Damon was the oldest of eight children born to Christopher Columbus Clarke and his wife Martha Lea. His childhood was spent in Macomb, Illinois. When he reached adulthood in 1879, Damon moved to Topeka, Kansas for a year, where he worked as a newspaper clerk. Many members of the Clarke family as well as the Lea family all worked in the newspaper/book publishing (printing) business.
In 1880 he returned briefly to Macomb, but by that Fall he was employed with the C. C. Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. C. C. Chapman was his first cousin. He stayed there until the Fall of 1881, when he joined the historical corps of J. H. Beers & Co. Damon remained with them until the Fall of 1883. That winter he was employed as secretary of the Union Publishing Company of Springfield, Ill., also traveling for a year writing a history of the Grand Army of the Republic. In November 1884 he returned home to his parents, now living in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In February, 1886, Damon purchased the "Springdale News", then sold it in December to enter into a co-partnership with Thomas Brooks in the purchase of the "Fayetteville Republican", of which Damon became manager and editor. In January, 1889, Damon sold his interest in the "Fayetteville Republican" to his partner Thomas Brooks. Damon had a desire to become a stage actor. He met actress Lillian Lewis, who offered him a position as treasurer and assistant manager in her acting troupe. He dropped everything, sold his newspaper, and left for the stage. This lasted only four months.
Damon married Floy Patton May 27, 1889 in Russellville, Arkansas. This was a secret marriage for some reason, and they didn't reveal it until two months later (see newspaper article below). Her parents were not happy. It can be assumed they thought Damon a poor choice of husband, someone who would abandon his lucrative newspaper at a moment's notice to run off to the stage. I can't blame them. They had four children: Sheila; Margery; Russell D.; Donald P.
After his marriage, Damon began working for the R.G. Dunn Company as a manager, then later as the Arkansas State Supervisor. Later newspaper accounts say he was working for the Bradstreet Company. At some point these two companies merged to become what we know of now as Dunn and Bradstreet. Damon's father-in-law was an influential county judge in Arkansas, so possibly he helped Damon to get into a good job. Damon became involved with the insurance business, with the A.O.U.W. life insurance co.. He was also secretary for the Security Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1903 Damon was elected president of the newly organized Arkansas Auxiliary Fraternal Congress, which was a group of ten fraternal insurance societies. He did all of this while he was employed with Dunn & Bradstreet. He was very much involved in the community of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they lived from 1889 to 1903. There are dozens of newspaper articles to be found that mention him and his work.
Damon was also very close with his parents and siblings. There are many newspaper articles about trips to see his parents in Springdale, Ark., and various siblings coming to spend time with him and his family in Little Rock. In 1895 Damon came down with Malaria. He stayed with his parents, who nursed him back to health. Again in 1903 he became very ill while visiting them, and ended up having to spend four months at their home while he recovered. It was most likely another attack of malaria. He was able to return to Little Rock in October 1903, but by December 1903 he had quit his job/jobs and moved his family back to Springdale, where he had purchased a large fruit orchard. It is possible that this last illness weakened him and he decided he needed a change, wanted to be closer to his parents. As it happens, his father owned a large fruit orchard in Springdale. Did he buy his father's orchard??
I have been unable to find out when/why he moved to Joplin, Missouri, but that is where he was living at the time of death. Damon died of typhoid fever.
-------------------------------------------
History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Mr. Clarke is a member of the Arkansas Press Association, and belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club, of Fayetteville. He was also a charter member and the first prelate of Criterion Lodge of the K. of P., of Fayetteville. He is now secretary of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, and has been secretary of the Congressional Committee of his party. In 1888 he was an alternate delegate from the Fifth Arkansas Congressional District to the National Republican Convention
---------------------------------------------
http://www.couchgenweb.com/arkansas/benton/benhist3.htm
History of Benton County, Arkansas
Early in 1885 the Fayetteville Republican was established at West Fork. Jacob Yoes furnished the capital, and G. S. White became the editor. In the summer of 1886 it was purchased by W. M. Simpson, who removed the office to Fayetteville. He transferred it to Thomas Wainright, but, at the end of one month, resumed charge of it. In December, 1886, he sold out to Thomas Brooks and Damon Clarke. At that time it was a six column folio, "patent outside," and had a subscription list of about 300. Messrs, Brooks & Clarke made it a seven-column folio, printed it all at home, and within a year had increased the circulation to 1,500 copies weekly.
-----------------------------------------------
Some of the many newspaper articles I found on newspapers.com:
Fayetteville Weekly Democrat (Fayetteville, Arkansas) 25 Jan 1889, Fri Page 3
Damon Clarke has sold his interest in the Fayetteville Republican to his partner Thomas Brooks and the later is now the sole proprietor. Damon has accepted the position of treasurer and assistant manager of the Lillian Lewis troupe and left for Hot Springs yesterday where he will join them. Those who know his bent of mind and talent for the stage will not be surprised to learn of the change. While he has been conducting a good newspaper in Fayetteville it has been all he could do at any time to hold himself on the tripod, so great was the attraction of the "footlights", and when that charming little actress, Miss Lewis, offered him a position, he was unable to resist it. Damon says he might count railroad ties on his return home but his Fayetteville friends expect him to become a star.
-------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)17 Jul 1889, Wed Page 4
Quite the Rage Now
Fayetteville Furnishes Another Secret Marriage Sensation - Clarke-Patton Nuptials
It turns out now that the marriage of Mr. Damon Clarke and Miss Floy Patton was a secret affair, which occurred some months ago as the following, from the Fort Smith Times goes to show:
That was a surprise congregation at the Christian Church in Fayetteville yesterday morning when at the close of his sermon Elder Ragland read the marriage certificate, with names of witnesses, that pronounced Damon Clarke and Floy Patton to be man and wife.The announcement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, as no one suspected the affair. The marriage occurred last May in the quiet little city of Russellville, where Miss Patton had gone for a visit. The bride is the daughter of Judge J. W. Patton, a prominent citizen of Fayetteville, and has been a reigning belle in Fayetteville society for several years, being young, lovely, and talented. The groom is well-known in Western Arkansas as an ex-journalist and theatrical star.
The announcement created a profound sensation. Col. M. L. DeMahler, a friend of the family, was on hand and took an active interest in the matter, calling on the bride's parents and arranging things amicably. At 3:00 a large number of friends went to the depot to see Mr. and Mrs. Clarke off on a wedding trip to Bentonville.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)24 Sep 1895, Tue Page 2
Mr. Damon Clarke is in Bentonville at the home of his parents where for the last ten days he has been wrestling with a severe case of malarial fever contracted while working in the northeastern part of the state. At last report, Mr. Clarke was somewhat improved.
--------------------------
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 Apr 1897, Sun Page 15
Little Rock, Ark. - Damon Clarke, who has been connected with R. G. Dunn & Co. in this city for the past seven years has been appointed superintendent for the Bradstreet company for the state of Arkansas.
---------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Nov 1899, Thu Page 8
Miss Carrie and Mae Clarke arrived this morning from Springdale and will spend the winter with their brother, Mr. Damon Clarke, superintendent of the Bradstreet Agency.
------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 27 Dec 1899, Wed Page 2
Mr. W. Lea Clarke of Memphis spent Christmas with his brother, Damon Clarke, superintendent of Bradstreet's.
----------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) 23 Dec 1900, Sun Page 7
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children returned yesterday from Springdale and Mr. Clarke was made happy by a formal introduction to his seven-week old baby boy.
----------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)27 Mar 1902, Thu Page 3
SECURITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
Mr. S. Cohn of Little Rock and S. N. Evans, formerly circuit clerk of Yell County returned yesterday from western Arkansas. These gentlemen represent the Security Mutual Insurance Company of Little Rock, Ark., of which Mr. Hull is president and Mr. Damon Clarke is secretary and also manager of Bradstreet's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas)05 Sep 1903, Sat Page 8
Damon Clarke, who has been spending the summer at his old home near Springdale is reported to be recovering from a recent illness and will return home soon with his family.
--------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Dec 1903, Wed Page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Damon Clarke have removed to their old home at Springdale, Washington County, where they will reside in future. Mr. Clarke a few days ago bought a large orchard.
-------------------------------------------
Rogers Democrat 25 Nov 1909
CLARKE, Damon - Damon Clarke died last Wednesday night at Joplin, the result of typhoid fever. Mr. Clarke was very well known in this section having lived at Springdale and Bentonville and was also in the newspaper business at Fayetteville. He was a son-in-law of the late W. J. Patton of Springdale and leaves a wife and four children. For a number of years he had been connected with the Dunn & Co. Commercial Agency.
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children of Joplin were the guests of Mrs. J. C. McSpadden Saturday morning and evening on their way to and from Bentonville, where they had accompanied the body of the husband and father to its final resting place.
In 1880 he returned briefly to Macomb, but by that Fall he was employed with the C. C. Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. C. C. Chapman was his first cousin. He stayed there until the Fall of 1881, when he joined the historical corps of J. H. Beers & Co. Damon remained with them until the Fall of 1883. That winter he was employed as secretary of the Union Publishing Company of Springfield, Ill., also traveling for a year writing a history of the Grand Army of the Republic. In November 1884 he returned home to his parents, now living in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In February, 1886, Damon purchased the "Springdale News", then sold it in December to enter into a co-partnership with Thomas Brooks in the purchase of the "Fayetteville Republican", of which Damon became manager and editor. In January, 1889, Damon sold his interest in the "Fayetteville Republican" to his partner Thomas Brooks. Damon had a desire to become a stage actor. He met actress Lillian Lewis, who offered him a position as treasurer and assistant manager in her acting troupe. He dropped everything, sold his newspaper, and left for the stage. This lasted only four months.
Damon married Floy Patton May 27, 1889 in Russellville, Arkansas. This was a secret marriage for some reason, and they didn't reveal it until two months later (see newspaper article below). Her parents were not happy. It can be assumed they thought Damon a poor choice of husband, someone who would abandon his lucrative newspaper at a moment's notice to run off to the stage. I can't blame them. They had four children: Sheila; Margery; Russell D.; Donald P.
After his marriage, Damon began working for the R.G. Dunn Company as a manager, then later as the Arkansas State Supervisor. Later newspaper accounts say he was working for the Bradstreet Company. At some point these two companies merged to become what we know of now as Dunn and Bradstreet. Damon's father-in-law was an influential county judge in Arkansas, so possibly he helped Damon to get into a good job. Damon became involved with the insurance business, with the A.O.U.W. life insurance co.. He was also secretary for the Security Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1903 Damon was elected president of the newly organized Arkansas Auxiliary Fraternal Congress, which was a group of ten fraternal insurance societies. He did all of this while he was employed with Dunn & Bradstreet. He was very much involved in the community of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they lived from 1889 to 1903. There are dozens of newspaper articles to be found that mention him and his work.
Damon was also very close with his parents and siblings. There are many newspaper articles about trips to see his parents in Springdale, Ark., and various siblings coming to spend time with him and his family in Little Rock. In 1895 Damon came down with Malaria. He stayed with his parents, who nursed him back to health. Again in 1903 he became very ill while visiting them, and ended up having to spend four months at their home while he recovered. It was most likely another attack of malaria. He was able to return to Little Rock in October 1903, but by December 1903 he had quit his job/jobs and moved his family back to Springdale, where he had purchased a large fruit orchard. It is possible that this last illness weakened him and he decided he needed a change, wanted to be closer to his parents. As it happens, his father owned a large fruit orchard in Springdale. Did he buy his father's orchard??
I have been unable to find out when/why he moved to Joplin, Missouri, but that is where he was living at the time of death. Damon died of typhoid fever.
-------------------------------------------
History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Mr. Clarke is a member of the Arkansas Press Association, and belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club, of Fayetteville. He was also a charter member and the first prelate of Criterion Lodge of the K. of P., of Fayetteville. He is now secretary of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, and has been secretary of the Congressional Committee of his party. In 1888 he was an alternate delegate from the Fifth Arkansas Congressional District to the National Republican Convention
---------------------------------------------
http://www.couchgenweb.com/arkansas/benton/benhist3.htm
History of Benton County, Arkansas
Early in 1885 the Fayetteville Republican was established at West Fork. Jacob Yoes furnished the capital, and G. S. White became the editor. In the summer of 1886 it was purchased by W. M. Simpson, who removed the office to Fayetteville. He transferred it to Thomas Wainright, but, at the end of one month, resumed charge of it. In December, 1886, he sold out to Thomas Brooks and Damon Clarke. At that time it was a six column folio, "patent outside," and had a subscription list of about 300. Messrs, Brooks & Clarke made it a seven-column folio, printed it all at home, and within a year had increased the circulation to 1,500 copies weekly.
-----------------------------------------------
Some of the many newspaper articles I found on newspapers.com:
Fayetteville Weekly Democrat (Fayetteville, Arkansas) 25 Jan 1889, Fri Page 3
Damon Clarke has sold his interest in the Fayetteville Republican to his partner Thomas Brooks and the later is now the sole proprietor. Damon has accepted the position of treasurer and assistant manager of the Lillian Lewis troupe and left for Hot Springs yesterday where he will join them. Those who know his bent of mind and talent for the stage will not be surprised to learn of the change. While he has been conducting a good newspaper in Fayetteville it has been all he could do at any time to hold himself on the tripod, so great was the attraction of the "footlights", and when that charming little actress, Miss Lewis, offered him a position, he was unable to resist it. Damon says he might count railroad ties on his return home but his Fayetteville friends expect him to become a star.
-------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)17 Jul 1889, Wed Page 4
Quite the Rage Now
Fayetteville Furnishes Another Secret Marriage Sensation - Clarke-Patton Nuptials
It turns out now that the marriage of Mr. Damon Clarke and Miss Floy Patton was a secret affair, which occurred some months ago as the following, from the Fort Smith Times goes to show:
That was a surprise congregation at the Christian Church in Fayetteville yesterday morning when at the close of his sermon Elder Ragland read the marriage certificate, with names of witnesses, that pronounced Damon Clarke and Floy Patton to be man and wife.The announcement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, as no one suspected the affair. The marriage occurred last May in the quiet little city of Russellville, where Miss Patton had gone for a visit. The bride is the daughter of Judge J. W. Patton, a prominent citizen of Fayetteville, and has been a reigning belle in Fayetteville society for several years, being young, lovely, and talented. The groom is well-known in Western Arkansas as an ex-journalist and theatrical star.
The announcement created a profound sensation. Col. M. L. DeMahler, a friend of the family, was on hand and took an active interest in the matter, calling on the bride's parents and arranging things amicably. At 3:00 a large number of friends went to the depot to see Mr. and Mrs. Clarke off on a wedding trip to Bentonville.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)24 Sep 1895, Tue Page 2
Mr. Damon Clarke is in Bentonville at the home of his parents where for the last ten days he has been wrestling with a severe case of malarial fever contracted while working in the northeastern part of the state. At last report, Mr. Clarke was somewhat improved.
--------------------------
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 Apr 1897, Sun Page 15
Little Rock, Ark. - Damon Clarke, who has been connected with R. G. Dunn & Co. in this city for the past seven years has been appointed superintendent for the Bradstreet company for the state of Arkansas.
---------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Nov 1899, Thu Page 8
Miss Carrie and Mae Clarke arrived this morning from Springdale and will spend the winter with their brother, Mr. Damon Clarke, superintendent of the Bradstreet Agency.
------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 27 Dec 1899, Wed Page 2
Mr. W. Lea Clarke of Memphis spent Christmas with his brother, Damon Clarke, superintendent of Bradstreet's.
----------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) 23 Dec 1900, Sun Page 7
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children returned yesterday from Springdale and Mr. Clarke was made happy by a formal introduction to his seven-week old baby boy.
----------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)27 Mar 1902, Thu Page 3
SECURITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
Mr. S. Cohn of Little Rock and S. N. Evans, formerly circuit clerk of Yell County returned yesterday from western Arkansas. These gentlemen represent the Security Mutual Insurance Company of Little Rock, Ark., of which Mr. Hull is president and Mr. Damon Clarke is secretary and also manager of Bradstreet's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas)05 Sep 1903, Sat Page 8
Damon Clarke, who has been spending the summer at his old home near Springdale is reported to be recovering from a recent illness and will return home soon with his family.
--------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Dec 1903, Wed Page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Damon Clarke have removed to their old home at Springdale, Washington County, where they will reside in future. Mr. Clarke a few days ago bought a large orchard.
-------------------------------------------
Rogers Democrat 25 Nov 1909
CLARKE, Damon - Damon Clarke died last Wednesday night at Joplin, the result of typhoid fever. Mr. Clarke was very well known in this section having lived at Springdale and Bentonville and was also in the newspaper business at Fayetteville. He was a son-in-law of the late W. J. Patton of Springdale and leaves a wife and four children. For a number of years he had been connected with the Dunn & Co. Commercial Agency.
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children of Joplin were the guests of Mrs. J. C. McSpadden Saturday morning and evening on their way to and from Bentonville, where they had accompanied the body of the husband and father to its final resting place.
Damon was the oldest of eight children born to Christopher Columbus Clarke and his wife Martha Lea. His childhood was spent in Macomb, Illinois. When he reached adulthood in 1879, Damon moved to Topeka, Kansas for a year, where he worked as a newspaper clerk. Many members of the Clarke family as well as the Lea family all worked in the newspaper/book publishing (printing) business.
In 1880 he returned briefly to Macomb, but by that Fall he was employed with the C. C. Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. C. C. Chapman was his first cousin. He stayed there until the Fall of 1881, when he joined the historical corps of J. H. Beers & Co. Damon remained with them until the Fall of 1883. That winter he was employed as secretary of the Union Publishing Company of Springfield, Ill., also traveling for a year writing a history of the Grand Army of the Republic. In November 1884 he returned home to his parents, now living in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In February, 1886, Damon purchased the "Springdale News", then sold it in December to enter into a co-partnership with Thomas Brooks in the purchase of the "Fayetteville Republican", of which Damon became manager and editor. In January, 1889, Damon sold his interest in the "Fayetteville Republican" to his partner Thomas Brooks. Damon had a desire to become a stage actor. He met actress Lillian Lewis, who offered him a position as treasurer and assistant manager in her acting troupe. He dropped everything, sold his newspaper, and left for the stage. This lasted only four months.
Damon married Floy Patton May 27, 1889 in Russellville, Arkansas. This was a secret marriage for some reason, and they didn't reveal it until two months later (see newspaper article below). Her parents were not happy. It can be assumed they thought Damon a poor choice of husband, someone who would abandon his lucrative newspaper at a moment's notice to run off to the stage. I can't blame them. They had four children: Sheila; Margery; Russell D.; Donald P.
After his marriage, Damon began working for the R.G. Dunn Company as a manager, then later as the Arkansas State Supervisor. Later newspaper accounts say he was working for the Bradstreet Company. At some point these two companies merged to become what we know of now as Dunn and Bradstreet. Damon's father-in-law was an influential county judge in Arkansas, so possibly he helped Damon to get into a good job. Damon became involved with the insurance business, with the A.O.U.W. life insurance co.. He was also secretary for the Security Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1903 Damon was elected president of the newly organized Arkansas Auxiliary Fraternal Congress, which was a group of ten fraternal insurance societies. He did all of this while he was employed with Dunn & Bradstreet. He was very much involved in the community of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they lived from 1889 to 1903. There are dozens of newspaper articles to be found that mention him and his work.
Damon was also very close with his parents and siblings. There are many newspaper articles about trips to see his parents in Springdale, Ark., and various siblings coming to spend time with him and his family in Little Rock. In 1895 Damon came down with Malaria. He stayed with his parents, who nursed him back to health. Again in 1903 he became very ill while visiting them, and ended up having to spend four months at their home while he recovered. It was most likely another attack of malaria. He was able to return to Little Rock in October 1903, but by December 1903 he had quit his job/jobs and moved his family back to Springdale, where he had purchased a large fruit orchard. It is possible that this last illness weakened him and he decided he needed a change, wanted to be closer to his parents. As it happens, his father owned a large fruit orchard in Springdale. Did he buy his father's orchard??
I have been unable to find out when/why he moved to Joplin, Missouri, but that is where he was living at the time of death. Damon died of typhoid fever.
-------------------------------------------
History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Mr. Clarke is a member of the Arkansas Press Association, and belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club, of Fayetteville. He was also a charter member and the first prelate of Criterion Lodge of the K. of P., of Fayetteville. He is now secretary of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, and has been secretary of the Congressional Committee of his party. In 1888 he was an alternate delegate from the Fifth Arkansas Congressional District to the National Republican Convention
---------------------------------------------
http://www.couchgenweb.com/arkansas/benton/benhist3.htm
History of Benton County, Arkansas
Early in 1885 the Fayetteville Republican was established at West Fork. Jacob Yoes furnished the capital, and G. S. White became the editor. In the summer of 1886 it was purchased by W. M. Simpson, who removed the office to Fayetteville. He transferred it to Thomas Wainright, but, at the end of one month, resumed charge of it. In December, 1886, he sold out to Thomas Brooks and Damon Clarke. At that time it was a six column folio, "patent outside," and had a subscription list of about 300. Messrs, Brooks & Clarke made it a seven-column folio, printed it all at home, and within a year had increased the circulation to 1,500 copies weekly.
-----------------------------------------------
Some of the many newspaper articles I found on newspapers.com:
Fayetteville Weekly Democrat (Fayetteville, Arkansas) 25 Jan 1889, Fri Page 3
Damon Clarke has sold his interest in the Fayetteville Republican to his partner Thomas Brooks and the later is now the sole proprietor. Damon has accepted the position of treasurer and assistant manager of the Lillian Lewis troupe and left for Hot Springs yesterday where he will join them. Those who know his bent of mind and talent for the stage will not be surprised to learn of the change. While he has been conducting a good newspaper in Fayetteville it has been all he could do at any time to hold himself on the tripod, so great was the attraction of the "footlights", and when that charming little actress, Miss Lewis, offered him a position, he was unable to resist it. Damon says he might count railroad ties on his return home but his Fayetteville friends expect him to become a star.
-------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)17 Jul 1889, Wed Page 4
Quite the Rage Now
Fayetteville Furnishes Another Secret Marriage Sensation - Clarke-Patton Nuptials
It turns out now that the marriage of Mr. Damon Clarke and Miss Floy Patton was a secret affair, which occurred some months ago as the following, from the Fort Smith Times goes to show:
That was a surprise congregation at the Christian Church in Fayetteville yesterday morning when at the close of his sermon Elder Ragland read the marriage certificate, with names of witnesses, that pronounced Damon Clarke and Floy Patton to be man and wife.The announcement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, as no one suspected the affair. The marriage occurred last May in the quiet little city of Russellville, where Miss Patton had gone for a visit. The bride is the daughter of Judge J. W. Patton, a prominent citizen of Fayetteville, and has been a reigning belle in Fayetteville society for several years, being young, lovely, and talented. The groom is well-known in Western Arkansas as an ex-journalist and theatrical star.
The announcement created a profound sensation. Col. M. L. DeMahler, a friend of the family, was on hand and took an active interest in the matter, calling on the bride's parents and arranging things amicably. At 3:00 a large number of friends went to the depot to see Mr. and Mrs. Clarke off on a wedding trip to Bentonville.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)24 Sep 1895, Tue Page 2
Mr. Damon Clarke is in Bentonville at the home of his parents where for the last ten days he has been wrestling with a severe case of malarial fever contracted while working in the northeastern part of the state. At last report, Mr. Clarke was somewhat improved.
--------------------------
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 Apr 1897, Sun Page 15
Little Rock, Ark. - Damon Clarke, who has been connected with R. G. Dunn & Co. in this city for the past seven years has been appointed superintendent for the Bradstreet company for the state of Arkansas.
---------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Nov 1899, Thu Page 8
Miss Carrie and Mae Clarke arrived this morning from Springdale and will spend the winter with their brother, Mr. Damon Clarke, superintendent of the Bradstreet Agency.
------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 27 Dec 1899, Wed Page 2
Mr. W. Lea Clarke of Memphis spent Christmas with his brother, Damon Clarke, superintendent of Bradstreet's.
----------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) 23 Dec 1900, Sun Page 7
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children returned yesterday from Springdale and Mr. Clarke was made happy by a formal introduction to his seven-week old baby boy.
----------------------------------------------------------
Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)27 Mar 1902, Thu Page 3
SECURITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
Mr. S. Cohn of Little Rock and S. N. Evans, formerly circuit clerk of Yell County returned yesterday from western Arkansas. These gentlemen represent the Security Mutual Insurance Company of Little Rock, Ark., of which Mr. Hull is president and Mr. Damon Clarke is secretary and also manager of Bradstreet's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas)05 Sep 1903, Sat Page 8
Damon Clarke, who has been spending the summer at his old home near Springdale is reported to be recovering from a recent illness and will return home soon with his family.
--------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Dec 1903, Wed Page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Damon Clarke have removed to their old home at Springdale, Washington County, where they will reside in future. Mr. Clarke a few days ago bought a large orchard.
-------------------------------------------
Rogers Democrat 25 Nov 1909
CLARKE, Damon - Damon Clarke died last Wednesday night at Joplin, the result of typhoid fever. Mr. Clarke was very well known in this section having lived at Springdale and Bentonville and was also in the newspaper business at Fayetteville. He was a son-in-law of the late W. J. Patton of Springdale and leaves a wife and four children. For a number of years he had been connected with the Dunn & Co. Commercial Agency.
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children of Joplin were the guests of Mrs. J. C. McSpadden Saturday morning and evening on their way to and from Bentonville, where they had accompanied the body of the husband and father to its final resting place.
In 1880 he returned briefly to Macomb, but by that Fall he was employed with the C. C. Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. C. C. Chapman was his first cousin. He stayed there until the Fall of 1881, when he joined the historical corps of J. H. Beers & Co. Damon remained with them until the Fall of 1883. That winter he was employed as secretary of the Union Publishing Company of Springfield, Ill., also traveling for a year writing a history of the Grand Army of the Republic. In November 1884 he returned home to his parents, now living in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In February, 1886, Damon purchased the "Springdale News", then sold it in December to enter into a co-partnership with Thomas Brooks in the purchase of the "Fayetteville Republican", of which Damon became manager and editor. In January, 1889, Damon sold his interest in the "Fayetteville Republican" to his partner Thomas Brooks. Damon had a desire to become a stage actor. He met actress Lillian Lewis, who offered him a position as treasurer and assistant manager in her acting troupe. He dropped everything, sold his newspaper, and left for the stage. This lasted only four months.
Damon married Floy Patton May 27, 1889 in Russellville, Arkansas. This was a secret marriage for some reason, and they didn't reveal it until two months later (see newspaper article below). Her parents were not happy. It can be assumed they thought Damon a poor choice of husband, someone who would abandon his lucrative newspaper at a moment's notice to run off to the stage. I can't blame them. They had four children: Sheila; Margery; Russell D.; Donald P.
After his marriage, Damon began working for the R.G. Dunn Company as a manager, then later as the Arkansas State Supervisor. Later newspaper accounts say he was working for the Bradstreet Company. At some point these two companies merged to become what we know of now as Dunn and Bradstreet. Damon's father-in-law was an influential county judge in Arkansas, so possibly he helped Damon to get into a good job. Damon became involved with the insurance business, with the A.O.U.W. life insurance co.. He was also secretary for the Security Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1903 Damon was elected president of the newly organized Arkansas Auxiliary Fraternal Congress, which was a group of ten fraternal insurance societies. He did all of this while he was employed with Dunn & Bradstreet. He was very much involved in the community of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they lived from 1889 to 1903. There are dozens of newspaper articles to be found that mention him and his work.
Damon was also very close with his parents and siblings. There are many newspaper articles about trips to see his parents in Springdale, Ark., and various siblings coming to spend time with him and his family in Little Rock. In 1895 Damon came down with Malaria. He stayed with his parents, who nursed him back to health. Again in 1903 he became very ill while visiting them, and ended up having to spend four months at their home while he recovered. It was most likely another attack of malaria. He was able to return to Little Rock in October 1903, but by December 1903 he had quit his job/jobs and moved his family back to Springdale, where he had purchased a large fruit orchard. It is possible that this last illness weakened him and he decided he needed a change, wanted to be closer to his parents. As it happens, his father owned a large fruit orchard in Springdale. Did he buy his father's orchard??
I have been unable to find out when/why he moved to Joplin, Missouri, but that is where he was living at the time of death. Damon died of typhoid fever.
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History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Mr. Clarke is a member of the Arkansas Press Association, and belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club, of Fayetteville. He was also a charter member and the first prelate of Criterion Lodge of the K. of P., of Fayetteville. He is now secretary of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, and has been secretary of the Congressional Committee of his party. In 1888 he was an alternate delegate from the Fifth Arkansas Congressional District to the National Republican Convention
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http://www.couchgenweb.com/arkansas/benton/benhist3.htm
History of Benton County, Arkansas
Early in 1885 the Fayetteville Republican was established at West Fork. Jacob Yoes furnished the capital, and G. S. White became the editor. In the summer of 1886 it was purchased by W. M. Simpson, who removed the office to Fayetteville. He transferred it to Thomas Wainright, but, at the end of one month, resumed charge of it. In December, 1886, he sold out to Thomas Brooks and Damon Clarke. At that time it was a six column folio, "patent outside," and had a subscription list of about 300. Messrs, Brooks & Clarke made it a seven-column folio, printed it all at home, and within a year had increased the circulation to 1,500 copies weekly.
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Some of the many newspaper articles I found on newspapers.com:
Fayetteville Weekly Democrat (Fayetteville, Arkansas) 25 Jan 1889, Fri Page 3
Damon Clarke has sold his interest in the Fayetteville Republican to his partner Thomas Brooks and the later is now the sole proprietor. Damon has accepted the position of treasurer and assistant manager of the Lillian Lewis troupe and left for Hot Springs yesterday where he will join them. Those who know his bent of mind and talent for the stage will not be surprised to learn of the change. While he has been conducting a good newspaper in Fayetteville it has been all he could do at any time to hold himself on the tripod, so great was the attraction of the "footlights", and when that charming little actress, Miss Lewis, offered him a position, he was unable to resist it. Damon says he might count railroad ties on his return home but his Fayetteville friends expect him to become a star.
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Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)17 Jul 1889, Wed Page 4
Quite the Rage Now
Fayetteville Furnishes Another Secret Marriage Sensation - Clarke-Patton Nuptials
It turns out now that the marriage of Mr. Damon Clarke and Miss Floy Patton was a secret affair, which occurred some months ago as the following, from the Fort Smith Times goes to show:
That was a surprise congregation at the Christian Church in Fayetteville yesterday morning when at the close of his sermon Elder Ragland read the marriage certificate, with names of witnesses, that pronounced Damon Clarke and Floy Patton to be man and wife.The announcement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, as no one suspected the affair. The marriage occurred last May in the quiet little city of Russellville, where Miss Patton had gone for a visit. The bride is the daughter of Judge J. W. Patton, a prominent citizen of Fayetteville, and has been a reigning belle in Fayetteville society for several years, being young, lovely, and talented. The groom is well-known in Western Arkansas as an ex-journalist and theatrical star.
The announcement created a profound sensation. Col. M. L. DeMahler, a friend of the family, was on hand and took an active interest in the matter, calling on the bride's parents and arranging things amicably. At 3:00 a large number of friends went to the depot to see Mr. and Mrs. Clarke off on a wedding trip to Bentonville.
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Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)24 Sep 1895, Tue Page 2
Mr. Damon Clarke is in Bentonville at the home of his parents where for the last ten days he has been wrestling with a severe case of malarial fever contracted while working in the northeastern part of the state. At last report, Mr. Clarke was somewhat improved.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 Apr 1897, Sun Page 15
Little Rock, Ark. - Damon Clarke, who has been connected with R. G. Dunn & Co. in this city for the past seven years has been appointed superintendent for the Bradstreet company for the state of Arkansas.
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Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Nov 1899, Thu Page 8
Miss Carrie and Mae Clarke arrived this morning from Springdale and will spend the winter with their brother, Mr. Damon Clarke, superintendent of the Bradstreet Agency.
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Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 27 Dec 1899, Wed Page 2
Mr. W. Lea Clarke of Memphis spent Christmas with his brother, Damon Clarke, superintendent of Bradstreet's.
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Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) 23 Dec 1900, Sun Page 7
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children returned yesterday from Springdale and Mr. Clarke was made happy by a formal introduction to his seven-week old baby boy.
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Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)27 Mar 1902, Thu Page 3
SECURITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
Mr. S. Cohn of Little Rock and S. N. Evans, formerly circuit clerk of Yell County returned yesterday from western Arkansas. These gentlemen represent the Security Mutual Insurance Company of Little Rock, Ark., of which Mr. Hull is president and Mr. Damon Clarke is secretary and also manager of Bradstreet's.
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Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas)05 Sep 1903, Sat Page 8
Damon Clarke, who has been spending the summer at his old home near Springdale is reported to be recovering from a recent illness and will return home soon with his family.
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Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) 02 Dec 1903, Wed Page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Damon Clarke have removed to their old home at Springdale, Washington County, where they will reside in future. Mr. Clarke a few days ago bought a large orchard.
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Rogers Democrat 25 Nov 1909
CLARKE, Damon - Damon Clarke died last Wednesday night at Joplin, the result of typhoid fever. Mr. Clarke was very well known in this section having lived at Springdale and Bentonville and was also in the newspaper business at Fayetteville. He was a son-in-law of the late W. J. Patton of Springdale and leaves a wife and four children. For a number of years he had been connected with the Dunn & Co. Commercial Agency.
Mrs. Damon Clarke and children of Joplin were the guests of Mrs. J. C. McSpadden Saturday morning and evening on their way to and from Bentonville, where they had accompanied the body of the husband and father to its final resting place.
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