The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-16
MAKERS OF rio OhlD.
Brief Sketches al Men Who Have Helped to Make the City.
Sketch No. Series Began June 20, 1904.

Mr. Arthur b. Clarke is one of the
makers of the Richmond OF to-day. TOR, a
quarter Of n century no las been an
important factor In the business, educa-
stional and religious life of the city.
Mr.. Clarke Is d native Of this city, and
OF distinguished ancestry. He is de-
scendant of Charles Clarke who was
born IN Surry, England. cai,,o 70 th's3
country about 1870: settled In Powhatan
county, Va; married In 11io q grand !.
daughter of Abram Sallc, who WI
prominent among the 1Iugucnots who
came from the Isle OF Re, France ami
settled at Manakin. then iii Ienilco but
nov iii Chesterfield county. lie Is q
grea t-grand-nephew OF Major J Ohm
Clarke, or Powhatan county, Va. who
was a. distinguished engineer. lneeSaoir
and constructor. He erected the Viz
glnia renutentiary. the state Armory
house nov the site OF tho Union sta
stion Byrd street,, and other large strtlc-
lures for tho state Of Virginia. lie
alsoN designed and built for the United
States government, Belona Arsenal nnd
Gun Foundry, operated them Cor the
government. and later bought the prop
ertyr and operated the works for his own
account. He Is a grandson of John Sale
Clarke. an officorSin the American army
ried and settled In lower Henrico;s
also the grea t-grandson OF Jesse FRAY
ser, a soldier in the colonial army
of the Revolution, who was In the conf
1nand Of General Gates In the battle OF.
gGuilford Courthouse, In the battle OF
Cowpens, participated In t<c siege of
Yorktown, and Was present at the sur
render of$Lord Cornwolhs.
z Mr.. Clarke Is o. son of the late ALL
In ,Iro & for h,1,np
gagged In the hardware business in this
city; who wa $ 4 educated at Richmond
College and at Columbia College, WASH.
Iingto1l; and, who during the Confederate
war, being exempt from field du ty, was
engaged in the treasury department of
the Confedera cy. His Their was Emma
B. Keesee. second daughter Of Jesse f..
Keesee, who, prior to the war was
sheriff Of Henrico county and q promi-a
nent citizen OF that county. and later
was assistant treasurer OF the city q
Richmond. He Is O nephew OF five
uncles who served CALAMITY in the Con-
federate war, one of whom was Major
Charles &Hamrnett Clarke, on whom de-
volved for a. large part OF the war, the
command Of the Fifteenth Virginia
Regiment. 4,
Mr. Clarke IS a native of Richmond and
has spent his life here. He was educated.
and after filling several other positions
went with the Old Dominion Iron and
Nall Works. ses SSls s5 3sss is5l 5
Boiling w. Haxall was then president
of the company. and r, 2. Blankenship,
who had been q pupil Of his fathers, was " IS
general manager. Here he had ample
opportunities for the uses OF his talents,
and his abilities as q swift penmanr and
accurate accountant were soon rec ogn1lllzzeed
and appreciated. He was promoted
through various positions Of trust ana lln,t
resp nsibility in the service OF the COM
pany. on the tragic death Of Mr. Blank nix
enship in March, 1885, he was unan imou v
w elected president Of the company, ana no!
although peset with unusual difficultles,
successfully guided its affairs all through r
the following years Of depre ssion. I,
5} He wa animously reelected s. pre eslo
| dent of the company each year from .lsss
|till 1901, fourteen years, when the control, !,
llnE interest in the col pany!i cn1 ;t, g 9