1. 2. Christopher CLARKE   b. 31 Jul 1793; d. 28 Sep 1838.

1. 3. Christopher CLARKE   b. 4 Jan 1827; d. 20 Nov 1915, Northampton,Hampshire County,Massachusetts.

"Representative Families of Northampton" Volume 1, by Charles F. Warner,
January 1, 1917. Picturesque Publishing Company, Northampton. The F. A.
Bassette Company Printers, Springfield, Mass.

Christopher CLARKE
Public-Spirited and "All-round Citizen"
Pages 41-52.

As a most important scion of one of Northampton's oldest families Christopher
CLARKE furnishes a notable genealogical sketch.

Mr. CLARKE was born in Northampton January 4, 1827, the son of Christopher
CLARKE and Harriet BUTLER. His grandfathers were Samuel CLARKE and William
BUTLER, the latter the first book publisher in Northampton and also founder
of the Northampton Gazette [italics]. His grandmothers were Jerusha PHILLIPS
of Boston, and Huldah BROWN BUTLER of Northampton. The first Christopher
CLARKE was a merchant, and his sons, Augustus and Christopher2d, succeeded
him in the same line.

In childhood and youth the subject of this sketch had an intense love for
music and an unusually sweet voice for a child. He sang solos in children's
concerts, and at an early age was a member of the Unitarian Church choir.
Later he was prominent in the town's famous "Choral Union" and other musical
organizations, all financially successful.

Christopher CLARKE, the boy, began an apprenticeship in the store of his
brother Augustus CLARKE at the age of fourteen, with wages for the first
year of thirty dollars, and five dollars per year increase until he "graduated"
at nineteen.

Being fond of books, his public spirit, for which his life has been so
distinguished, prompted him to the leading part in raising funds for the
construction of what is now known as the CLARKE Library and Memorial Hall
building, to honor both the veterans of the Civil War and to properly house
the books of the Northampton Free Public Library, which up to that time
had been kept in the town hall. The amountof money Mr. CLARKE secured
for this purpose was nearly two thousand dollars furnished by his uncle,
John CLARKE, to which the uncle later added the sum offive thousand dollars
toward the building fund. It is a notable fact that theCLARKE Library
Building with its Memorial Hall, was the first large free public library
building in a town in this country. It was opened for public use inJune,
1874.

Mr. CLARKE has attributed his success in life largely to his constant association
with a superior class of men and women in Northampton (which he always
called "the leading town in the State"); also to his intense loveof nature
in all its phases, and to music, which made him an "all-round" man and
public-spirited citizen, interested in and ready to aid all good causes
with personal service and money. To one who knew him long it has seemed
the Mr.CLARKE'S modesty did not permit him to state other leading causes
of his success. These include notably his excellent health and long life,
and his unfailing good nature, cheerfulness, and regular habits. It is
a fact worth mentioningthat no one ever heard him speak ill of any one
- an unusual characteristic.Rallied, at one time, on his abundant cheerfulness,
by a friend, he responded,"I make it a point to smile rather than show
anger, as I have found that anger makes me ill, and I suffer for hours
afterward, if I indulge in it."

Could a stronger recommendation be given the doctrine taught by mental
healers andpractical metaphysicians, so far as such doctrine relates in
the discipline of mind toward making for health? His fellow-citizens have
often been stopped and button-holed by him on the street, to listen to
his stories, and he has doubtless chased away many a fit of the blues.

His principal public service, probably was the promotion and acquisition
of several public State reservations,including Mount Tom, Mount Nonotuck,
Mount Sugar Loaf, Deer Hill, and last ofall, in the organization of a
corporation for the purchase of Mount Holyoke,which seemed likely at one
time to fall into the