The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-06-21
SOLDIER,
PIONEER,
STUDENT
SIDNEY CLAIR X
DIED, OKLAH o M A
LOST A FRIEND

Continued from Pa1n ono
eress. bu' was defeated in the senate
by the powerful influence Of the cat.
tie syndicate.
Helps Open state.
in the last hours of the session OF
1889 he assisted IN drafting the
amendment TO the lniian approprla.
tlon Dill which opened 0klahoma 70
setllemen The first step IN building
here sieat and prosperous stale"
OF Old New Enelcnd stock
Col Clarke cafe OF good old New
England stock, his ancestors being
among the early colonial settlers and
staunch supporters of the cOlonial
government He was born October fG.
1881 AZ Souihbridge Mass. His grand
father sas an officer in the Reyolu
tlonary army and BITS father served IN
the war Of 1912.
Al the rye OF i8 he engaged Ia mes-
camille pursuits Al Worcester, Mass,
Later he wro'e for q number Of pub.
llcAtl0ns and according 20 local hls
tory soon earned the reputation OF
being clean, couclso aud forclble
writer
IN 1854 he became editor and pro.
rrlclor 81 The Soulhbrldge Press. con.
ilnuing ter five years He was au
ardent free soiler" having cast his
first vote for Hale and Julian IN 1852,
IN 1856 no became identified with the
Republican party, being o warm SUP.
porter OF General Fremont
Visits oerahoma
In 1855 ne visited Oklahoma and IN
yesilgated rhe then existing c0nai
ll0is liz had been commissioned by
The Chicago Tribune to 90 TO Fort
Reno with General Sheridan, sent
there bY the president to settle diff
eulilcs with the Indians. Much of the
knowcdge gained on this trip was
l'ler used TO advantage Ia Washing
ton, when Col Clarke represen ed
Capt payne's colony OF Oklahoma
boomers" lie was one Of the active
members Of congress IN getting
through Tie bill which opened "old
Oklahoma 70 settlement.
Coming to this state at the time Of
the opening. he A. once became ilcn.
tiiIel with tho first movement for
statehood and IN connection with the
statehood executive committee, Of
Which hc wis The head, made many
trips 10 W 'nglon advocating that
the newh llzed territory be I'D
mitled tc. .nlon.
Service During War
During the war he secured infurma.
tlun Of great value In his advocacy
of the settling uG Oklahoma, being
assistant provost marshal for Kansas.
Nebraska Colorado and Dakota. Pre-
ylously 10 hgi served over three
years IN ihe Union army as assistant
adiuianl general Of volunteers Ind
also on the staff Of General J. G.
Emnt.
When pfialls wero IN a critical con
dltlon M the territory Of Kansas he
Cdmo wOs nAa l0.1led at laWfanre
10 1855 Ne soon entered politics ana
became q member Of he legislature
IN 1861 Two years later he was
chairman Of the Republican state con
mlttce and the same year was an
pointed by President Lincoln es as
gistant adiutant general In the Union
army. Ho studied law IN the office q
General iim' Lane. one Of Kansas
first United States senator's and wsa
also his private secretary
IN 1861 be was elected to congress,
aud WAS reelected IN 1865 and 1868.
Two years aflerwagd he was again g
candidate for the Republican nomlna
iiDn hu, was defeated
In 1870 be was a candidate for The
United States senate, but according
10 one historian, was defeated by the
liberal Use Of money The year 1878
found him again IN the Kansas legls
laturee, where be was elected speak
II OF the lower house.
Twice Married,
Col Clalke was iMdco married. in
1860 lie was married al Lawrence to
Miss Hsnryetia Ross Two boys and
two girls Were born 10 them, George
Lincoln. Sydney. Jr.. Lula Louisa and
ELLA Maria. Mrs Clarke died In 1878
In 1881 h. was again married, % Miss
Dora Gouldlng Of Topeka. One daugn-
ter Josic, was born as a result Of this
union.
Col Clarke has aoen Oklahoma CITY
IN every stage Of It's development. and
ios the paat twenty years has been
one Of rs most active citizens
tie wan president Of The first city
council. acting mayor during 3 large
.p0ftlun nt the summer Of 1889 and q
prominent figure III al the political
conventions nf the early days. He
anposed the effort tu create d pruVl'
EiDnal eoyefnment In June. lNs9. ana
WIS d delegate m the interest 0f the
opposition to convention n Frisco
Hero ns w1s chairman Of q commit
ioc whica drafted resolutions IN pro-
test
when the "Elghty.hlners' ass0ela