Lucy Ann (Clarke) Clarke 1844-1918
"Milton Junction Journal-Telephone", Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin, Thursday, February 21, 1918, p 1.
Lucy A. Clarke was born November 20, 1844, at West Edmeston, N. Y., the youngest child of Alvit and Sally Clarke. She came to Wisconsin when she was twelve years of age, in company with her parents and settled in Milton in the year 1856.
At the age of twenty-four she professed faith in Jesus Christ as her Saviour and became a member of the Milton Seventh-day Baptist church of which she remained a faithful and active member to the time of her death.
She taught school for several years before her marriage and two or three terms afterwards, with great success.
On October 15, 1867, she was united in marriage to Willis P. Clarke, with whom she lived happily for more than fifty years. To this union were born two children, Bessie, now Mrs. Samuel Clarke of Independence, N. Y., and Ray of Madison, Wis. Both were present at the funeral.
Mrs. Clarke was for many years an active member of the Rebekah Lodge, was one of the organizers of the Women's Village Improvement Club, was a mamber of the Women's Relief Corps, a leading member of the S. D. B. Benevolent Society, in fact was interested in, and worked wherever opportunity offered for the uplift of her fellowmen. But more than these she was a woman of the home whose chief thought was for her own family, her husband, and two children who were the objects of her love and care as she went about the performance of her homely duties.
Besides these she leaves eight grandchildren, five brothers, Sherrill, Alburtus, Wellington, William and Henry, and other relatives and friends to mourn her loss. She will be remembered for the good she has done. Mrs. Clarke was stricken while on her way home from a session of the Quarterly meeting, the last Sabbath of January and never spoke again. She remained partially conscious for a week and died peacefully at 2:30 p. m. Monday, February 11.
In the absence of her pastor, Rev. L. C. Randolph, funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Edgar D. Van Horn, an old friend of the family and a classmate of Attorney Ray Clarke. The large company of neighbors who attended the service attested the high esteem in which Mrs. Clarke was held. Her six nephews acted as pall bearers and the body was laid to rest in the Milton Cemetery.

Residence: 1856 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin

Willis Peck Clarke 1842-1926
Categories: History of Rock County, Wisconsin, 1879, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Milton College Director or Trustee, Milton College Graduate, Milton Newspaper Obituary, Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., 1889, Rev. James L. Skaggs Officiating, Second Generation Milton, Veteran Civil War
"History of Rock County, Wisconsin", 1879, p 815.
WILLIS P. CLARKE, druggist, Post Office building, Milton; born in Plainfield, Otsego Co., N.Y., May 15, 1842; son of Erastus P. and Mary Jane CLARKE, who came to Wisconsin and located at Milton in 1856; had two children - Willis P. and William Wallace, who were educated at Milton Academy (classical course). At the breaking-out of our civil war, Willis enlisted Oct. 1, 1861, in Co. K, 13th Wis. V.I.; mustered in at Janesville; in 1862, went to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; from there to Fort Scott; then to Lawrence and Fort Riley; returned to Leavenworth, and from there went to Columbus and did duty there; in 1862, garrisoned Fort Henry and Fort Donelson; did scouting duty in the summer of 1863; in the fall of 1863, also participated with his regiment in all their duties till Jan. 13, 1864, was mustered out, and the same day re-enlisted as a veteran; served through Tennessee and East Tennessee in putting down guerrilla bands; leaving Nashville, Tenn., was stationed at Green Lake till he was discharged at Madison, Wis., Dec. 28, 1865; was commissioned First Lieutenant March 24, 1865. Married, Oct. 15, 1867, Miss Lucy A. CLARKE, daughter of Alvit and Sarah CLARKE, of Milton; had two children - Bessie E.; born June 29, 1873; baby, May 29, 1879. Member of I.O.O.F., Milton Lodge No. 65; corresponding member of the State Historical Society, and the Laphon Archaeological Society of Milwaukee. Wife is a member of the Baptist Church; he is a Liberal in religion and politics.


"The Portrait & Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis", 1889, p 717.
WILLIS P. CLARKE, a representative citizen and leading druggist of Milton, Wis., was born in New York, on the 15th day of May, 1842, and is a son of Erastus P. and Mary Jane (PECK) CLARKE, the former a native of the Empire State, and the latter of Cumberland County, N.J. He had but one brother, Wallace CLARKE. Our subject passed his early boyhood in his native state, and when eleven years of age removed with his parents to New Jersey, where the succeeding three years were spent. The family came to Rock County, Wis., in 1856, settling in Milton, where Willis has since resided. He began his education in the public schools of New York, and completed his studies in Milton College, graduating from that institution in the class of 1861.
Mr. CLARKE had but just completed his studies when the Civil War broke out, and he was among the first to respond to the President's call for troops. He was then but 18 years of age, but notwithstanding his extreme youth he enlisted in his country's service and became a member of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry; but after ten days he was called home on account of the serious illness of his mother. On the 7th day of October, 1861, he re-enlisted for three years or during the war in the 13th Wisconsin Regiment, becoming a member of the company commanded by Capt. Pliny Norcross of Janesville. He was with the command the greater part of four years, excepting on the march from Fort Donelson to Clarksville and return, when he was prevented from being with the regiment on account of sickness. He fought valiantly and well, never shirking duty, and was always found at his post. When his term of three years had elapsed and he received his discharge, he immediately re-enlisted and served until the close of hostilities, when on the 24th of November, 1865, he was mustered out of the service, and on the 27th day of December following was with the regiment discharged at Madison, Wis., being the last one of the 13th Infantry to receive his discharge papers. He had enlisted as a private, but was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He was never wounded in any way and was never off duty except during the winter of 1863-4, when he was confined to the hospital by sickness.
Mr. CLARKE was united in marriage in 1867, with Miss Lucy A. CLARKE, a native of New Jersey, and their union has been blessed with two children, Bessie E. and Ray Willis. He is now engaged in the drug business in Milton, which he has followed for several years, and is a leading business man of the town. For seven years he has served as treasurer of the Wisconsin State Pharmaceutical Association, and is now filling the position of secretary of the Soldiers' Relief Commission for the second time. He belongs to the G.A.R. Post of Milton, of which he was adjutant for some years, and is now quartermaster; and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, serving as Past Grand. For a number of years he was a member of the District School Board, and for fifteen consecutive years has been secretary of the Board of Trustees. He also filled the office of Postmaster for two years, when a change of administration caused his removal. He was for some years Town Clerk of the town of Milton. Public spirited and progressive, Mr. CLARKE has taken a deep interest in the welfare of the town in which he resides, and is a valued citizen.

"Rock County, Wisconsin", 1908, p 858-859.
WILLIS PECK CLARKE is a native of Unadilla Forks, Otsego county, New York, and was born May 15, 1842, and is a son of Erastus P. and Mary Jane (PECK) CLARKE, both of whom were of English ancestry. The father was a native of West Edmeston, N.Y., and the mother of Bridgeton, N.J. They moved from Otsego county, New York, to Plainfield, N.J., and thence removed to Milton, Wis., in 1856. He was a carpenter by trade and a man of influence in his community. He was for twenty years an insurance agent and justice of the peace. He was a man of deep religious convictions and was prominent in the councils of the Seventh-Day Baptist church at Milton. He died in 1905 at the age of eighty-seven years. Our subject's mother died in 1885 at the age of sixty.
Willis P. was educated in the district and select schools and at Milton academy before the organization of the college, graduating in June, 1861. On October 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company K. Thirteenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Pliny NORCROSS. He was in the service through Kansas, later in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, and after the close of the war went under General Sheridan to Texas to enforce the evacuation of Mexico by the French. He received numerous promotions during his term and returned to Wisconsin in command of his company and received an honorable discharge December 27, 1865. On his return to Milton Mr. CLARKE was for a number of years employed as a mechanic, but in 1875 engaged in the drug business, to which he has since devoted his attention, except during a part of the years 1878-9, while serving as confidential clerk under State Superintendent W. C. WHITFORD. Mr. CLARKE has always been a prominent and influential man of affairs. He served twenty-five years as secretary of the board of trustees of Milton college, resigning in 1905, and during the administrations of Presidents Arthur and Harrison was postmaster at Milton. Since the close of the war he has been secretary of the association of the survivors of the Thirteenth Wisconsin Regiment, and is a charter member, and for twenty-five years has been treasurer of the State Pharmaceutical Association of Wisconsin. Mr. CLARKE has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1870 and has filled the various chairs; has been a member of the A. D. Hamilton Post. No. 60, Grand Army of the Republic, since its organization; is a corresponding member of the Wisconsin Natural History Society and also is connected with the State Historical and the National Geographical Societies. Since 1870 he has given much time to gathering rare and valuable archeological specimens in the vicinity of Lake Koshkonong, and in 1907 donated his fine collection of 2,500 specimens to the archeological department of Milton college. In religious belief Mr. CLARKE is a Unitarian.
On October 15, 1867, Mr. CLARKE married Miss Lucy A., daughter of Mr. Alvit CLARKE, of Plainfield, N.Y. They have two children, viz.: Bessie E., who is married to Mr. Samuel W. CLARKE, of Allegany county, New York, and Ray W., who is a practicing attorney at Milton.

"The Journal-Telephone"; Milton, Wisconsin; Thursday, January 21, 1926, p1.
(Note: Mr. Clarke had made all plans for his funeral, leaving this life sketch to be read and for publication. He died at Mercy hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, Jan. 15, 1926.)
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Willis Peck Clarke was a son of Erastus and Mary Jane Peck Clarke and was born in Unadilla Forks, New York, May 15, 1842. In November, 1856, he came with his parents to Milton, which remained his home until his death.
He was graduated from Milton Academy July 1861, and on October 7, of the same year enlisted in Co. K, 13th Wisconsin Infantry, as a private. He served four years and three months, and was finally discharged December 28, 1865, as first lieutenant, commanding his company.
October 15, 1867, he was married to Lucy A. Clarke, with whom he lived happily until her death in February, 1918. To this marriage two children were born: Bessie, Mrs. Samuel W, Clarke, Independence, N. Y.; and Ray W. Clarke, Madison, Wis.
In March, 1875, he entered the retail drug business, in Milton, which he sold out in January, 1916, and after a time he continued in the store as a pharmacist in charge as long as he was able to work.
He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Milton College for many years, serving most of the time as its secretary.
He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1870 and held continuous membership until his death. He was a comrade of the G. A. R., serving as Commander, Adjutant, and Quartermaster. He delighted in the companionship of younger people, especially students of the College, giving them employment whenever he could to aid them in obtaining an education.
In early life he was a Seventh Day Baptist, but in later years, from the study of different systems of religion, he became a Unitarian. His creed was brief: "The Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man and, so far as his means and abilities permitted, service to his fellowmen."
He was a lover of nature and, at his request, in place of a funeral sermon, Bryant's Thanatopis was read at the funeral service by Prof. Leman H. Stringer.
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The funeral service was held from the home and from the Milton Seventh Day Baptist church Jan. 17, and was conducted by Pastor James L. Skaggs. Mrs. Walter E. Rogers and a male quartet furnished appropriate music. Burial was made in the Milton cemetery.