The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-25
Prominent Leader OF Bench
and Bar Dies Wednes-
day Night.
LIFE ENDS SUDDENLY
Short Illness Brings to an End
Career Filled with Work for
Els Fellow Men.


ney of the county died at his home
asa Exchange street, on Wednesday
evening at eleven o'clock following
three weeks illness from compli
cation Of diseases. &
Few of the friends Of Judge Clark
son had known of his serious ailment
and the announcement of his death
this morning came as great shock to
them. He had been taken i'll with in
testinal trouble between Christmas
and New Y ears and since that time had
been confined to his horne but it had
been the hope of his friends that his
ailment would yield to treatment.
The funeral services will be held
from st. Matthew's church at half past
two o'clock Friday afternoon and
interment viii be at the family plot
at Green Ridge.
Marks Passing Of Noted Man,
The death of Judge Clarkson marks
tho passing Of one of Kenosha's most
distinguished citizens and of man
who had given much Of his life for
the bettefniAnt9 of the livesCof others
He was brilliant as lawyer, devoted
as a teacher Of the best in religion,
distinguished asea judge, and noted
throughout the nation as a lecturer
on religious subjects. He was one Of
the foremost speakers Of the religious
world of America and his frequent adj
dresses and articles on religious sub
jects had attracted to his name wide
attention in the many years which he
gave to the work.
He was the ideal citizen and the
ideal friend and few men had made
their influence more widely felt in
Kenosha and in the moulding of the
moral welfare of the city.
A Native of Chicago.
Joseph Russell Clarkson was born
in Chicago, March 20, 1855. He was
son Of the late Joseph p, and Juliet
A. (RusselD GARRISON, who were
among the earliest Of the pioneer resi-
dents of Chicago. Judge Clarkson's
parents came to Chicago in 1910 and
they had very important place in
the early history of that city An
uncle was Bishop Robert HI. Clarkson,
Tong prominent in the Episcopal church
KS bishop of Nebraska.
Judge Clarkson was educated at the
old Ogden public school in Chicago
and was later a student in private
schools there. In 1871 just after the
Chicago fire he entered the Racine
grammar school. His parents came to
Kenosha about that time and for some
time they resided at the old Penhoyer
Sanitarium Later they returned to
Illinois and established their home at
Evanston. Judge Clarkson attended
Aliens Academy in Chicago and then
went. to Yale where he completed his
education for the law.
After he had completed his work at
Yale he tooltnp the study of law with
his father in Chicago and he was
admittedSto the practice Of his pro-
fession il 187S.
Came to KerOsha in 1879.
Judge GARRISON after practicing law
in Chicago forpa, year came to Kenosha
and he remained here for year after
which he went-to Omaha, Neb., where
ne remained in tRe active practice Of
his profession Until 1889. He was then
elected district judge and he remained
upen the bench until April of 1891
when, he resigned to return to the
private practiee Of law.
He returned to Kenosha in 1907 and
resumed the practice Of law here and
Z since that time he has been one of the
most prominent members of the bench
and bar in this section of Wisconsin.
Several times the Judge has been urg-
cd to become 4 candidate for iudicial
positions heres but he had declined
all these Suggestions, declaring that
ne did not desire to be hampered by
Holding public 6ifice, Few men were
more highly regarded in the practice
of the legal profession.
Served Kenosha County.
Judge Clafks6n Nm the lastyears Of
his life as a praeticing attorney gave
notable service to Kenosha county.
He was named by Judge Belden as
divorce counsel of the county and in
this Office he did much to bring about
new consideration Of the granting
.of divorce cases. He gave a personal
interest to this Office which has been
reflected in many homes in Kenosha
county In his conduct of the Office
he sought always to reuhite home
rather then to give his sanction to a
decree of divorce. Scores of cases
which came to his attention as divorce
counsel never appeared in the courts
because he found the better way Of
leuniting the families and bringing
together the broken threads of domes
tic life. As assistant district attorney
of Kenosha county he Served time
when the county needed most the
services Of trained lawyer and an
ardent supporter of law. He proved
q power of the enforcement agencies
OF the county in his work.
Long Religious Teacher.
Judge Clarksen was distinctly stu
dent and a teacher OF religion and
on account of his desire to enter this
work he often chafed at the demands
Of the>legal professions While, he was
IN Omaha he became member of the
Christian Science church and was a
Practitioner For two years he was a
member of the board of lectureship of
the First Church of Christ Scientist
and some Of the most notable litera-
ture in the Christian Science faith
was contributed from his pen. He was
an orator. of rare power and he was
credited with having wonderful hold