My Genealogy Hound

Maj. Joseph Marcus Clarke was born in Bethel, Ohio, near Cincinnati, June 4, 1814, and is one of the old and prominent citizens of Cole County. His parents, Houten and Nancy (Riley) Clarke, were natives of England and Kentucky, respectively. His father came over from Yorkshire, England, when a young man, married and settled in Ohio. He reared three sons and four daughters, Joseph Marcus Clarke being the third child in order of birth. Smith, the eldest child, married and settled in Ohio; Wright for some years represented his congressional district in the United States Congress, and served under Gen. Grant as third auditor of the treasury. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Ohio, obtained a good education at the common schools, and excelled in his studies in Hall’s Academy at Bethel and Bavaria, Ohio. His early manhood was spent in Illinois, where he conducted the Illinois State Journal, at Shawneetown, the third established paper of the State, and conducted it two years. Then, on account of the unhealthy condition of the country, he left it and returned home to Ohio. He then engaged in horse dealing and trading through Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee, and had entirely recovered his health in three years. While traveling he met and married Miss Elizabeth E. Mottley, by whom he had several children, all of whom are now deceased. He settled near Richmond, Va., and carried on plantation work until 1845. While here he buried his first wife, and later took for his second wife Miss Lavinia E. Nunley, who still survives. One son, Julius S. Clarke, was born to this union. He was a rising young lawyer of Jefferson City. Marcus L. Clarke, a son by his first marriage, was a merchant of New Liberty, Ky. In 1845 Mr. Clarke moved to Kentucky, where he carried on merchandising until 1854, and then came to Missouri. He here carried on farming in Osage County for fifteen years, and during that time he represented Osage County in the State Legislature during 1858 and 1859. After the war he went back to Kentucky and started a paper at New Liberty, Ky., the first paper printed in the county, and called The Owen News. This he conducted for several years, but after the administration of Gov. Woodson he returned to Missouri, locating in Jefferson City and engaged in the banking business. He has held the presidency of the First National Bank of Jefferson City, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is the acknowledged founder and one of the officials. Mrs. Clarke is a member of the Ladies’ Aid Society.