Biographical Sketch of

Frank Emerson Clark

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 799 - 800 - 801 


Frank Emerson Clark, an enterprising lawyer of Princeton, was born in the city of Wausau, Marathon Co., Wis., 
Nov. 12, 1860, in the hour when great political disturbances were hanging, as dark clouds, over our Nation.  
He is the eldest son of Alban and Jane A. (Calkins) Clark, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.  
In May, 1861, soon after the fall of Ft. Sumter, his parents removed from Wausau to Princeton, Green Lake 
County, settling on the farm where they still reside.  There Frank spent nearly twenty years of his life.  
He became skilled in the use of farm machinery of all kinds, and when his father, unfitted by sickness to 
attend to his business, could no longer discharge his duties, our subject assumed the entire control of affairs, 
displaying much ability in his management.  He possessed a great love for books, but determined, first of all, 
to fit himself for manual labor, so that if other means of livelihood failed he would yet have an opportunity 
of providing for his own maintenance.  He was early inured to hard labor, and whereby developed a self-reliance 
and force of character which have been of infinite value to him in later years.  He was never ashamed of his 
labors and throughout his entire life has been a warm friend of the laboring man.  Those who consider themselves 
superior to manual work have no claim upon his friendship, but he gladly assists, if it be in his power, those 
who are willing to help themselves.
 
Mr. Clark began his school life in the little old frame building about a mile from his father's house, and 
there spent about seven months of each year between the ages of five and eight.  After that time he could 
give only about four months during the winter season to enriching his mind with the thoughts of others, as 
his services were required upon the farm.  His father was in limited circumstances and in need of some one 
to assist him in the cultivation of his land.  Frank, at that early age, was compelled to grasp the plow 
handles, being hardly tall enough to reach them.  On one occasion a neighbor, passing along the road, said:  
"Frank, you ought to have a shelf fixed on that plow on which to stand."  The lad laughed and replied, "Precious 
articles are done up in small packages."  He continued to attend the common school until eighteen years of age, 
and acquired an intense love for mathematics, but became thoroughly disgusted with the crude manner of teaching 
some of the common branches.  This led him to form the determination to himself become a teacher.  That he might 
prepare for that work, he entered the County Normal at Markesan in 1879, attending one term of six weeks.  He 
has been often heard to remark that he there received his first start under that most excellent superintendent, 
Gus Millard.  He paid his own tuition by selling a 610-pound hog which he had fattened, it having been given him 
by his grandfather two years previous.  During the winter of 1879-80, he attended the upper department of the 
school in the village of Princeton and among other studies finished Robinson's University Algebra.  The next 
winter he taught school with excellent success, having had an enrollment of fifty-one.  The summer term was 
then tendered him, and on its completion he was offered the position of teacher in his home district.  The 
offer of that school gratified him very much, and the work which he there did received the highest encomiums 
of the directors.
 
Through all those years Mr. Clark was filled with a desire to pursue a collegiate course, and his hopes were 
now on the eve of fulfillment.  Bidding adieu to the loved ones at home, on the 27th of March, 1882, he started 
for Valparaiso, Ind., where is located the largest Normal school in the world.  He knew that at least $1,000 
were needed to defray his expenses, and that he himself must provide the money.  He had a secured a portion 
of that amount by previously teaching, and for three consecutive terms he pursued his studies at Valparaiso, 
when he found that his money was nearly gone.  Returning home, he procured the principalship of the Kingston 
schools, where he remained four months, when he took charge of the schools at Manchester, which were under 
his supervision for one year.  The spring of 1884 again found him in college, where he remained for two terms, 
after which he was offered and accepted the position of principal of the schools at Marquette, of which he had 
charge two years.  His first two years in college he pursued an engineering course, which he completed with great 
honor.  He then turned his attention to Latin and the study of the sciences, and was equally thorough in those 
branches of learning.  Though he had to contend with many difficulties in acquiring his education, he came off 
conqueror in the end, and is now fitted to fill almost any position in life.
 
In the autumn of 1884 Mr. Clark was nominated by the Republican party, of which he is an earnest supporter, as 
its candidate for the office of County Surveyor, and was elected over his Democratic opponent by a majority of 
more than 400.  He was well qualified for the position, as he had not only pursued a collegiate course in surveying 
and engineering, but also had a practical knowledge of the business, gained during the twenty years when his father 
held the same office.  Our subject occupied the position two years, during which time he became acquainted with the 
leading men of the county, and made many warm personal friends.  At the same time he engaged in teaching school, 
attending to his duties as Surveyor on Saturdays and during vacations.  It was his desire, however, to follow the 
legal profession, and in 1886 he began the study of law, devoting the two succeeding years wholly to that profession, 
which he will doubtless honor as a practitioner.  He entertains the greatest admiration for Blackstone, and often 
quotes with pride from that great man's commentaries.  On the 29th of May, 1888, the degree of Bachelor of Laws 
was conferred upon Mr. Clark at Valparaiso, Ind.  On the same day he was admitted to the Porter Circuit Bar, and 
on the following day was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Indiana at Indianapolis, 
and also before the United States District Court for that State.  Shortly afterward he obtained license to practice 
in the Green Lake County Circuit.
 
During vacation in the summer of 1887, Mr. Clark was Deputy County Clerk of Green Lake County, having secured the 
appointment from his father, who at that time held the superior office.  For three months he was thus employed, and 
during the remaining two months of his vacation he was engaged in re-surveying and appraising lands belonging to the 
old Fox River Improvement Company.  This gave him some experience in examining the titles of lands.  In the fall of 
1888 he commenced his work in the Princeton schools, having secured the principalship for one year.  The able manner 
with which he discharged his duties won the commendation of many.  At the close of the year, however, he resolved 
henceforth to devote his entire attention to the legal profession, and began seeking a suitable place in which to 
swing his shingle to the breeze.  He traveled through Northern Wisconsin, visiting among other places the city of 
his birth, but at length decided upon Princeton, where he has met with splendid success.
 
Mr. Clark ever held a high position among his classmates, gaining the respect of all by his honesty and uprightness.  
He was always found among those in the front ranks, and because of his popularity was elected president of his law 
class.  In every move he is cautious, and on one occasion, by his coolness, he checked the rash acts of some of his 
classmates, thus preventing the class from being expelled from college.  During his collegiate career he delivered 
orations before the Crescent Literary Society, of which he was a member, on the following topics:  "Christianity," 
"The Labor Problem" "Gen. U. S. Grant," and others, all of which he treated in an able manner.  The sound advice and 
good moral training of a kind father and an affectionate mother, caused him to build up a Christian character of which 
they may well be proud.  He is temperate in all of his habits, and seeks to spread his light before the young.  He 
is a member of the Christian Church, of Valparaiso, Ind., and he believes in that whole souled religion which should 
brighten every home.  He advocates the union of all Protestant churches, and believes that in time it will be accomplished.  
In politics he stands upon the grand rock of Republicanism.  In Princeton he has many warm friends.  He is a man of great 
activity, energy and determination, and the following is his motto:  "Labor conquers all things."  His future efforts 
will undoubtedly be crowned with a brilliant success.






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