The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-12
RARE
Works of Art
Discovered.
Astonishing Find in
Washington.
COL. CLARK,
Formerly a Local
Editor,
Leaves Valuable Collection
Upon His Death in Ma
tionaI Capital.

Years ago there lived In Belleton-
taine an attorney named Col. William
Penn CLARK, who owned the Logan
County Gazette. He sold the paper to
the late Judge William Lawrence, who
acted as its editor for a year or more.
Clark, upon leaving Bellefontaine,
went to Washington, d. c, where he
prospered Tor a time and for period
with General Benjamin F. Butler. The
latter prospered as one of the chosen
people, obtaining high rank in the
army of the North during the civil war.
Butler was also powerful in political
conflicts. was honored by Ohio and be-
sides acting as Its Chief Executive
served several terms in Congress and
at one time was the candidate of a
great faction of a great party for
President of the United States. He
amassed wealth in his profession and
made millions in commercial pursuits.
| Clark, who was General Buffers close
friend. on the other.hsnd was success
full only in his darling hobby, that of
collecting paintings by the world g
masters with brush and palette.
Clark's lifetime efforts resulted in the
gathering together of many rare works
and since the connoisseur' death,
which occurred in Washington in Fe5-
ruary, 1908. the collection has been
discovered to be of rare value and has
stirred up the art lovers in the national
capital. The pictures represent year:
of patient plodding research, of in
difference to discouraging criticism, OF
self denial at times bordering ON the
heroic Clark lived to "A great extent
in the dream world of art and fortune
did not deal any too kindly with the
aged man for in material things he was
sorely disappointed and his closing
years were marked by stern necessity
and a condition almost amounting q
penury. He was clerk in one of tbs
government departments but becoming
untitled for duty by the inroads of ag'
had to face the world with barely
sufficient for his modest wants Fl,
became seriously embarrassed financial
ly in 1891 and it seemed absolutely nee
essary for him to raise several thous
ands of dollars. He appealed to hi
old-time friend, General Butler, whit
lowned factories, store houses, interest
bearing bonds. bank stoUk and yachts
The required sum was advanced an
Clark. feeling rich in the possession o
his priced paintings, insisted that Gen
eral Butler should secure himself b.
taking mortgage upon 100 paintings
Butler took the mortgage as a mer
matter of form. fully intending tha
by no act of his would his FRIEND b
lput to any stress. Death took the ma
Of millions first and his executors il
settling the estate found the mortgsg
on the collection which then filed tn
walls of a roomy old house ON Mint
street. Clark must either pay tn
mortgage which amounted to owe
s12. 600 or yield his dearest possession
through the process of foreclosure
Clark soon died and was thus suffere
the pain of seeing his treasures tor
from the walls and placed under tn
hammer. By the terms of Clark wi
il was provided that enough of tn
paintings should be sold to cover tn
Butler debt and the rest were to b
turned over to his native state o
Iowa The paintings were remove
from the old Ninth street house an
lplaced with storage company for SAT
keeping. Art experts have examine
the collection and beneath the dII
that had accumulated during man
years were astounded TO find severs
genuine works by old masters. Afte
careful investigation it was determiI
ed that at least 10 of the % canvasse
should be speedily cleared or restore
at an expense to- the Butler estate q
many hundreds of dollars. 1t wa
during this investigation that the tru
character of the art find became know
and light was thrown upon the car
and skill with which Col. Clark ha
followed his hobby.
The discovery of this mine of rich
ness to the world of art has result
!, ed in the paintings being jealousl
guarded and those who nest knew Co
Clark regret that the public recogni
tion of his service as collector shouI
not have been forthcoming to chee
him in his years of shadow when neal
ing the grave.
1t Is said that another will is i
existence bequeathing the entire co
lection to a nephew of the testator b
marriage.