Franklin S. Clarke, Clerk and Agent of Michigan State Prison, has occupied his present position since April, 1872. He is a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born April 17, 1812; is the son of Linus Clarke, of Puritan stock, and Hannah Remmele, natives of Massachusetts. In 1825 they moved to Onondaga County, N.Y. Franklin went thence to Monroe County, and spent several years in the mercantile business; returned to Onondaga County, and engaged in the manufacture of machinery. In the spring of 1843 he came to Calhoun County, Mich., and continued in the same business until 1847; was a number of years in a mill he had built, as clerk and bookkeeper. During 1853, '54 and '55 he was freight agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Co., one year at the general office in New York City, and two years in Battle Creek. In 1856 Mr. Clarke was elected Register of Deeds for Calhoun County for four years. In 1863 he became chief clerk and cashier of the Quartermaster General's office of Michigan. Retiring from that position in 1867 he spent a year in New York; about a year in the tobacco trade in Detroit. Mr. Clarke has been three times married; first to Mary Symson, of Monroe County, N. Y., in 1833. She died in 1837, leaving 1 child, which soon followed her. He married Louisa Clark in 1841, who died in 1858, the mother of a living son and daughter. Miss Mary E.Read, of Calhoun County, Mich., became his wife in October 1859. They have 3 daughters. Mr. C. is a member of both lodge and chapter in the Masonic order. In politics he has always been a Radical, and an active worker,-in early years in the Whig and later in the Republican party. Was leader of a campaign glee club in every Presidential campaign from 1840 to 1860.

The History of Jackson County, Michigan