John Blades Clarke (April 14, 1833 – May 23, 1911) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

Early life and family

John B. Clarke was born in

Brooksville, Kentucky Brooksville is a home rule-class city in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 642. It is the county seat of Bracken County. The area was settled before 1800 by William and Joel Woodwa ...

, on April 14, 1833.''Biographical Cyclopedia'', p. 124 He was the son of John and Mary (Blades) Clarke. Clarke studied under Harvey King in the common schools of Augusta, Kentucky, and at Augusta (Kentucky) College."Clarke, John Blades". ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress'' In 1851, he left school to return to his father's farm. During the winters of 1851 and 1852, he taught at a local school. For three years, he studied law under Judge Joseph Doniphan of Augusta. After examination by two local judges, he was admitted to the bar on April 20, 1854. Clarke married Cordelia A. Robertson, and the couple had six children – Bion Clarke, William R. Clarke, John B. Clarke, Cordelia Clark, Harry Clarke, and Clarence Clarke.''Biographical Cyclopedia'', p. 125 After the marriage, the family moved to

Rockport, Indiana Rockport is a city in Ohio Township and the county seat of Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,270 at the 2010 census. Once the largest community in Spencer County, the city has recently been surpassed by the t ...

, where Clarke commenced practice in January 1885. By September 1855, Clarke's wife had become ill, and the family returned Brooksville on December 10, 1855, where Clarke continued the practice of law.

Political career

Clarke was elected prosecuting attorney of Bracken County in 1858, serving until 1862. In 1867, he was elected to the

Kentucky Senate The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators. The Kentu ...

, serving a single, four-year term. He was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to represent the Tenth District in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

. He served in the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879). He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1878.

Later life and death

After Clarke's service in the House, he resumed the practice of law. He died in Brooksville on May 23, 1911, and was interred in Mount Zion Cemetery.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, John Blades 1833 births 1911 deaths Kentucky lawyers Democratic Party Kentucky state senators People from Brooksville, Kentucky Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky People from Augusta, Kentucky People from Rockport, Indiana 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers