
prominent figure in the business and poll
tical life of Brattleboro and of Windham
county. He held the office of states at
torney from 1851 to 1854. He was mem.
Der of the constitutional convention in
1857 and was state senator in 1858 and
1859. He was one of the Vermont presi.
Dental electors in 1868. he was register
of probate for the district of Marlboro in
1S61-62, resigning that Office in June.
1862, when he was appointed assistant
quartermaster of United States volunteers.
He remained in the military service of the
United States until October, 1865. His
official ranks we're those of captain, major
and colonel. He was stationed in Bratte.
boro during large part of his service and
while here bought 1000 horses for the gov
eminent. He was transferred from Brat.
tleboro to Beaufort, S. c., and later to
North Carolina.
He received the appointment of postmas-
ter in January, 1871. He held that office
eight years and was succeeded by his as.
sistant, the late Charles r. Mansur. For
more than 25 years he held the office Of
United States commissioner and master in
chancery. He was prominently identified
with the Brattleboro savings bank, and its
president several years. He was elected
one of the assistant judges of the Windham
county court in 1882, and was reelected
for five successive terms, holding the posi-
ton ten years. Judge Clarke was at the
time law partner of Col. K. Haskins.
Judge Clarke was twice married. His
first wife was Lucy c., daughter of Judge
John Wilder of Weston. She died in 1864
and four years later he married Susan 0.
Wilder, another daughter of Judge Wilder
Judge Clarke is survived by two chill.
dren. Mrs. Mary Clarke Acker is
daughter by his first marriage. Mrs.
Acker is a graduate of Vassar college
and was teacher in New Jersey previous
to her marriage TO Milo NJ. Acker of Hor-
nellsville, who was formerly the Repubi.
can leader in the New York assembly. A
son by the second wife, Francis Z. Clarke
is in the employ of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad at Wichita, Kansas
The body was brought to Brattleboro
Wednesday, accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Acker and Miss Della Clarke of Bridge
port, a niece who lived in the family of
Judge Clarke many years. Members of
the legal fraternity, men connected with
the Brattleboro savings bank and old
friends met the body al the railroad sta.
tion. Rev. j. Fl. Babbitt conducted brief
services at the grave in the Prospect Hill
cemetery. n. l. Hawley, Charles W.
Durham, Alonzo Starkey, L. F. Adams.
F. K. Barrows and j. C. Dewitt acted as
bearers.
Judge Clarke possessed a striking per-
sonal presence and bearing. He had the
couItly manner of the old school, and was
rarely gracious, spirited and entertaining
in social intercourse. His peculiar ges-
ture, in the midst of some sally of wit or
pointed anecdote, as he pressed his hands
to his generous crown of good gray hair.
Will never be forgotten by those who knew
him well.