Notes for James Marsh CLARK

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Notes for James Marsh CLARK

Ross Family, page 145, says he married Miss Maxwell. Also Littell, p. 361.
HORTICULTURE BY IRRIGATION by A. E. GIPSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE COLORADO STATE HORTICULTURAL AND FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION, AUTHOR OF "WHEN AND HOW TO IRRIGATE," ETC.
DENVER, COLO. ;
THE REPUBLICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
COPYRIGHTED, 1888, BY
A. E. GIPSON,
GREELEY, COLORADO.
JUDGE JAMES MARSH CLARK,
Whose portrait is given on this page, was born in New York City,
December 8th, 1810, and has been an earnest, enthusiastic horticulturist
all his life. He inherited a love for this calling from a long line of
ancestry, dating back prior to the days of the American Revolution. At
an early age he had charge of the planting of an orchard for his uncle in
New Jersey. A little later he pushed westward, and in 1828 planted
quite an extensive orchard in Indiana. A few years later, in pursuit of
health, he moved to Wisconsin, and was among the earliest planters in
that State first at Fon-du-lac, in 1840, for a friend ; near Madison, in 1841,
for himself ; and afterwards near Baraboo, in 1847. At this last named
place he resided twenty years, and achieved such remarkable success
as an amateur fruit grower that in a few years he was able to show
one hundred varieties of apples alone grown in that trying climate.
28 HORTICULTURE BY IRRIGATION.
This success was not only the nrarvel of his own section of the State, but
became widely known in other parts; and in 1867 he was awarded first prize
by the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society for the largest and best col-
lection of apples grown in that State ; also several special premiums for best
varieties for different seasons and localities. All this was accomplished
while Judge Clark was holding responsible official positions. In 1861,
being severely prostrated by ill-health, he made a trip to Colorado, and
in May of that year planted an orchard in Boulder County for James
Maxwell, a prominent citizen of Boulder City, and the father of Hon.
James P. Maxwell, also of Boulder. This, so far as I can learn, makes
Judge Clark the pioneer fruit planter of Colorado.
Subsequently, in 1861, he returned to Wisconsin to lend his influence
and aid to the cause of the Union in the Great Conflict which followed.
In 1867 poor health again prompted him to seek the milder climate of
East Tennessee. Here he at once planted an orchard ; but his surround-
ings not being congenial, in the chaos that followed the war, he moved to
Kansas in 1869, and was the first orchardist in Oswego Township, of that
State. From Kansas Judge Clark came to Colorado again in 1871 and
joined his fortunes with the Union Colony of Colorado, locating perma-
nently at Greeley, where he still resides.
True to his faith and tastes he brought a considerable stock of fruit
trees and plants, at large expense, and at once proceeded to establish his
favorite fruit garden. Here he has remained with his noble wife, sur-
rounded by a prosperous and influential family of children, among whom
are J. Max., and A. B. Clark, well known as leading farmers of Northern
Colorado. Year after year "Father (Hark" has experimented with vari-
ous new varieties and added to his already choice collection of hardy
horticultural products. Notwithstanding his advanced years, he is still
active and enthusiastic, and believes that one should never be too old to
plant a tree or shrub. As he said to me the other day : " I was scarcely
ever in a state a week without planting (if health and season permitted)
tree or fruit stock of some kind ; and aside from any benefit that this may
have been to others, I am confident that my active interest in this work
has prolonged my life at least twenty years." An acquaintance of
Charles Downing, a contemporary of Marshal P. Wilder, the father of
John J. Thomas, and a score of other distinguished men in pomology,
Judge Clark has had unusual opportunites for study and observation,
and has improved them well.
JUDGE JAMES MARSH CLARK. 29
The following incident in connection with the subject of this sketch
is given to illustrate his deep devotion to his loved vocation :
Arbor day, 1886, was observed by the various schools in and about
Greeley. A procession of all the children was formed at the main build-
ing and they marched from one school house to the other, eaeh grade
planting as many trees as there were classes, about their building.
Bringing up the rear of the long line of school children, mostly dressed
in white, was "Father Clark," carrying in one hand a spade, in the other
a two-year-old apple tree, which, with his own hands he planted at the
Second Ward school house. It was indeed a beautiful picture to witness
the silver-haired veteran of seventy-six years, surrounded by many
children, planting a tree, and it left a lasting impression upon those wit-
nessing the scene and who listened to the remarks of the sage as he
addressed the children : " I plant this tree, not with the hope or expec-
tation of myself seeing its fruit, but for your benefit, my children.
Doubtless there are many here to-day whose children may enjoy the fruit
and shade of this tree. Thus may you learn the lesson 'Do what you
can, though never so little, for the good of those who come after us.'"
The children responded heartily in song, singing, " Swinging 'neath
the old apple tree."
All honor to the men who are contented to sow and to plant
that others may partake of the fruits of their honest toil and unselfish
devotion to a noble calling. A cultured, modest man, a skilled pomologist
and a lover of mankind, "Father Clark" has lived to ripe old age and
has served well his day and generation.
See this family 1880 Colorado > Weld > Greeley > District 109

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