The Port Arthur Evening Chronicle
of May 11th contains a sketch of the career of Mr. W. J. Clarke, one of the
earliest settlers to that now flourishing city. Mr. Clark [sic] is
an old Simcoe boy, son of the late Dr. John Clarke, for many years a
popular and successful physician of Simcoe and the representative of North
Norfolk in the Ontario Legislature from 1871 to 1879.
Will, as he was familiarly
designated, was born in Simcoe in 1849 and was educated in the public
schools and the grammar school of the town, and in due time became a
graduated druggist. Desirous of seeking a suitable business location in
the West, he joined a C.P.R. engineering party, but at last pitched his
tent at Port Arthur in 1871, bought a block of land, built on it and began
business as a druggist, and was afterwards joined by his brother, Dr.
Arthur Clarke.
Port Arthur then contained only
200 people. The Simcoe boy prospered. The Chronicle indicates his [versatility]
and business energy in many lines of business. He grew up with the place,
sharing in its ups and downs and aiding in every enterprise likely to
promote its prosperity. He filled municipal positions and other places of
trust in the gift of the people, and is now at the age of 58, in active
business enjoying the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.
On retiring from the Ontario
Legislature, his father was appointed in the Shrivalty [sic] of the
Algoma district, as its first sheriff, and D. D. Van Norman, also a
resident of Simcoe, was installed as Stipendiary Magistrate. The sheriff
of the new district held the office about 9 years when he passed away.
There are some living in Simcoe
who can well remember the genial Dr. John Clarke and his family, and there
may be a few who were schoolmates of Will and who will be glad to learn of
his useful business career and of the esteem in which he is held.
There may possibly be a few in
town who remember his grandfather, who was pastor of quite a large body of
Congregationalists, whose place of worship was the historic Mud Church,
which stood on the corner of Colborne and Young streets. Preacher Clarke's
residence was Rose Hill, and he was also superintendent of schools for
Woodhouse under the old educational regime.
It seems a pity we could not
have an old boys' reunion
here, so as to call together the old Simcoe and
Norfolk boys, who are scattered all over the continent, to have one more
chat over the "long ago."
