The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-19

rival, delivered a short address be-
fore presenting the flowers to Mr..
Clarkson. Seated at the same table
with Mr. Clarkson and Senator Trout
man were P. I. Bonebrake, q resident
of Topeka since 1859 and Charles S.
Elliott, past president of the Com
mercial club.
In reply to Senator TroutTnan's re-
marks, Mr.. Clarkson announced that
he fully expected to live to be 100
years old. He never tasted tobacco or
liquor in his life and excepting a short
sickness about eight years ago has
never been i'll in his life. Activity
since childhood and good rabbits are
the reasons accredited by Mr.. Clark
son for his long life and present
vigor of mind and body.
An Insurance Man.
Mr., Clarkson has been connected
with the Insurance business for forty
nine years and forty-eight years of
that time in Kansas. He was one of
the first state superintendentS of in
surance in Kansas, and created the
advisory rate bureaus of Kansas and
Oklahoma. He has been an active
member of the Commercial club since
its inception and while never an Of
ficer. describes himself as high pri-
vate in the front ranks" Mr.. Clark
son is now actively engaged in insur
ance and job printing work.
Born in Indiana.
Harrison Clarkson was born in
Franklin county, Indiana. in a log cab
in in the midst of the famous Beech
Flats. In those days the flats, thirty
miles from Cincinnati, were partly
covered with water at certain seasons
and many times the youth aided his
father in telling timber to be used in
building a bridge that would enable
them to cross the low places between
his home and that of his grandfather.
Time and again Mr.. ClarkSon helped
drive hogs from the Beech Flats into
Cincinnati
At 81 the young man entered the
old Asbury university at Greencastle,
Ind, now DePauw university. His
finances would not permit him to
graduate and at the end of Two years
Mr.. Clarkson began teaching school
and followed that profession for eight
yelrs Forty-nine years ago the first
day of March, Mr.. C1arkson entered
tho insurance business and has been
connected with it ever since. Forty
eight years of the time he has spent
in Topeka.
Came Here Early.
Mr.. Clarkson came to Topeka as
field agent for the Aetna Insurance
company. In 1871 when the present
insura nee department of the state was
created Judge w. c. Webb was ap-
pointed superintendent OF insurance,
and Mr.. Clarksor was appointed dep
uty Political changes were numerous
IN those days and at the end of two
or three years, Mr.. Clarkson found
himself superintendent of insurance.
the appointee Of the late Governor
Osborn. While in the state office
the Chicago fire occurred and the eX-
citement because of failure of the Chi
cago companies was bridged by Mr..
CIarkSon
When Mr. Clarkson came here, he
spent the entire night riding from
Kansas City to Topeka on a freight
train. The railroad fare YVES S. He
was one of the $500 residents Of To-
peka who stood or Fourth or Fifth
street and witnessed the late Col. c.
X Holiday, first president of the San
ia Fe, throw the first shovelful of
dirt on the Santa F'e road, grade the
first foot of roed and lay the first rail.
Col Holiday worked in his shirt
sleeves and after completing the work
delivered an address to the residents
of Topeka. Topeka thought the pro-
position to build a road to Santa Pc a
joke
Created Rate Bureau.
After quitting the state job Mr..
Clarkson again became an a1justeT
and field agent and continued along
this line for a number of years until
/ he created the Advisory Rate Bureau
for Kansas and Oklahoma and be-
come active manager. Charles FL
1 bridge, present head of the bureau,
was an employee of Mr.. Clarkson for
many years. When Mr. Clarkson
stepped out of the bureau he made
/ the Oklahoma and Kansas depart
ments separate ana has been doine
! the printing for beth bureaus until
1 the present time.
/ Mr.. Clarkson's two daughters both
I live with him at 1927 Tyler street. One
/ is Mrs. Frank Edison and the other
Miss Jennie Clarkson, teacher in
4 the public schools
+ Ashford-"How are the acoustic proper