Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/84

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CLARKSON
CLEMENT


" Dotty Dimple Stories " (1868-'70) ; " Flyaway Sto- ries " (1871-4) ; " Tiie Doctor's Daughter " (1873) ; " Our Helen " (1875) ; " The Asbury Twins " (1876) ; " Flaxie Frizzle Stories " (1877-85) ; " Quinnebas- set Girls " (1878) ; " Janet " (1883) ; " In Old Quin- nebasset"(1886); " Drones' Honey " (1887); "The Champion Diamonds"; and "Pauline Wyman."

CLARKSON, Matthew, philanthropist, b. in New York, 17 Oct., 1758; d. there. 35 April, 1825. He was the great-grandson of Matthew Clarkson, who for thirteen years was secretary of the province, and his father and grandfather also held important places in the colo- ny. At the begin- ning of the Revo- lutionary war the son became a pri- vate in a company of fusileers under Rudolph Ritzema, and afterward he served in Col. Jo- siah Smith's regi- ment of minute- men, which was raised for the pur-

pose of protecting

Long Island from invasion. He joined the north- ern army in 1777, was wounded at Fort Edward, and at Saratoga rendered effective service to Col. Daniel Morgan, also acted as aide-de-camp to Bene- dict Arnold, and was present at the surrender of Gen. John Burgoyne. In 1779 he was appointed aide to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, under whom he partici- pated in the siege of Savannah, and in the defence of Charleston he served as major of infantry, and became a prisoner at the surrender. In 1781 he re- turned to his place as aide to Gen. Lincoln, and was with him at the reduction of Yorktown. He also served on the expedition of Commodore Abraham Whipple during the siege of Charleston, and later in the " Jason." When Lincoln became secretary of war, Clarkson acted as his assistant, and on the conclusion of hostilities he received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and for more than fourteen years was major-general of the state militia. Heserved in both branches of the legislature, and was candi- date of the Federal party for U. S. senator. For twenty-one years he was president of the Bank of New York, one of the promoters of the free-scliool system, a regent of the University of the state of New York, governor of the New York hospital for thirty years, during twenty-three of wliieh he was president, one of the vice-presidents of the Amer- ican Bible society, and his name is associated with the foundation of many of the eai'ly philanthropic and literary societies of that city.

CLAY, Alexander Stephens, senator, b. in Cobb county, Ga., 25 Sept., 1853, antl was gradu- ated at Hiawassce college in 1875. He studied law in Marietta, and entered actively in tlie practice of his profession. In 1884-'7 he represented Cobb county in the general assembly, and in 1892 was elected to the Georgia senate, serving as presi- dent of that body for two years. Mr. Clay was chosen chairman of the state Democratic executive committee in 1884, and was re-elected in 1896. He was elected to the U. S. senate as a Democrat, to succeed Gen. John B. Gordon, in October, 1896, and took his seat 4 March, 1897. Senator Clay's term will expire 3 March, 1903.

CLAYTON, John Middleton, b. in Delaware countv. Pa., 13 Oct., 1840 : d. in Plummerville, Ark., 29 Jan., 1889. was a brother of Powell Clay- ton (q. I'.). He received a common-school educa- tion, studied at Barton's seminary in Village Green, Pa., and then read law. He was admitted to the bar. and took up the practice of his piofes- sion in Jefferson county. Ark. He entered active- ly into state polities, serving as member of the state assembly in 1870-'2. and as member of the state senate in 1872-'4. He was selected sheriff of the county in 1876. and was re-elected five times in succession, the last time having no oppo- sition and polling the entire vote of both parties. In November, 1888, he was the Republican can- didate for congress from the 2d Arkansas dis- trict. The excitement was so great during the campaign and at election that many personal en- counters took place at the polling-places. The official count of the district gave C. K. Breckin- ridge 5.201 votes and Clayton 4.369. but the latter maintained that the theft of ballots and a general intimidation of colored voters had caused this re- sult. He went to Plummerville to institute a con- test for the seat, and while there was shot by an unknown assassin. The news of the crime created great excitement in the state, and a reward of $5,000 was offered by the governor for the arrest of the tnurderer, but it was without success.

CLEEVE, George, founder of Portland. Me. Settled, in 1630, on the mainland near Rich- mond's island, but in 163.3, being driven from this place by Winter, who claimed possession under a grant from Trelawney, he went to Machigonne. a neck of land on Casco bay, and in 1636 secured a grant for the same from Gorges, together with a joint commissionership with Winthrop and otiiers for the government of " New Somersetshire" and the direction of Gorges's interests. In 1642 com- missioned deputy governor of the province of Ly- gonia, under the proprietorship of Sir Alexander Uigby. but only in 1646. after long litigation, was he able to dispossess the old government holding under the Gorges grant. In 1658. when the prov- ince came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, he was appointed a commissioner for Falmouth (Portland). He died about 1666. in destitute cir- cumstances, having been deprived of his property by the Gorges claimants, whose efforts brought about the annulment of his grant in 1665.

CLEMENT, John, jurist, b. in Haddonfield, N. J., 8 Nov., 1818; d. there. 15 Aug.. 1894. His father, a surcyor by profession, had l)een a mem- ber of the council of west Jersey i)roprietors. When he resigned in 1851 his son succeeded him in the council, becoming president in 1885. The son wa.s also a surveyor, and father and son were associated in work for many years, thus gaining an exceptional familiarity with the history of land titles in the state. In 1854 the son wius appointed judge of the Camden county courts, and was re- appointed in 1860. In 1864 he was appointed lay judge of the New Jersey court of errors and ap- peals, which office lie held until his death. He was also, by reason of this office, a member of the court of pardons. In 1877 he was one of the three commissioners appointeil by Gov. Bedle to report on the prison system of the state. He was ap- pointed by Gt)v. .McClellan in 1879 to the commis- sion for preparing a system of general laws for the government of municipalities, and in 1885 the supreme court of the state chose him as a commissioner to .settle a disputed boundary line between the counties of Burlington and Atlantic. He took an active interest in the New Jersey his-