Sacramento County
Biographies
GEORGE L. CLARKE
GEORGE L. CLARKE, capitalist, Sacramento.
About the beginning of the present century, or a year or two later, James
Clarke, a native of the New England States, came to Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, bought a farm near Pittsburg, married Miss Sarah Cooper, and
became a farmer; and here in April, 1833, was born George L., the subject of
this biographical notice. For many years prior to 1847 there had been a
Mormon settlement in Hancock County, Illinois,
and when in 1847 or 1848 they move to Salt
Lake, James Clarke bought 600 or
700 acres of Mormon land, and removed his family there. At the age of
eighteen years young Clarke entered a store at Rushville, the county seat of
Schuyler County, Illinois, as a clerk, where he remained until March,
1852. Even as a boy the tales of adventure in the far West, and such
books as “Hastings’ Traveler’s Guide,” had instilled into his mind a firm
determination to “go West” at the first opportunity; and when, in 1852, a party
was made up at Rushville to cross the plains with ox
teams, he gladly became one of the number. The party followed up the
north side of the Platte River, crossed the Sweetwater, came over the Rocky
Mountains at the South Pass, entered this State through Beekwith
Pass, and stopped at Hopkins Creek (at that time in Butte County) for a month
to recruit, and then journeyed on to Marysville. Not liking the outlook
for mining operations, he crossed the American River
at Lile’s Bridge, and entered the city of Sacramento
on the 8th of September. Very soon he purchased an interest in
a ranch near Freeport, San
Joaquin Township,
and began farming. It was on this farm, owned jointly by him and Mr. Dillworth, that he first met Mr. F. R. Dray, who
subsequently became prominent in the county. He continued on this ranch
of 480 acres until the fall of 1858, when he sold out and bought a farm near
Elk Grove, and resided there until 1866, when he removed to town. During
that year he went to Oregon and bought 2,600 head of
sheep, and drove them across the country to Sacramento.
In 1870 he went to San Luis Obispo County,
and engaged in raising, buying and selling sheep, frequently driving flocks to Sacramento
in order reach mining market in Nevada.
In 1873 he once more returned to the Capital
City, where for three years he
continued to reside, retaining his interests in the sheep-raising and stock
business. During the Centennial year he made a trip East,
visiting Chicago, Niagara Falls, New
York, Philadelphia, Washington,
and on his return stopped at his old home in Illinois,
and also visited his younger brother, James P. Clarke, in Kansas.
His brother has since that time returned to Rushville, and has become a
merchant, and is also a supervisor of Schuyler
County. After being gone over
four months, Mr. Clarke returned to this State. Since that time he has
bought and improved several pieces of city property, and last year (1888) he
and an old neighbor and friend, Mr. Cave, of Sacramento,
bought 1,100 acres of Yolo County
land, which they are improving, intending to make a stock ranch of it.
Mr. Clarke is an active, energetic, go-ahead man. He was never
married. His home is at the State House Hotel, where he is ever ready to
greet his friends in a cordial manner.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County,
California. Page 544-545. Lewis Publishing Company.
1890.
© 2006 Karen Pratt.
Sacramento
County Biographies