Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-10-08
Gibbs E. Clarke.

lat the age of seventy years. has
cast off his shield and armor and
gone to the Great Beyond" The
loss is more manifest because of the
great loyalty of the deceased to his
own immediate family and because
he has been so conspicuous a figure
in the business and political life of
his village for period of forty-five
years. The high ability of the de-
ceased cannot better be illustrated
than by the fact that, for more than
forty years, he has almost constantly
held town office. He has held the
office of selectman and lister many
times and had, at the time of his
death, a more intimate knowledge
of the changes in and value of town
property than any living man.
Mr.. Clarke also had an extensive
and accurate knowledge of people
who have lived in his community
during the last forty years. His
knowledge with reference to all mat
tiers of local concern, including both
people and property, was almost en-
cyclopedic. If one wanted any
name, date or circumstance relating
to the affairs of the town, he had
only to ask Glib, and the answer was
forthcoming without reference to
any book and without hesitation.
He possessed a natural desire to in
vestigate and examine; and, when he
once learned, he never forgot, so
quick and accurate was his percep-
ton and so retentive was his memory.
The reason, then, is not far to see
why he was so long in business and
why he held public office so long and
constantly.
For many years, he was lister and
selectman. He has also held, many
times, the office of oversecr of the
poor. He has been a water commits
sioner ever since the town purchased
its splendid system Of water works.
The other-offices held by him have
been: Clerk of the school board for
twenty years, representative to the
general assembly in 1896, member
of republican state committee, justice
of the peace for forty years, during
which time he tried many cases both
civil and criminal. Mr.. Clarke also
acted as administrator of many es-
tates.
During his entire residence, Mr..
Clarke was in some kind of mercan-
tile business. He first worked for
c. M. Dyer, was afterwards his
partner. AfterWard, he bought the
block which has long borne his name
and has always kept store there until
within a few years. Since then, he
has been in the undertaking business
until his decease. At the time of
his death, he was treasurer of Essex
Lodge of Odd Fellows, water COM
missioner, and overseer of the poor.
In his family, he was a staunch
and loyal husband and father.
In 1865 he was married to Sarah P.
ellison, always a most helpful and af-
fectionale wife, who, with two sons,
Harry G. Of Newport, VT, and Rob-
ert E. of Chicago, H., and one
daughter, Helen E., wife of Carroll
A, Davis of Newport, VT, survive
him.
From the above record, it can
readily be seen that the deceased will
be greatly missed in the community
and at the family fireside where he
has ever displayed such watchful
kindness and liberality, sparing no
expense in the education and bust
ness training of his sons and daugh
ter, all of whom now hold lucrative
and responsible positions. y
Gibbs E. Clarke has gone to that
undiscovered country from whose
bourne no traveller returns" He
will never be seen again by his
friends and fellow townsmen except
in memory. He has gone to join the
great majority. But memory is a
part of immortality. What we re-
member of the past is sometimes a
present reality; and, being a present
reality, we often see what has gone
before as present and tangible.
SO it is with our friends and as
sociates, who have passed on to their
reward. We see them still in the
minds eye in their accustomed place
in the performance of their daily
duties, yet they never can return.
But the continuity of existence can
not be broken. We are all an in
tegral part of the past and the future
as well as the present and must obey
the mandates of the Great Ruler
who "tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb" consoling ourselves by that
beautiful sentiment: