A. M. Clarke, M. D.  

CLARKE, A.M., M.D. Asaph Milton Clarke was born in the town of Granby, Hartford county, Connecticut, on the 22d day of March, 1808. His ancestors were among the early settlers of New England, having crossed the ocean from old England, in what year is not certainly known. Philetus Clarke, his father, was a son of Joel and Chloe Clark née Reed, and was born October 9, 1782. His mother was Penelope Godard, daughter of Tilley Godard and Adah Holcomb, his wife. She was born December 6, 1787. The progenitors of Dr. Clarke seem to have been remarkable for their longevity. John Godard, father of Tilley, died at the age of ninety-six years; his wife, Molly Hillyar, at ninety-seven; Ephraim Holcomb, father of Adah, died at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife, Dorcas Hays, at the age of sixty-five, while Adah, the grandmother of Dr. Clarke, lived to the great age of one hundred and two years. Philetus Clark married Penelope Godard on the 20th of February, 1806. He died January 12, A.D. 1852. When A. M. Clarke was about six months old his parents removed to Russell, St. Lawrence county, New York, where they remained until 1819, when they removed to Little Toby, now in Elk county.

He was born amid the scenes of frontier dangers, and his home was within hearing distance of the roar of the cannon during the war of 1812. One incident of his infancy is given in his own words: "Perhaps it might have been a joke of the old Canadian Indian who came to our house when mother was alone. I was sleeping in the cradle. The savage, taking out his knife and moving towards the cradle, said: ‘Ugh! kill me dam Yankee!’ My mother cried’: ‘No, Socksusup, you will not!’ And, perhaps fortunately for my childish scalp, I was left unmolested. My mother, who related the story to me, said she was not afraid; but a quivering, ghost-like thrill of horror creeps over me yet to think of it."

His parents were among the first to penetrate into the Little Toby wilderness, and, with those who were associated with them in reclaiming those untrodden wilds, have been noticed in the earlier pages of this work, The educational advantages in those days were limited in the extreme, but young Clarke was possessed of an inquiring mind, and the older he grew the more insatiate became his thirst after knowledge. As he says, his first lessons were received at his mother’s knee; that mother whom he loved and revered so tenderly, and who made her home near him until called from earth, only a few short years before him.

He was quite quick at repartee, and while in Huntington county in 1828, he fell in with a burly wood-chopper who had conceived an antipathy for him just because he was a "Yankee." One day young Clarke happened to step into the bar-room of the Glenn Hotel, in Half Moon Valley, where he was boarding, and found himself among a crowd of wood-choppers. The burly fellow aforesaid, who had noticed him frequently with a book, suddenly confronting him, said: "Ha! have you got your dictionary?" "No, sir," said his victim, "but I will bring it if you wish." He replied, "All you are fit for is to dance at a dog’s funeral." "I am aware of it, and I expect a job when you die," was the unexpected rejoinder. And the giant said no more, while the landlord and bystanders enjoyed his discomfiture.

At an early age he evinced a love for the medical profession, and studied under Dr. Jonathan Nichols the pioneer physician of that part of the State, and to whom, he says: "I am more indebted than to any other person for my success in after years."

Dr. Clarke was married on the 6th of March 1831, to Rebecca Mason Nichols, the daughter of his friend and preceptor, Dr. Nichols, and on the fiftieth anniversary of this event they celebrated their golden wedding at their home in Brockwayville, in the presence of their children, grand-children and friends.

Of Mrs. Clarke’s ancestry, the record is not so complete. Her father, Dr. Jonathan Nichols, who has already been noticed in this work, was the first settled minister of the gospel in Jefferson county. He was born March 4, 1775, and was the son of Jonathan and Rhoba Nichols, née Martin.  Dr. Nichols married Hannah, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah Mason, née Wood, January 17, 1796, and died May 16, 1846. His wife died June 1859, aged eighty-two years.

The aged wife of Dr. Clarke, who was in very truth a helpmeet to him, still lives and resides at the old homestead in Brockwayville.
Dr. Clarke practiced his profession almost constantly to the day of his death, and was one of the best known physicians in the county. He was of the Eclectic school of medicine and was a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute.

He was identified with the northern part of Jefferson county for over sixty years. In 1836 he removed to Brockwayville, where he laid out the town and done much to give it its, "first start in life," and where for almost fifty years he made his home, and whose every upward stride he watched with a zealous eye. Much of his history has been given in the history of the medical profession, of which he was an honored member, and his patient, faithful and gentle ministrations at the bedside of the sick and dying will not soon be forgotten. His studies were not confined to medicine, but he was well versed in general literature, and had a loving acquaintance with the poets. Books were his delight and the solace of many a weary hour.

On Thursday evening, May 22, 1884, Dr. Clarke died very suddenly, at his residence in Brockwayville, of neuralgia of the heart. On the Monday evening previous he attended a meeting of the Borough Council, of which he was a member, walking home afterwards. This effort proved too much for him, and he was ill all night and continued indisposed until Thursday, when he seemed better and moved about the house singing, as was his wont, and laying plans for the morrow. As evening drew near he complained of pains in his limbs, back, and loins, and his loving, faithful wife rubbed the affected parts with mustard water, which gave him almost instant relief. Shortly after, while lying on his bed talking to her, he suddenly put his hand over his heart, and said "Oh, this terrible pain, it will kill me!" closed his eyes and quietly expired.

His death brought sorrow not only to his own immediate household and friends, but to the community at large, for all felt that a "good man had fallen" one whose place could not be filled. The funeral took place on Sunday, and was one of the largest ever held in Brockwayville, over one hundred carriages following the remains to the cemetery, where Rev. E. R. Knapp, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, conducted the burial services.

The family of Dr. Clarke consisted of ten children, six daughters and four sons: Hilpa A., married to William A. Schram, of Ridgway; Adaline, drowned October 9, 1843; Penelope, G., married to Dr. W. J. McKnight, of Brookville; Julia died January 23, 1839; Myrton died March 31, 1842; Sarah, married to Thomas M. Myers, of Brockwayville; Asaph M., residing in York county; an infant son died April 16, 1847; Frances Ada, married to John A. Green, of Brockwayville, and William D., residing in Brockwayville.

The following fitting tribute to Dr. Clarke was written at the time of his death by one who loved him for his many good qualities of head and heart:

"Deceased was intellectually a remarkable man. Denied the advantages of wealth and education, he became not only a learned and skillful physician, but a literary man of high order. Books were the mine in which he delved, and from their pages he brought forth jewels of information and thought most rare. He loved poetry with an ardor words cannot express, and was not only familiar with the leading poets of the past and present, but was himself the author of a number of fragments which show him to have been possessed of a poetic fire, that, in the hands of one less modest and unassuming than he ever proved himself to be, would have made him an enduring name. His qualities of heart were no less choice than were those of his head. He was generous to a fault, and as meek and gentle as a child. Nothing seemingly gave him more pleasure than to do good to his fellow-men, and many there are who have partaken bountifully of his store. In the sickroom his presence was always a sweet solace, and his delicate touch almost as soothing as a narcotic. In the social circle he was ever popular, the diversity of his knowledge and the easy flow of his language rendering him a delightful companion. As a man and citizen he was highly respected, as was proven by the spontaneity with which his neighbors’ gathered about his grave and dropped a tear to his precious memory. His death, like his life, was peaceful, and the name he leaves behind as pure as the lily and as fragrant as the rose."

History of Jefferson County : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. 1888   Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.