Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/236

This page needs to be proofread.

224

��Hon. Daniel Clark.

��Daniel Clark, the third child of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wiggin) Clark, was born in Stratham, Rock- ingham county, N. H., October 24, 1809. His father was both farmer and blacksmith. He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity. He was industrious, frugal, temper- ate, kindly, and obliging. His mother was strong-minded, devoted to her family, and very religious. She was not indifferent to the good opinion of others, and was ambitious for the success of her family, and especially of her children. They lived upon a beautiful farm, in the upper part of the town, near the historic town of Exeter. The subject of this sketch remained at home under the care and nurture of his excellent parents until he was thirteen years of age, going to the common district school in sum- mer and winter, or so much of the time as it was kept, and assisting about the ordinary farm-work in va- cation. He learned at school easily, and was more fond of his books than of work upon the farm. At the age of thirteen he was sent with his older brother to the academy in Hampton, N. H., and put upon the common English studies. He did not then expect to acquire a more liberal edu- cation, although ills uiotlier iiad some undefined notions of a higher course of studies for her son. He continued at Hampton at intervals, there a term and at home a term, helping upon the farm, some four 3'ears or more, when he determined to go to college. He pursued his preparatory studies at Hampton, teaching school two win- ters, and at twenty was prepared for college. He entered Dartmouth col- lege, graduating in 1834 with the first

��honors of the institution. Rev. Dr. Lord, the president of the college, was then in the prime of his life. Although he had presided over the college but a few 3'ears, he had al- ready secured the confidence of his friends, so justly merited, as subse- quently shown by his successful ad- ministration of the affairs of the col- lege for more than a third of a cen- tury. Among Mr. Clark's classmates were Albert Baker, who entered upon the practice of the law at Hillsbor- ough, N. H., and died at the age of thirty-one, liis untimely death ex- tinguishing hopes which his short but brilliant career had caused his many friends to entertain of his future use- fulness ; Hon. Moody Currier, ll.d., of Manchester, ex-governor of New Hampshire ; Rev. Newton E. Mar- ble, u. D., Newtown, Connecticut; Hon. Richard B. Kimball, ll. d., of New York city, lawyer, scliolar, and author ; Rev. Eldward A. Lawrence, D. u., Marbleliead, Massachusetts; and Prof. Alplionso Wood, president of Ohio Female College. Mr. Clark taught school winters during his col- lege course, and while pursuing his professional studies, eight winters in all, including the two years l)efore entering college, defraying, in part, the expenses of his education with the funds received from teaching. Immediately after graduation he en- tered the office of Hon. George Sul- livan, tlien the attorney-general of the state, son of Gen, Joliii Sullivan of Revolutionary fame, at Exeter, and commenced the study of the law, remaining with Mr. Sullivan a year and a lialf. He completed his legal studies in the office of Hon. James Bell, afterwards United States sena-

�� �