Artemas M. Clarke, the Bellevue pioneer whose death in Beverley, Cal., on the 6th inst., caused much regret among his many Omaha friends, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., October 11th, 1832. His parents later moved to Pennsylvania, where his boyhood days were spent. He came to Bellevue in 1855 and engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother, Henry T. Clarke. They were also agents for the steamboat line plying between St. Louis and upper Missouri points, and supplied the boats with cordwood for fuel. Fontenelle, the noted Indian chief, was one of their best customers. His credit was good for any amount, as he paid his bills promptly in $20 gold pieces whenever the government paid the annuity to the Indians.
In the winter of 1856 Mr. Clarke returned to Pennsylvania and was married, January 1, 1857, to Alvia A., daughter of Rev. Amos Williams.
After a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and a strenuous journey, the bride and groom arrived at Bellevue March 4, 1857. Their new home, which should have been completed, was without doors and windows but they covered the openings with blankets and moved in. Here their three sons were born.
In the early sixties Mr. Clarke owned and personally managed what was known as the "Colorado Limited," consisting of about 100 yoke of oxen with the necessary wagons, etc. carrying freight and passengers between the Missouri river and Denver.
Few people have any conception of the risk and cost of handling these large caravans across the plains. On one trip, at Alkali Station, now Paxton, on the Union Pacific railroad, the Indians shot Mr. Clarke's head herder and ran off all of the cattle, leaving him completely stranded. A miner, who was going east from California with another train, was camped about five miles down the river. Upon hearing of Mr. Clarke's misfortune he immediately rode up and opened his bag of gold dust and told Mr. Clarke to take all that he needed, saying that he would be back in about three months and he could then repay him - more evidence that the hardy pioneers of the western plains trusted each other, and were always ready to extend a helping hand.
On another trip Mr. Clarke and his caravan was caught in a blizzard about thirty miles from Denver and it cost him over $2000 to get his outfit over that thirty miles. At another time he was delayed for several days opposite Columbus, Nebraska, by high water in the Platte river. The cost of getting his train across the river on Shinn's ferry and his loss by the delay amounted to nearly $2,500.
Mr. Clarke filed a claim with the national government for the loss of his cattle and after thirty years delay was paid about four-fifths of the original cost of the oxen, without interest. In 1872, on account of failing health, Mr. Clarke moved to San Jose, Cal., but returned to Nebraska about eight years later and made his home in Omaha until compelled by the condition of Mrs. Clarke's health to seek a warmer climate. For five years Mr. and Mrs. Clarke spent the winter's in St. Petersburg, Florida, and in 1906 moved to California, making their home in Beverley, a suburb of Los Angeles, where Mr. Clarke died from the effect of an operation.
Not as a pioneer and businessman, however, will Mr. Clarke be remembered by those who have been nearest to him. His love for family and friends and his readiness to lend a helping hand whenever needed made his life useful and endeared him to all who came in personal touch with him.
He was a life-long Baptist and came of Baptist stock, being a lineal descendant of a brother of John Clarke, who settled in Rhode Island with Roger Williams. After being a member of the First Baptist church of Bellevue (the first organized Baptist church in Nebraska) he was a member of the First Baptist church of Omaha, the Beth-Eden Baptist church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were charter members. It was organized in their home on Harney street and Mr. Clarke was one of the board of trustees of that church for many years and an active member of the building committee during the erection of the church edifice on Park avenue,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke transferred their membership to the First Baptist church of St. Petersburg nine years ago and were a great help to the little church down there.
The funeral services of Mr. Clarke were held in the First Baptist church, Omaha, Friday, June 17, and the remains were laid to rest in Forest Lawn where his son, Willis, is buried. Rev. E. R. Curry conducted the funeral services and J. A. Sunderland, Amos Field, Charles C. George, George A. Wilcox, Henry C. Streight and J. H. Dumont were the pallbearers.
Mr. Clarke's widow and two sons, Elmer S. Clarke of York and Howard A. of Columbus, and his three brothers Henry T. Clarke and William E. Clarke of Omaha and A. W. Clarke of Papillion, survive him.
From The Omaha Excelsior
June 25, 1910
In the winter of 1856 Mr. Clarke returned to Pennsylvania and was married, January 1, 1857, to Alvia A., daughter of Rev. Amos Williams.
After a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and a strenuous journey, the bride and groom arrived at Bellevue March 4, 1857. Their new home, which should have been completed, was without doors and windows but they covered the openings with blankets and moved in. Here their three sons were born.
In the early sixties Mr. Clarke owned and personally managed what was known as the "Colorado Limited," consisting of about 100 yoke of oxen with the necessary wagons, etc. carrying freight and passengers between the Missouri river and Denver.
Few people have any conception of the risk and cost of handling these large caravans across the plains. On one trip, at Alkali Station, now Paxton, on the Union Pacific railroad, the Indians shot Mr. Clarke's head herder and ran off all of the cattle, leaving him completely stranded. A miner, who was going east from California with another train, was camped about five miles down the river. Upon hearing of Mr. Clarke's misfortune he immediately rode up and opened his bag of gold dust and told Mr. Clarke to take all that he needed, saying that he would be back in about three months and he could then repay him - more evidence that the hardy pioneers of the western plains trusted each other, and were always ready to extend a helping hand.
On another trip Mr. Clarke and his caravan was caught in a blizzard about thirty miles from Denver and it cost him over $2000 to get his outfit over that thirty miles. At another time he was delayed for several days opposite Columbus, Nebraska, by high water in the Platte river. The cost of getting his train across the river on Shinn's ferry and his loss by the delay amounted to nearly $2,500.
Mr. Clarke filed a claim with the national government for the loss of his cattle and after thirty years delay was paid about four-fifths of the original cost of the oxen, without interest. In 1872, on account of failing health, Mr. Clarke moved to San Jose, Cal., but returned to Nebraska about eight years later and made his home in Omaha until compelled by the condition of Mrs. Clarke's health to seek a warmer climate. For five years Mr. and Mrs. Clarke spent the winter's in St. Petersburg, Florida, and in 1906 moved to California, making their home in Beverley, a suburb of Los Angeles, where Mr. Clarke died from the effect of an operation.
Not as a pioneer and businessman, however, will Mr. Clarke be remembered by those who have been nearest to him. His love for family and friends and his readiness to lend a helping hand whenever needed made his life useful and endeared him to all who came in personal touch with him.
He was a life-long Baptist and came of Baptist stock, being a lineal descendant of a brother of John Clarke, who settled in Rhode Island with Roger Williams. After being a member of the First Baptist church of Bellevue (the first organized Baptist church in Nebraska) he was a member of the First Baptist church of Omaha, the Beth-Eden Baptist church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were charter members. It was organized in their home on Harney street and Mr. Clarke was one of the board of trustees of that church for many years and an active member of the building committee during the erection of the church edifice on Park avenue,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke transferred their membership to the First Baptist church of St. Petersburg nine years ago and were a great help to the little church down there.
The funeral services of Mr. Clarke were held in the First Baptist church, Omaha, Friday, June 17, and the remains were laid to rest in Forest Lawn where his son, Willis, is buried. Rev. E. R. Curry conducted the funeral services and J. A. Sunderland, Amos Field, Charles C. George, George A. Wilcox, Henry C. Streight and J. H. Dumont were the pallbearers.
Mr. Clarke's widow and two sons, Elmer S. Clarke of York and Howard A. of Columbus, and his three brothers Henry T. Clarke and William E. Clarke of Omaha and A. W. Clarke of Papillion, survive him.
From The Omaha Excelsior
June 25, 1910
Artemas M. Clarke, the Bellevue pioneer whose death in Beverley, Cal., on the 6th inst., caused much regret among his many Omaha friends, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., October 11th, 1832. His parents later moved to Pennsylvania, where his boyhood days were spent. He came to Bellevue in 1855 and engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother, Henry T. Clarke. They were also agents for the steamboat line plying between St. Louis and upper Missouri points, and supplied the boats with cordwood for fuel. Fontenelle, the noted Indian chief, was one of their best customers. His credit was good for any amount, as he paid his bills promptly in $20 gold pieces whenever the government paid the annuity to the Indians.
In the winter of 1856 Mr. Clarke returned to Pennsylvania and was married, January 1, 1857, to Alvia A., daughter of Rev. Amos Williams.
After a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and a strenuous journey, the bride and groom arrived at Bellevue March 4, 1857. Their new home, which should have been completed, was without doors and windows but they covered the openings with blankets and moved in. Here their three sons were born.
In the early sixties Mr. Clarke owned and personally managed what was known as the "Colorado Limited," consisting of about 100 yoke of oxen with the necessary wagons, etc. carrying freight and passengers between the Missouri river and Denver.
Few people have any conception of the risk and cost of handling these large caravans across the plains. On one trip, at Alkali Station, now Paxton, on the Union Pacific railroad, the Indians shot Mr. Clarke's head herder and ran off all of the cattle, leaving him completely stranded. A miner, who was going east from California with another train, was camped about five miles down the river. Upon hearing of Mr. Clarke's misfortune he immediately rode up and opened his bag of gold dust and told Mr. Clarke to take all that he needed, saying that he would be back in about three months and he could then repay him - more evidence that the hardy pioneers of the western plains trusted each other, and were always ready to extend a helping hand.
On another trip Mr. Clarke and his caravan was caught in a blizzard about thirty miles from Denver and it cost him over $2000 to get his outfit over that thirty miles. At another time he was delayed for several days opposite Columbus, Nebraska, by high water in the Platte river. The cost of getting his train across the river on Shinn's ferry and his loss by the delay amounted to nearly $2,500.
Mr. Clarke filed a claim with the national government for the loss of his cattle and after thirty years delay was paid about four-fifths of the original cost of the oxen, without interest. In 1872, on account of failing health, Mr. Clarke moved to San Jose, Cal., but returned to Nebraska about eight years later and made his home in Omaha until compelled by the condition of Mrs. Clarke's health to seek a warmer climate. For five years Mr. and Mrs. Clarke spent the winter's in St. Petersburg, Florida, and in 1906 moved to California, making their home in Beverley, a suburb of Los Angeles, where Mr. Clarke died from the effect of an operation.
Not as a pioneer and businessman, however, will Mr. Clarke be remembered by those who have been nearest to him. His love for family and friends and his readiness to lend a helping hand whenever needed made his life useful and endeared him to all who came in personal touch with him.
He was a life-long Baptist and came of Baptist stock, being a lineal descendant of a brother of John Clarke, who settled in Rhode Island with Roger Williams. After being a member of the First Baptist church of Bellevue (the first organized Baptist church in Nebraska) he was a member of the First Baptist church of Omaha, the Beth-Eden Baptist church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were charter members. It was organized in their home on Harney street and Mr. Clarke was one of the board of trustees of that church for many years and an active member of the building committee during the erection of the church edifice on Park avenue,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke transferred their membership to the First Baptist church of St. Petersburg nine years ago and were a great help to the little church down there.
The funeral services of Mr. Clarke were held in the First Baptist church, Omaha, Friday, June 17, and the remains were laid to rest in Forest Lawn where his son, Willis, is buried. Rev. E. R. Curry conducted the funeral services and J. A. Sunderland, Amos Field, Charles C. George, George A. Wilcox, Henry C. Streight and J. H. Dumont were the pallbearers.
Mr. Clarke's widow and two sons, Elmer S. Clarke of York and Howard A. of Columbus, and his three brothers Henry T. Clarke and William E. Clarke of Omaha and A. W. Clarke of Papillion, survive him.
From The Omaha Excelsior
June 25, 1910
In the winter of 1856 Mr. Clarke returned to Pennsylvania and was married, January 1, 1857, to Alvia A., daughter of Rev. Amos Williams.
After a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and a strenuous journey, the bride and groom arrived at Bellevue March 4, 1857. Their new home, which should have been completed, was without doors and windows but they covered the openings with blankets and moved in. Here their three sons were born.
In the early sixties Mr. Clarke owned and personally managed what was known as the "Colorado Limited," consisting of about 100 yoke of oxen with the necessary wagons, etc. carrying freight and passengers between the Missouri river and Denver.
Few people have any conception of the risk and cost of handling these large caravans across the plains. On one trip, at Alkali Station, now Paxton, on the Union Pacific railroad, the Indians shot Mr. Clarke's head herder and ran off all of the cattle, leaving him completely stranded. A miner, who was going east from California with another train, was camped about five miles down the river. Upon hearing of Mr. Clarke's misfortune he immediately rode up and opened his bag of gold dust and told Mr. Clarke to take all that he needed, saying that he would be back in about three months and he could then repay him - more evidence that the hardy pioneers of the western plains trusted each other, and were always ready to extend a helping hand.
On another trip Mr. Clarke and his caravan was caught in a blizzard about thirty miles from Denver and it cost him over $2000 to get his outfit over that thirty miles. At another time he was delayed for several days opposite Columbus, Nebraska, by high water in the Platte river. The cost of getting his train across the river on Shinn's ferry and his loss by the delay amounted to nearly $2,500.
Mr. Clarke filed a claim with the national government for the loss of his cattle and after thirty years delay was paid about four-fifths of the original cost of the oxen, without interest. In 1872, on account of failing health, Mr. Clarke moved to San Jose, Cal., but returned to Nebraska about eight years later and made his home in Omaha until compelled by the condition of Mrs. Clarke's health to seek a warmer climate. For five years Mr. and Mrs. Clarke spent the winter's in St. Petersburg, Florida, and in 1906 moved to California, making their home in Beverley, a suburb of Los Angeles, where Mr. Clarke died from the effect of an operation.
Not as a pioneer and businessman, however, will Mr. Clarke be remembered by those who have been nearest to him. His love for family and friends and his readiness to lend a helping hand whenever needed made his life useful and endeared him to all who came in personal touch with him.
He was a life-long Baptist and came of Baptist stock, being a lineal descendant of a brother of John Clarke, who settled in Rhode Island with Roger Williams. After being a member of the First Baptist church of Bellevue (the first organized Baptist church in Nebraska) he was a member of the First Baptist church of Omaha, the Beth-Eden Baptist church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were charter members. It was organized in their home on Harney street and Mr. Clarke was one of the board of trustees of that church for many years and an active member of the building committee during the erection of the church edifice on Park avenue,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke transferred their membership to the First Baptist church of St. Petersburg nine years ago and were a great help to the little church down there.
The funeral services of Mr. Clarke were held in the First Baptist church, Omaha, Friday, June 17, and the remains were laid to rest in Forest Lawn where his son, Willis, is buried. Rev. E. R. Curry conducted the funeral services and J. A. Sunderland, Amos Field, Charles C. George, George A. Wilcox, Henry C. Streight and J. H. Dumont were the pallbearers.
Mr. Clarke's widow and two sons, Elmer S. Clarke of York and Howard A. of Columbus, and his three brothers Henry T. Clarke and William E. Clarke of Omaha and A. W. Clarke of Papillion, survive him.
From The Omaha Excelsior
June 25, 1910
