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

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

age 47

at home

Milton Cemetery1 CAUS Capillary bronchitis, influenza


1 NOTE "Seventh-day Baptists, Biographical Sketches", p 1370.
An active layworker of the Milton (Wisconsin) Church and SabbathSchool; intensely interestedin all phases of denominationalwork; for many years President of the Woman's Executive Board ofthe Seventh Day Baptist General Conference.

Rock Co. DeathCert 6410 (bd as 13 Sep 1832)

"Sabbath Recorder", Vol 82, No 6, p 177,178, 5Feb 1917.
A tribute to Mrs. Clarke.

"Milton Junction Journal-Telephone", Milton, Rock Co.,Wisconsin, Thursday, 1 Feb 1917, p 1.
Mrs. Harriet Clarke, Daughter of Spicer Saunders and HarrietDwight Saunders, was born at Plainfield Center, New York,September 13, 1832, and died at her home in Milton, Wis.,January23, 1917.
She was married on October 13, 1852, to Sherrill J. Clarke. Tothemwere born three children, Irving Benton, Judson Dwight, andAnn Cora Clarke. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have five grandchildrenand four great-grandchildren living.Mrs. Clarke has twosisters living. Mrs. Lyman Smith of Ithaca, N. Y., and Mrs.William M. Johnston of River Forest, Ill.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clarke made their home atLeonardsville, N. Y., for four years and then came to Milton inthe fall of 1856, where they have since lived.
When a girl of twelve orfourteen years of age she gave herheart and life to God and was baptized by Elder Rowe atWinfield, N. Y., but she did not unite with a church till aftertheirmarriage when she united with the S. D. B. church atLeonardsville, N. Y.
Soonafter coming to Milton she united with the Milton church,in the pastorate of the Rev. W. C. Whitford, and for more thansixty years has been a regular attendant at its services;helpful in all its activities, and by her life, words and workshas inspired a large circle of acquaintances in this and othercommunities.
For thirty years or more she was a member of the choir of thischurch, and probably for a longer period than this she was ateacher in the Sabbath School. Shewas active in the work ofthe Ladie's Benevolent Society of the church, and forseveralyears was a member of the Village Improvement Club. From theorganization of the W. C. T. U. till her death she was anenthusiastic member, working forthe prohibition of the liquortraffic. In the S. D. B. denomination her servicehas been mosthelpful in the Woman's Board, with the exception of the firsttwoyears, an officer of the Board since its organization in1884. She served fourteen years as it's President, six years asHonorary president, eight and one halfyears as First VicePresident and two years as Associational Secretary.
Thosewho have known Mrs. Clarke in these differentorganizations appreciate the truthfulness of the words of herhusband, who has happily enjoyed her companionship for nearlysixty-five years of wedded life, "She was as true to duty as theneedleto the North Pole."
Memorial services were held at the church on the afternoon ofJanuary 26, and were attended by many relatives and sympathizingfriends. The music was by a quartet who sang three pieces thatMr. and Mrs. Clarke had frequently sung at funerals, and that hechose to be sung at this service, and requested that the sameshould be used at his funeral.
Mrs. A. B. West, President of the Woman's Board, spoke of Mrs.Clarke's long and helpful service as an officer in the Board.Rev. H. N. Jordan made appreciative remarks about herfaithfulness in Christian work, and Rev. Willard D. Burdickspoke from the last verses ofthe 31st chapter of Proverbs,dwelling particularly on the points that she was an industriouswoman, a woman of wisdom and kindness, and trustworthy.Interment was made in the Milton Cemetery.
Mrs. Clarke will be greatly missed in the circles which shemoved, and particularly in the prayer meeting and Sabbathservicesof the church.
The relatives from away who attended the funeral were: Mr. andMrs. W. M. Johnston, W. S. Johnston and John A. Jo

1. 1. 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. 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. Ann Cora CLARKE b. 1869, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; d. 1958; bur. 1958, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.

1. 2. Sherrill Joseph CLARKE b. 8 Dec 1827, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York; d. 9 Nov 1921, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin; bur. 12 Nov 1921, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin.
2. Emily Calista CLARKE b. 1 Jan 1829; d. 1892.
3. George Orlando CLARKE b. 6 May 1830; d. 20 Oct 1854.
4. Franklin CLARKE b. 7 Aug 1833; d. 25 Nov 1900, Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island; bur. 1900, Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island.
5. Albertus CLARKE b. 2 Apr 1835; d. Bef 1921.
6. Pendleton CLARKE b. 5 Feb 1837; d. 8 Feb 1840.
7. Alvit Wellington CLARKE b. 27 Sep 1838; d. Aft 1921.
8. Henry Pendleton CLARKE b. 11 Jan 1840; d. Aft 1921.
9. William Harrison CLARKE b. 26 Jun 1842; d. Bef 1921.
10. Lucy Ann CLARKE b. 20 Nov 1844, West Edmeston, New York; d. 11 Feb 1918, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin; bur. 14 Feb 1918, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin.

1. Andrew J. SAUNDERS b. 29 Jul 1829, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 21 May 1898, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
2. Dwight SAUNDERS b. Nov 1830, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 12 Oct 1865, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
3. 3. Harriet SAUNDERS b. 13 Sep 1832, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 23 Jan 1917, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin; bur. 26 Jan 1917, Milton,Rock Co.,Wisconsin.
4. Ann SAUNDERS b. Sep 1836, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. Ithaca,New York.
5. Elizabeth SAUNDERS b. Apr 1839, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 1943, River Forest,Illinois.

1. Sophia CLARKE b. 6 Feb 1802, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York; d. 14 Jul 1888, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York.
2. 4. Alvit CLARKE b. 11 Jan 1804, Brookfield, Madison Co., New York; d. 25 Nov 1897, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin; bur. 28 Nov 1897, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin.
3. Deborah CLARKE b. 1805; d. 7 Dec 1854.
4. Jared CLARKE b. 1 Dec 1807, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York; d. 13 Aug 1882, Unadilla Forks, Otsego Co., New York.
5. Orissa Villa CLARKE b. 6 Jan 1809; d. 24 Jul 1870.
6. Harriet CLARKE b. 15 Jul 1811; d. 9 Dec 1901, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York.
7. Angeline CLARKE b. 4 Jul 1814.
8. Nelson CLARKE b. 25 Dec 1817, Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York; d. Abt 1892, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin.

1 NOTE "The "Clarke" Families of Rhode Island"; by George AustinMorrison, Jr.;The Evening Post Job Printing House, New York;1902, p 49,

Stephen and Dorcas were third cousins.

1 NOTE "Old Tobe: Some Lines of Descent of Tobias SAUNDERS of Westerly,Rhode Island"; by Earl P. Crandall; Higginson Book Co.; 1995, p45,

1. 6. Spicer SAUNDERS b. 10 Mar 1799, Westerly,Washington Co.,Rhode Island; d. 23 May 1871, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
2. Tacy SAUNDERS b. 16 Nov 1800, Westerly,Washington Co.,Rhode Island; d. 25 Jun 1876, Clymer,Chatauqua Co.,New York.
3. Betsey SAUNDERS b. 4 Jul 1803, Brookfield,Madison Co.,New York; d. 12 Jul 1832, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
4. Joel SAUNDERS b. 24 Aug 1805, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 12 Jul 1832, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
5. Jairus SAUNDERS b. 27 Dec 1807, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 9 Dec 1828, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York.
6. Clark SAUNDERS b. 16 Jul 1815, Plainfield,Otsego Co.,New York; d. 22 Apr 1878, Unadilla,Otsego Co.,New York.