History of Algona, (Kossuth County) Iowa United States of America

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Hon. A. D. Clarke was born at Darlington, Canada, September 26, 1842. His father was Jasper Clarke, a farmer of moderate means. His mother's maiden name was Laura Sumner, a daughter of Shuball Sumner, of the town of Jay, Essex county, N. Y. Grandfather Sumner was a volunteer in the revolutionary army and captain of what was called the Silver Grays, of the town of Jay, Essex county, N. Y., in the war of 1812. He was an uncle of the late Charles Sumner, senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. Clarke spent the most of his childhood and early manhood on a farm in Fond du Lac county, Wis. Here he had the advantage of a district school education. He earned his first dollars husking corn at 25 cents per day on the farm of Homer Watters, of Byron, Wis.

When the civil war broke out patriotic young Clarke enlisted in the first call for three months' men. Later he enlisted in the Third Wisconsin Volunteers, Company F, but failed to pass muster, being under the required age at that time.

In 1865 Mr. Clarke moved to Algona, northwestern Iowa. Here he is a successful business man, has borne an influential part for the past thirty-two years in the development and building up of both town and country.

He began by renting a farm, which he operated three years. Studied law with Marcus Robins, an attorney at Algona, and in four years was admitted to the bar. Circumstances caused him to drift into the real estate business. This business growing rapidly, he gave little attention to the law.

Mr. Clarke has always been a republican. In 1887 he was elected a member of the Iowa legislature, and served one term.

In 1893 Governor Boies appointed Mr. Clarke as delegate to the Trans-Mississippi congress, he being one of the two republicans from the state. Governor Drake also, in 1897, appointed him as delegate to the International Gold Mining convention held at Denver, July 7, 1897.

In 1891 Mr. Clarke helped to organize the Algona State bank, and was elected its president, a position he now holds. In 1893 he was one of the organizers of the Iowa Bankers' State bank at Des Moines. As a result of this very active, busy life Mr. Clarke is one of the wealthy men of northwestern Iowa.

In 1864 he married Mary J. Phelps, of Byron, Wis., a woman with that strength of character and vigor of purpose to accomplish whatever duty seemed necessary, either in business or social life. This, with a quiet womanly dignity and love and devotion to her family, has ever been a powerful factor in her husband's success. As a result of this union five children were born. Mary Edith, Irma D. and Fred S. are now living.

Mr. Clarke is still farming, owning about 5,000 acres of land, with about 2,000 acres in cultivation.

Hope, cheerfulness and charity are among this man's chief characteristics.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Algona, (Kossuth County) Iowa

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