WILLIAM R. CLARKE

From "Men of progress " - 1900

WILLIAM RADCLIFFE CLARKE
Attorney William Radcliffe Clarke, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, is the son of Thomas Clarke, who came from the Isle of Man in 1838 and was a farmer near Watford, Ontario. His mother's maiden name was Jane Radcliffe. Mr. Clarke was born in Springfield, Ontario, October 24, 1860. He attended the public schools from the time he was six years of age until his seventeenth year, and worked as a farm hand during the vacation months. He then became a clerk in a grocery store at $7 a month, and after twenty months clerking saved $100, which enabled him to enter the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute for one year. He: invested his money in some young cattle and the proceeds took him through the course at the institute.

He intended to become a physician, but was disheartened by the prospects afforded to a youthful physician in Canada, so he decided to take up law, and visiting relatives in Grand Ledge in 1881, he entered the Law department of the University of Michigan in the fall of that year and graduated from there in 1883. Not having sufficient money to establish himself in practice and being in debt for his education, he entered the employ of the R. L. Polk Co., of Detroit, publishers of directories and gazetteers, visiting nearly all the large cities north of the Ohio, and remaining in their employ until 1886. He then entered into partnership with ex-Senator Jacob L. McPeek, at Grand Ledge, under the firm name of McPeek & Clarke, and commenced an extensive and successful practice. The partnership continued five years, when Mr. McPeek was elected Judge of Probate. Continuing alone until 1897, Mr. Clarke admitted a partner in that year, R. A. Latting, and Clarke & Latting still conduct a lucrative practice at Grand Ledge.

Mr. Clarke married Miss Iva J. Graves, of Springfield, Ontario, in 1886, and has two children, Ross D., aged nine, and Pauline, aged seven. Mr. Clarke is one of the most popular Republicans in his county. He was city attorney at Grand Ledge for eight years and a member of the board of aldermen three years. His name has been suggested for Judge of Probate on several occasions.

In 1894 the Granger hardware stock was for sale, and Mr. Clarke, looking for a place to invest his money, formed a co-partnership with A. E. Kiser and urchased it, and the Clarke Hardware Co., of Grand Ledge, has the largest store of its kind in that city. The success of the company has been due mainly to Mr. Clarke's hard work and good business principles. He is honest and fair in his methods of doing business and this fact has been recognized by all who have had dealings with him, both in his profession as a lawyer and as a merchant. He is also vice-president of the Grand Ledge Canning & Preserving Co., an industry employing many people and shipping goods all over the United States.

Mr. Clarke owns one of the largest law libraries in the country, most of the volumes being text books. He still continues to practice law, his ability and integrity having been rewarded with a large clientage.