COL. JOHN B. CLARKE.
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��is a certain snap in his eye indicating no want of 'grit.' We judge him to be a good friend, but a hard enemy to encounter. He may not be ' fast ;' but surely, the man who drives a fast horse, fights the railroads, edits the Mirror, and publishes the handsomest calendar in the world, is by no means 'slow? Success, say we, to the Mir- ror, and its stirring editor ; ' long may they wave.' "
In general, Mr. Clarke, as he talks, writes with great positiveness and at the same time with a vein of humor that makes everything readable. He attacks his opponents boldly, exasper- ates them with sarcasm and ridicule, thoroughly demolishes the ground- work of their argument, and then, as if in pity, advises them to try again. With a supply of this kind of ammunition always at hand, he is a dangerous man to meet in a journalistic encounter.
In connection with his daily and weekly papers, Mr. Clarke has an ex- tensive book and job printing business, and has published many valuable works, including, "The Londonderry Celebra- tion," Sanborn's History of New Hampshire," "Clarke's Manchester Al- manac and Directory," "Clarke's His- tory of Manchester," and many smaller works.
Both in college and later as teacher and editor, Mr. Clarke has been much interested in the study of elocution, and in 1874 offered Dartmouth College one hundred dollars yearly, for five years, to be awarded in prizes for excellence in public speaking. This generous offer awakened a lively interest in that branch, bringing out the best men of the college, among whom were his two sons, who each secured the first prize during their course of study. He also gave great stimulus to the interest in good reading and speaking in the Man- chester public schools by his afitation of the subject in the Mirror, and by the bestowal of forty dollars in prizes to the High School for two successive years for the same object.
During his senior year in college, Mr. Clarke was president of the Social Friends' Society, and in 1863 was
��elected president of the Tri Kappa Society of Dartmouth College.
In 1866 he was appointed by Gov. Smyth one of the trustees of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and has been one of the trustees of the Merrimack River Savings Bank since its organization in 1858. He was one of the first to wel- come the order of Patrons of Hus- bandry to New England, and through his efforts Amoskeag Grange, No. 3, was instituted in 1873, Mr. Clarke be- ing its master for three years.
He was for two years Lieut. Col. of the Amoskeag Veterans, and was twice elected commander, but declined to hold that position.
It was through his connection with the Veterans that he obtained the title of "Colonel" that is now so familiar as to become almost a part of his name.
Although always a wide awake poli- tician he has* not often held political office, refusing to be a candidate be- cause it might interfere with his posi- tion and power as an independent jour- nalist, and for similar reasons has de- clined offices of honor and trust in the various agricultural societies of New England ; yet few men have had more influence in shaping the policy and action of his party in the state during the past fifteen years than he, while his political sagacity is so well known that in a doubtful contest his opinions are sought by both friend and foe. Hav- ing served for years on the state com- mittee and in the conventions of his party, he is eagerly sought by the anx- ious candidate, and many a successful one owes his nomination to the cham- pionship of the energetic colonel.
He was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention, that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the second time to the presidency, and was elected one of the National Committee of seven (includ- ing ex-Gov. Clafflin of Mass., ex-Gov. Marcus L. Ward of New Jersey and Hon. Henry J. Raymond of the New York Times) that managed that cam- paign.
Six times he has been elected state printer, in 1867, '68, '69, and 1877, '78,
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