John M. Clarke

CLARKE, JOHN MONTAGUE, clerk, lumber merchant, contractor, and civil servant; b. ca. 8 October 1854 in Bedeque, son of Theophilus DesBrisay Clarke of Bedeque and Eleanor Clarke of Darnley; m. 8 May 1877 Sarah M. Reeves of Freetown, and they had seven children, Eleanor, Margaret, Peter, Theophilus, William, Annie, and Horace Easter; Methodist; d. 25 May 1936 in Edmonton, Alberta. Clarke, a Liberal, was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1904 for 5, h Prince. He was defeated in the general election of 1908. From February to November of that year, he served on Executive Council as a Minister without Portfolio. Clarke advocated temperance and took part in the passing of the Prohibition Law. He received his education in the public schools of Bedeque. Early in adult life Clarke trained in business while working with John R Calhoun*, a Summerside lumber merchant. Later he moved to Colorado where he remained for five years. Upon his return to the Island, he started a lumber business in Kensington. Following this, Clarke, with Major Schurman and Nathan McFarlane, began another lumber company. Clarke remained associated with the business until 1907, when he sold it to M. F. Schurman. He became involved in general contracting and his new company constructed buildings across the Island, including Zion Church in Charlottetown. In 1916 he moved to Edmonton with his family. Until his retirement a few years before his death, Clarke held the position of Supervisor of Agriculture for Alberta. Beyond his mercantile and political activities, Clarke had other interests. He served as a member of the Summerside school board and on the Summerside Town Council. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Order and Independent Order of Foresters. As a Forester he received special recognition by his selection to serve as a delegate to the Supreme Court meeting in England, as well as to meetings in Toronto in 1898 and in San Francisco in 1902. John Clarke died 25 May 1936. Sarah Clarke was born 27 February 1855 and died in 1931.