New-York tribune., 1918-06-01
Us. Clarkson Dead;
Former Leader i'm
Republican Party
Port Surveyor Of New York
for Eight Years; Was
Seventy-six
A Noted Abolitionist
Ax.ociated With John Brown.
He Aided Runaway Slaves
to Escape
A Noted Abolitionist

NEWARK. n. j., May 31.-James S.
rlarkson, for many years a member Of
tbe Republican National Executive
!. Committee. and Surveyor Of Customs
4 If New York, from 1902 to 1910, died
Al the home OF his brother. H. r. Clark
son. here to-day Mr.. Clarkson's home
was at Sleepy Hollow Farm. Tarrytown,
NY. He was seventy-siN years old.
One of the picturesque figures in
American life since Civil War days
nsssed with the death yesterday of
lanes Sullivan Clarkson. When oppo-
sition to slavery was the dominant mo-
tive of the Republican party. he was
active in the establishment and opera
ten Of the underground railway" TO
assist runaway slaves to flee to Canada.
Through his efforts from 1856 to 1862,
more than five hundred slaves from
Z Missouri, Arkansas and Texas were
helped along the twenty-ei eight-mile sec
sion OF the underground railway"
which he operated in Iowa. In this
work he was associated with the abo-
ltionist, John Brown.
For twenty years prior to 1895 he
was delegate-at-l large to all the Repub-
lican national conventions. From 1880
to 1896 he was member of the Repub-
lican National Committee. and in 1891
and 1892 president of the Republican
National League.
Supported Wilson
But like many other Republicans
who are staunch party men, Mr.. Clark
son supported President Wilson unre-
sevedly throughout the course of the
world war
The. Clarkson family traces its lin
cage back to the vague and indefinite
England Of the fifteenth century. They
came TO the United States in 177e, set
ting in New Hampshire. afterward
moving to Maine. where at Dixmount,
near Bangor, Coker F. Clarkson, father
Of James S.. was born.
After the fathers removal to Brook
vile, Ind, in 1920. James was born
there on May II, 1842. When he was
twelve years old he moved with his
father to Iowa, where he lived on a
farm for twelve years.
Taught School on Prairie
His education was gained in the
printing Office of his fathers newspa-
per in Indiana and in the public
schools Of Iowa, and he taught winter
schools on the prairies. In 1866 he
left the farm and went to Des Moines
to work as a printer in the office of
"The State Register" The next year
he became city editor of "The Reg
ister," The following year editor and
in 1870, publisher. when he and his
brother, r. P. Clarkson, bought the
paper. He remained as editor until
1889, when he sold his half intedest to
his brother.
Iowa was the first of all states to
enfranchise the negro. and Mr.. Clark
son was the author Of the negro suf-
frage plank in the Iowa Republican
platform in 1868. He was chairman of
Z the Republican State Committee of
Iowa in 1869 and reelected in 1870.
While serving as delegates t-large
from Iowa to the Republican National
Conventions Of 1880, 1884, 1892 and
1896 he became a member of the ma
tional committee in 1884, to which
place he was reelected three times. In
. 1883 he was elected vice hairman of
the national committee and. in 1890,
chairman.
His presidency of the Republican Ma
tonal League began in 1891 and he was
reelected in 1892
Refused Diplomatic Post
President Grant offered him the mis-
sion to Switzerland in 1859, but he de-
S clined it. He was appointed postmaster
of Des Moines in 1870. but resigned be-
lore his term expired, Office holding
being distasteful to him. He always
refused to become a candidate or to
accept nominations for Congress or for
elective Office
He was an ardent supporter of Blaine
ior president in the national conven-
tions from 1876 to 1892, and was asked
IN writing by Mr.. Blaine in 1884 to be-
come Secretary Of the Interior in case
OF blalne's election to the Presidency.
PRESIDENT Harrison chose him for
POSTMASTER General in 1889, but, with
olner officers of the national commit
Tee, Mr.. Clarkson urged the selection
OF mr. Wanamaker. He accepted tenn
gorar'ly the place of First Assistant
postmaster General in 1889.
When he resigned. after twenty
months Of service, the President offered
MN MN successively the Russian, Brazilian,
Chnese and Japanese missions, all of
which he declined.
While the veteran politician was
oIten called General" weakness of
lungs resulting from severe attack Of
pneumonla incurred in a steam saw
mill in the winter Of 1860 caused his
repeated rejection from the army in
1901. In that year he raised and ten
4 oered company of cavalry.
Promoted Four Railways
Noted most for his activities as ed
stor and politician, his reputation in
9wa also rests on the fact that he pro-
Ietsd four railroads into Des Mones.
1914 he organized and was president
W1he companies which built the Chi
Burlington e. Quincy and Wa
usn sssa railroads into the capital, and in
Mieez.S4 he launched the Des Moines
Aerthern and Des Moines Northwest
em railroads
seyor Of the Port of New York. His
eeseath yesterday came at the home Of
Sss son, Harold r. Clarkson. 203 North
Ssventh Street, where he had been since