Levi Bond farm

age 52

in the village

at home

Milton Cemetery

1NOTE "Sabbath Recorder", Vol 91, No 25, p 777,778, 19 Dec 1921.
Sherrill Joseph Clarke was the eldest child born to Alvit andSarah Davis Clarke. He was bornin Plainview, Otsego Co., N.Y., December 8, 1827. At nine-thirty on Wednesdaymorning,November 9, 1921, while sitting in his easy chair, suddenly andquietlyhe slipped away into his eternal rest, just as a ripenedleaf releases its holdupon the parent stem and silentlyflutters to its place among those who have fallen. His goingwas "a beautiful taking off".
He is survived by two sons, Irving Benton of Milton Junction,Judson Dwight, of Milton, and a daughter, Ann Coraof Milton;five grandchildren, Mrs. Alice Crandall, of Los Angeles, Cal.;HowardI. Clarke, of Arlington, Cal.; Roy C. Clarke, ofMinneapolis; Harlow and Walton, of Milton; eight greatgrandchildren, and by two brothers, Wellington, of Milton, andHenry, of Waterloo, Iowa.
Sherrill because he was the eldest of the family of tenchildren, had to take a big share in the support of the largefamily.Wages were low, products were cheap and the maintenanceof the home required the closest economy and the utmost unitedefforts of the able-bodied members of the household. Sherrillhad an aptitude for mechanics and found employment in shops andsometimes in the old-fashioned upright sawmills. Often herolled logs into the sluice and tended the saws until long intothe night while "the head of the water was on". Because he wasso employed and his help was so much needed athome, hisschooling was limited to a few terms in the district schools.Before hecame west he was employed in the woodworking shops ofJohn Babcock, of Leonardsville, N. Y. 'Twas here, as he used torelate, that he built one thousand and fifty of the revolvingwooden horse rakes which were in great demand by the farmers inthat vicinity.
On October 13, 1852, Sherrill was married to Miss HarrietSaunders, the eldest daughter of Spicer Saunders, of PlainfieldCenter, N. Y. This devoted couple began their homemaking inLeonardsville where they lived fouryears. In 1856 they came toWisconsin and established a home south-east of Milton on a farmpurchased by Deacon Levi Bond, a part of which is now owned byJamesBennett. Ten years later they built a home on the farmnow owned by their sonDwight. In 1904 they moved to thevillage of Milton to the home in which each of them died. Formore than sixty-four years they lived together, interested inevery progressive helpful cause, devoted to each other, theirfamily, to religious and spiritual objects. Mrs. Clarke diedJanuary 23, 1917.
Brother Clarke early expressed his determination to live aChristian life. It was during the pastorate of Elder William B.Maxson that he publically professed Christ and became amemberof the First Brookfield Seventh Day Baptist Church atLeonardsville. Hebrought his letter of membership with himwhen he came to Milton and entered into the activities of thechurch. Full heartedly and conscientiously he has, in thisrelationship, honored his God, his Christian profession, and thechurch to which he was earnestly devoted.
In his youth he was passionately fond of music and was a singerof no mean ability. While he was living in central New York hebecame one of a male quartet who styled themselves the "New YorkHarmonians". They were in especial demand for temperancerallies and campaigns. Mr. Clarke waschoirister of the Miltonchurch for twenty-five years and helped establish andmaintain ahigh standard of church music.
Politically, for the greater part ofhis life, he was a staunchsupporter of the temperance movement and an ardentuncompromising third-party prohibitionist. He early signed thepledge of the "Washingtonian Movement". "He came to believethat the saloon was a public curse; that to license a publicevil by taking money is a weak and nonsensical way to decreasecrime and misery and to elevate morally the

1. 2. Irving Benton CLARKE   b. 4 Nov 1855, Leonardsville,Madison Co.,New York; d. 22 Jan 1949, Janesville,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; bur. 25 Jan 1949, Milton Junction,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.
2. 3. Judson Dwight CLARKE   b. 21 Sep 1867, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; d. 20 Jun 1953, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; bur. 23 Jun 1953, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.
3. 4. Ann Cora CLARKE   b. 1869, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; d. 1958; bur. 1958, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.

Farm SE of Milton

Milton Academy

105 Clear Lake

Mercy Hospital

Milton Junction cemetery1 CAUS Arterio sclerosis


1 NOTE "The "Clarke" Families of Rhode Island"; by George AustinMorrison, Jr.; The Evening Post Job Printing House, New York;1902, p 204.

"Sabbath Recorder", Vol 32, No 46, p 3, 16 Nov 1876.
record of marriage

There is an I. B. Clarke as a member of the Milton Cornet BandMale Quartette at the funeral of Charles F. Saunders 1886.

"Milton and Milton Junction Courier", Milton Wisconsin,Thursday, 27 Jan 1949, p 8.
Irving B. Clarke 1855 - 1949
Funeral services for Irving B. Clarke, 93, theoldest life-longresident of Milton Junction, were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan25, from the Gray and Albrecht funeral home with the Rev.Kenneth B. Van Horn officiating. Burial was in Milton Junctioncemetery.
Pallbearers were Carr Kumlien, Erv McWilliam, Jess Babcock, CarlGray, Archie Striegl, and Floyd Vincent.
Mr. Clarke died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, in Mercyhospital, Janesville, where he was taken Saturday afternoon fortreatment after being cared for severalweeks at the Beecherconvalescent home in Janesville.
Mr. Clarke had been a farmer, salesman, painter, and carpenter.He lived at 105 Clear Lake ave., MiltonJunction, for 40 years.
He cast his 73rd ballot in the primary election last September,and never missed voting at an election, relatives said. He casthis first vote for president in 1876 when Hayes and Wheeler werethe candidates.
Irving Benton Clarke was born in Leonardsville, N. Y., Nov. 4,1855, the son of Sherrill Joseph Clarke and Harriet SaundersClarke. He came west with his parents ayear later, the familysettling on a farm east of Milton which had been purchased byIrving Clarke's grandfather, Alvit Clarke.
They resided there until 1867when his father bought thesouthern half of the farm and built a house on it, the farm nowowned by Mr. Clarke's brother, J. Dwight Clarke.
Mr. Clarke attendedMilton public schools and Milton Academy.On Nov. 4, 1876, he married Rosella Osborn, daughter of Mr. andMrs. William Osborn, Milton, and five children were born tothem. The eldest son died in infancy and Mrs. Clarke died Sept.3, 1900.
On Aug. 3, 1903, Mr. Clarke married Mrs. Esther Osborn Cole, whodied Feb. 12,1948.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Oscar H. Crandall, HermoseBeach, Calif., three sons, Roy C., of Minneapolis, Howard L. ofBig Bear Lake, Calif., and Harlow Clarke, rt 2, Janesville;three grandsons, nine granddaughters; severalgreat-grandchildren; one brother, J. Dwight Clarke, and asister, Miss Anne Cora Clarke, both of Milton.

Gravestone photo 7 May 2002

Rock Co. Death Cert, 33529, name as Ervin, informant Miss CoraClarke.

1. 5. Infant CLARKE   b. Abt 1879.
2. 6. Alice Edna CLARKE   b. 1881.
3. 7. Roy Clayton CLARKE   b. 1883; d. Aft 1966.
4. 8. Howard Lewis CLARKE   b. Abt 1887; d. Aft 1966.
5. 9. Harlow Osborne CLARKE   b. 27 Sep 1889, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; d. 18 Apr 1966, Janesville,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.

on the family farm

family farm

age 12

Milton College

University ofWisconsin

409 Madison Ave.

at home

Milton Cemetery1 CAUS Coronary occusion


1 NOTE Dwight Clarke was the second son of Sherrill Joseph and HarrietSaunders Clarke. He was born on the family farm and literallyloved every acre of it. After graduating from the TeachersCourse at Milton College in 1891,he received a scholorship tostudy dairying at the University of Wisconsin, where he servedas laboratory assistant to Dr. Stephen M. Babcock, inventer ofthe test for butter fat content of milk. He became a greatfavorite of Dr. Babcock and Dean Henry who encouraged him totake a position as a state feed inspector. However, his love ofthe farm prevailed and he took it over when his father retired.For some 20 years he had a very successful business producingbutter which hesold to customers in the Milton area. In thesunner of 1918 he had a life-threatening case of blood poisoningthat left him incapable of continuing farming.Moving into thevillage, he continued to own the farm for the rest of his life,operated by a series of tenants producing milk for the Chicagomarket. For a short time during the Depression he worked forone of the Federal government agencies helping farmers prepareapplications for relief. For some fifteen years or so he was anagent for an insurance company in Madison selling automobileinsurance. He maintained a keen interest in agriculture and"the farm problem" until the day of his death. For severalyears he served as a Justice of the Peace. He was a man of highmoral and ethical principles, greatly respected throughout thecommunity. He vigorously opposed the use of tobacco and alcoholand was an active and dedicated member of the Seventh DayBaptiost church.

The family farm was in section 35, just south-east of thevillage of Milton, 2 farms east of the Guy Holliday dairy farm.

This is the J. Dwight Clarke pictured in the MiltonCornet Bandca 1900.

"Sabbath Recorder", Vol 155, No 22, p 280, 14 Dec 1953.
Clarke, Judson Dwight, son of Sherrill Joseph and HarrietSaunders Clarke, wasborn Sept. 21, 1867, on the family farmnear Milton, Wis., and passed away at his Milton home onSabbath, June 20, 1953.
Being graduated from Milton College in1891, Dwight Clarke wasgranted a Mitchell Scholarship in agriculture at the Universityof Wisconsin where he became an assistant to the late Dr.Stephen Babcock. He followed agriculture as a careerthroughout his active life.
On Oct. 12, 1904, Mr. Clarke was married to Beatrice Lowther,then head of the music department of Salem College, Salem, W.Va. One son, Walton Dwight, was born to theirmarriage.
Baptized by Rev E. M. Dunn at ten years of age, Mr. Clarke wasfor 75 years a member of the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church.At one time he servedas treasurer of the Young People's Boardof the denomination. He was an active, participating menber ofhis beloved church.
Surviving him are his wife, Beatrice; his son, Walton; onesister, Cora Clarke; and two granddaughters. Farewellserviceswere conducted by his pastor, Rev. Elmo Fitz Randolph, withburial in the Milton Cemetery. E. F. R.

"The Milton and Milton Junction Courier",Milton, Wisconsin,Thursday, 25 Jun 1953, p 2.
Judson Dwight Clarke, the son of Sherrill Joseph and HarrietSaunders Clarke, was born on the Clarke farm nearMilton onSept. 21, 1867. Having spent nearly all of his 85 years in theMiltoncommunity, he passed away quietly to his eternal rest onSaturday, June 20.
Hiswas a full and active life, lived with enthusiasm and zestto the last, despitethe crippled infirmities of his lateryears.
Graduated from Milton College in1891, Mr. Clarke was granted aMitchell scholarship for an agricultural course at theUniversity of Wisconsin where he became an assistant to the lateDr. Stephen Babcock. Following his agricultural education heserved for several years asan official milk tester for theAmerican Holstein

1. 10. Walton Dwight CLARKE  

age 10, Cora

Milton Cemetery

1 NOTE of Milton in her father's 1921 obituary
of Milton in her brother Irving's 1949 obituary, unmarried

Gravestone photo 7 May 2002

1 NOTE "Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island and His Descendants"; byJohn Cortland Crandall; Higginson Book Co.; 1949, p 559.

of Los Angeles, California inher grandfather's 1921 obituary
of Hermosa Beach, California in her father's1949 obituary

1 NOTE of Minneapolis, Minnesota in his grandfather's 1921 obituary
of Minneapolis, Minnesota in his father's 1949 obituary
of Fergus Falls, Minnesota in his brother Harlow's 1966 obituary

Milton High School

1 NOTE of Big Bear Lake, California in his father's 1949obituary
of California in his brother Harlow's 1966 obituary

Milton High School1 EMPL
2 PLAC Janesville, Rock Co., Wisconsin
2 NOTE Parker Pen Co.


Mercy Hospital

Milton Cemetery

1 NOTE of Milton in hisgrandfather's 1921 obituary
of rural Janesville in his father's 1949 obituary

"The Courier", Milton Wisconsin, Apr. 21, 1966, p 5.
Harlow O. Clarke, 76,R. 2, Janesville, a member of a pioneerRock County family, died Monday morning, April 18, in MercyHospital.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, inthe Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church, Rev. Elmo Randolphofficiating with burial in the Milton Cemetery.
Born in Milton Sept. 27, 1889, he wasthe son of Irving Bentonand Rosella Osborne Clarke. He was graduated from Milton highschool and attended Milton Academy. He was pitcher for theMilton highschool baseball team which won the statechampionship in 1910.
Mr. Clarke and Hilda A. Ambrose were married Jan. 29, 1913. Hewas employed at Parker Pen Company, Janesville, until hisretirement in 1958. He was a member of the Seventh Day BaptistChurch, Milton.
Surviving are his wife; two sons, Harlow R. of Westminster,Calif., and Duane R. of Whitewater; five daughters, Mrs. AnnaSchiefelbeinand Mrs. George Starks, both of Janesville, Mrs.Donald Kramer of Beloit, Mrs.Glen Howard of R. 3, Janesville,and Mrs. Lloyd Wincapaw of Rockford; 29 grandchildren; 28great-grandchildren; two brothers, Roy of Fergus Falls, Minn.,and Howard in California.

1. 11. Seymour Chase CLARKE  

1. 12. Anna Rosella CLARKE   b. 13 Aug 1913, Illinois; d. 2 Oct 1974.
2. 13. Paul Harold CLARKE   b. 14 Aug 1915, Janesville,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; d. 28 Jun 1957, Janesville,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.
3. 14. Harlow Roy CLARKE   b. 4 Oct 1919, Wisconsin; d. Aft 1966.
4. 15. Hilda Virginia CLARKE  
5. 16. Margery Alice CLARKE  
6. 17. Elaine Shirley CLARKE  
7. 18. Margaret Barbara CLARKE  
8. 19. Living CLARKE  

1. 20. Living CLARKE  
2. 21. Living CLARKE  

1 NOTE of Janesville, Wisconsin in her brother Paul's 1957 obituary
of Janesville, Wisconsin in her father's 1966 obituary

Milner Hotel

Milton Cemetery1 CAUS Cerebral Hemorrhage


1 NOTE Rock Co. Death Cert. 41642, informant Harlow Clarke.
Resided Harmony, WI at the timeof his death.

"Milton and Milton Junction Courier", Milton, Rock Co.,Wisconsin, 4 Jul 1957, p 6.
Funeral services for Paul H. Clarke, who died in Janesville,June 26, were held in the Overton funeral home Monday afternoon.The Rev. I.A. Suby, First Lutheran Church, Janesville,officiated. Burial was in Milton cemetery, pallbearers beingthe following nephews - Clifford, Ramon, James, Patrick, andHerman Schiefelbein and Frank Schiefelbein, jr.
Paul, son of Harlow andHilda Ambrose Clarke, was born inJanesville, Aug. 14, 1915.
Surviving are hisparents, his brothers, Duane R. of Milton andHarlow jr. of Janesville; and hissisters, Mmes. FrankSchiefelbein, Glenn Howard and George Starks, all of Janesville,Mrs. Don Kramer of Beloit and Mrs. Lloyd Wincapaw of Rockford.

1 NOTE of Westminster, California in his father's 1966 obituary