Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/664

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CLARK
CLARK

ing among literary men, and attracted many young writers. Although Mr. Clark's good nature often al- lowed platitudes to pass muster in its pages, the mag- azine was the parent of much that is best in quality in our later periodicals. Its in- fluence on American literature was wholesome and inspiring, and it led the way to a higher standard of magazine writing. In 1855 some of the contributors to the magazine made up for Mr. Clark's benefit a volume of their contributions, illustrated by their portraits, and entitled "The Knickerbocker Gallery," which was edited by Dr. John W.

Francis, Dr. Rufus W. Griswold,

Richard B. Kimball, George P. Morris, and Rev. Frederick W. Shelton. With the proceeds of this book, supplemented by other aid, a residence was bought for Mr. Clark at Piermont-on-the-Hudson, where he afterward lived. After the " Knicker- bocker " was given up, Mr. Clark held for some years a place in the New York custom-house. He con- tinued to contribute to periodical literature till a few weeks before his death. Among Mr. Clark's literary friends was Charles Dickens. The ac- quaintance began in a letter written to Dickens by Mr. Clark in commendation of the •' Pickwick Papers," and the two men carried on for many years a correspondence in which appeared the first suggestions that Dickens should visit the United States. Mr. Clark's only publications in book-form were the " Knickerbocker Sketch-Book," containing a few of his own articles (1850), and " Knick-Knacks from an Editor's Table," con- sisting of selections from that department of his magazine (New York, 1852). See a sketch of Mr. Clark, by Thomas B. Thorpe, in " Harper's Maga- zine " for March, 1874. — His twin brother, Willis Gaylord, d. in Philadelphia, 12 June, 1841, was educated with him at home, and showed poetic talent in his youth. Pie began in 1830 to edit in Philadelphia a weekly paper, on the plan of the New York " Mirror," but it was soon discontinued. He then became associate editor of the " Columbian Star," a religious and literary paper, from which he retired to take charge of the Philadelphia " Ga- zette," the oldest daily in the city. At the time of his death Mr. Clark was its proprietor. In 1883 he recited his longest poem, " The Spirit of Life," be- fore the Franklin society of Brown university. His other poems are brief fugitive pieces. A small collection of them was published during his life- time, and a complete editifti, edited by his brother, appeared after his death (New York, 1847). A vol- ume entitled " Literary Remains," with a memoir, was also issued by his brother (1844). Half of this was occupied by " Ollapodiana," a series of fanciful papers, which had run for several years in the " Knickerbocker." The prose of Willis G. Clark is rollicking and humorous, while his poetry is sub- dued, with an undercurrent of religious feeling.


CLARK, Myron Holley, governor of New York, b. in Naples, Ontario co., N. Y., 23 Oct., 1806; d. in Canandaigua, N. Y., 22 Aug., 1892. His family went from Berkshire county, Mass., to Ontario county in 1790. Myron was educated in a district school at Naples, attending from three to four months an- nually, when between six and seventeen years old. After filling several offices in his native town, and becoming lieutenant-colonel of state militia, he was sheriff of Ontario county for two years, and, having removed to Canandaigua, was president of that village in 1850 and 1851, and state senator from 1852 till 1854. During Mr. Clark's first term as senator in 1852-'3, the law was passed consolidating the several railroads now forming the New York cen- tral, and it was largely by his persistent firmness that the provision limiting passenger fares to two cents a mile was adopted. As chairman of the committee on the subject, he was influential in se- curing the passage of the prohibitory liquor law that was vetoed by Gov. Seymour. In 1854 the anti-slavery wings of both the whig and demo- cratic parties, the prohibitionists, and several in- dependent organizations separately nominated Mr. Clark for governor, and he was elected by a small majority, his supporters in some of their state or- ganizations taking the name of "republicans," thus making him the earliest state candidate of that party. During his administration a new pro- hibitory law was passed, and signed by him. It remained in force about nine months, when it was set aside by the court of appeals.


CLARK, Nathaniel George, clergyman, b. in Calais, Vt., 18 Jan., 1825; d. in West Roxbury, Mass., 3 Jan., 1896. He was graduated at the Uni- versity of Vermont, and was tutor there. After studying theology at Andover, and Auburn, where he was graduated in 1852, he became professor of English literature in the University of Vermont, and retained the chair till 1863. He was ordained in 1857, and from that year occupied also the chair of Latin. He was professor of logic, rhetoric, and English literature at Union from 1863 till 1866, when he became secretary of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions. Dr. Clark travelled extensively through Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. Union college gave him the degree of D. D. in 1867, and the University of Vermont that of LL. D. in 1875. He was a trustee of Holyoke seminary, and of Wellesley college. Besides essays on missionary work, he has published " Elements of the English Language " (New York, 1863).


CLARK, Sheldon, philanthropist, b. in Oxford, Conn., 31 Jan., 1785; d. there, 10 April, 1840. Without going through the college course, he studied under President Dwight, and became a farmer. In 1823 he placed $5,000 at the disposal of Yale college, to be invested at compound inter- est until it should amount to $20,000, when it was to be used for founding a professorship, and in 1848 the " Clark professorship of moral philoso- phy" was established on this foundation. Mr. Clark also gave a scholarship fund to the college, bought a telescope for it, and bequeathed it $15,000. He published several pamphlets, and left numer- ous manuscripts on finance, economics, and meta- physics. He received many letters from noted men in relation to his pamphlets, and one from Thomas Jefferson is given at length, in a sketch of Mr. Clark by Prof. Silliman in the "American Journal of Science " (xii., 217).


CLARK, Thomas (?), mate of the "Mayflower." His first name is unknown, though it has been conjectured that he was identical with a Thomas Clark, who died in Plymouth, 24 March, 1697, aged nine-