Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-19
Spelling On a Governors
Monument
BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET
TINE spelling of the name Clarke" on tn

tn HE SpelIlng OF the name Clarke on the
roll of Georgia counties" on the maps
- of the state, and in all the historical
publications of this commonwealth that l
have examined, is incorrect.
Clarke county, Georgia, was named in hon
or of the favous Revolutionary General Elijah
Clark, and Gainesville, the county seat of
Habersham, was called after the generals
son, Governor John Clark. There was no
final 'e" on the name of Governor Clark, and
L suppose this was also true as to his father S.
And yet, this family name of Clark APP
pears with an "e on the list of counties and
towns and maps and in historical work of
Georgia. far as I have had opportunity of
examining. Among some of the standard
publications thus spelling the name are:
Whites Historical Collections of Georgia."
Knights "Reminiscences of Famous GeOr
gians;" Stevens History of Georgia." North
ems "Men of Mark in Georgia." Smiths
STORY Of Georgia and the Georgia People,
and Southern Historical associations Mem
oirs of Georgia"
What Governors Monument Disclosed
Somewhere had caught the idea that Gov
ernor Clark himself did not write or spell his
name with &C." but l needed verifca$ion
of this impression, as the authorities seemed
of contrary opinion. So, recently when I
attended the reinterment of Governor ClarlI's
dust in the National Cemetery at Marietta,
examine the inscription the shaft which
his children erected eighty-seven years ago,
and four years after his death, and there the
Maine was JOnn CLARK without the e.
L accepted this spelling as conclusiveIy cor
rect.
But. in order to make assurance doubly
sure [ called at the state library and exam
ined the printed acts of the legislature which
were passed in. 1919-23, and approved by
John Clark as governor, and found his name
without the sc" attached to the various laws.
He surely knew how to spell his own name,
and I surmise that his children also possessed
similar knowledge when they had it placed on
their sire'S monument.
There was another matter which : as con-
firmed to me by Governor Clark's tombstone
at Marietta, and that was the correct date of
his death. A number of biographies and his
torical publications that I have read record
the date of the month. of his departure as
October 49, Whereas the monument con-
tains the date October 12.''
Signed Act Honoring Rival
It is interesting to note that Governor
George M. Troup, in December, 1928, the year
Governor Clark finished the close of his sec
ond term, signed the legislative act in cor
porating the town of GAINESVILLE, named in
honor Of Governor Clark The interest in this
proceeding lies in the fact that the bitterest
political hostility, and personal dislike exist
ed between these two men.
Clark defeated Troup for governor before
the legislature, in 1919 and 1921, and Troup
turned the tables on Clark in 1925, in defeat
ing him in the first election for governor by
the people. Clark and Troup were long the
militant leaders of the two dominant and bit
terly rancorous factions in Georgia. Yet, II
fell to Troup's lot, as one of his very first
transactions as governor, to approve the "ct
complimenting his hated political rival by
naming county seat in his honor A county
would have been named for Governor Clark
if his fathers name had not already been be-
slowed upon the county that is the home Of
the Classic City of Athens.
Close and Hostile Election
AS further showing the hostile feeling be-
tween Clark and Troup, when Clark had fin
ished his two terms as governor, in 1928, he
zealousy tried to defeat Troup for governor
with Matthew Talbot, an ardent supporter IF
the Clark faction, and who had been acting
governor, by virtue of having been resident
of the senate when Governor Rabun died,
The contest between TrOup and Talbot was
one of the closest and hottest ever held for
governor in Georgia. At that time the cleo
ton devolved upon the legislature. 1t was
the custom then as the names of the senators
and representatives in joint session were
called by the secretary of the senate for each
LEGISLATOR to deposit his ballot with the name
of the candidate of his choice written thereon,
in hat, and the ballots were drawn out one
by one by the president of the senate and he
announced the candidates name on the ballot,
and the clerks kept the count
The Excitement Was Intense
This election was in November, 1928.
Thomas Stocks, of Green county, was presi-
dent of the senate, and presided over the
joint session. There were 166 ballots, re-
curing "a to elect. When 100 ballots were
counted Talbot and -rOup each had 80, and,
according to historical account, at this point
the excitement was so intense that the presi-
dent of the senate suspended the count and
though it was chilly November, took from his
pocket his handkerchief, and wiped from his
face the streaming perspiration. While this
was progressing, a wag in the gallery sang
out, 1.-The darkest time of night is just before
day This sally somewhat relieved the in
tensity of the situation, and the presiding
officer ordered the count to proceed.
Only six ballots RENAME uncOunted The
narrative says, President Stocks took ballot
from the hat and called out "Troup." Then
sang out the third ballot-"Troup and the
fourth balIot-"TalbOt.'
Deathlike Silence
The count then stood 80 to 81, and two
more ballots to be counted. President Stocks
picked up one of them, and said, Group"
There was deathlike silence in the hall as
the presiding officer raised the last ballot.
The historical account says, pandemonium
broke loose when he exclaimed" TrOup!' The
Apostle of State Rights elected by the eX-
act majority required, he not having single
vote to spare
I have read that in the audience were Dan
| iel Duffie, a Jealous Methodist, and Jesse Mer-
Ger, an equally devout Baptist, in whose hon
or the historic and renowned Mercer univer-
sity named. A third celebrity present
was General David Blackshear, the heroic SOL
der and ardent patriot The trio were ad-
vocates of Troup When the result of the
election was announced, Daniel cried out: 80
Lord, we thank Thee" Mercer waved his
hat, and shouted: GLORY glory" General
| Blackshear, the tears streaming down his
face exclaimed: "Now Lord, I am ready
to die"
OUIPS AND OUlDDlTIES