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Dr. Clarke, M.P. |
| John Fitzgerald
Clarke was born 16th July, 1827, at Coventry, England. His father,
Rev. Wm. Clarke, was one of three pioneer missionaries sent out to Canada
by the Congregational Colonial Missionary Society in 1837. Dr.
Clarke enter the medical profession, of which he has been a useful member
for nearly 30 years, in early youth. Passing his examinations at
McGill College, and receiving his license before attaining his 20th year. Having settled in Vittoria, in 1847 he married Susan Maria,
second daughter of Joseph Van Norman, Esq., proprietor and originator of
the Normandale Iron Works. In 1851 he removed to Simcoe, where he
has practised his profession ever since. Losing his wife in 1853, he
married in 1855, Maria M., second daughter of Thomas J. Mulkins, Esq.,
J.P., Postmaster, and a leading merchant of Simcoe. He has been twice
elected to the Town Council of Simcoe; was Surgeon to the County Goal from
1852 to 1870, and Coroner of the County of Norfolk from 1848 to 1870, when
he resigned both offices on becoming a candidate for the representation of
the North Riding of Norfolk in the Ontario
Legislature. In the
election of that year he was successful, and four years afterwards was
again elected to the same position.
Dr. Clarke is what is known as a self-made man -- having acquired means to obtain his profession by his own labor. For some time he was a teacher in a common school--he was also a teacher of music, also a druggist's assistant for two years in the firm of Lyman Bros., of Toronto and Montreal. From 1846 to 1850 he was assistant editor of the Long Point Advocate, and in 1853 became its proprietor. For several years after this he was connected with the Reform Press, and has always been known as a persistent and consistent Reformer. It [sic] 1867 he was elected a delegate to the Canada West Reform Convention held in Toronto, where his advanced views were brought out in due prominence, but not successfully. As a man, and also as a member of the Legislature, he has been most prominent in advocating the principles of prohibition; man and woman suffrage; and the abolition of all courts for the collection of debts less than $60. He has also urged the extending of the Master and Servants' Act. Dr. Clark has been successful
as a medical practitioner, having had a very large practice for many years.
He is well known for his good-natured, energetic style of
doing business. He has been a prominent member of the Wesleyan
Church for 20 years, a class-leader and local preacher for 8 years, and
was representative to the first general conference of the Canada Methodist
Church held in Toronto, when Dr. Egerton Ryerson was elected its President.
Taken as a whole, Dr. Clarke's career has been very
closely identified with the progress of Norfolk for the last 30 years. |
 Enlargement Link: Dr. Clarke's notes on Norfolk's geology |
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From page 102 of the Mika re-print of
1877 Illustrated Historical Atlas of Norfolk County Copyright 1998-2012 John Cardiff |