Clarke, John Hessin; lawyer; born, Lisbon, O., Sept. 18, 1857; son of John and Melissa Hessin Clarke; educated in public schools and by private tutors; entered Western Reserve College, at Hudson, O., graduating in 1877; degree of M. A.; in 1880, studied law under his father’s instruction, and was admitted to the bar in 1877; until 1880, practiced law at Lisbon, O., in partnership with J. M. McVicker; purchased half interest in the Youngstown Weekly Vindicator; practiced law in Youngstown, and wrote political editorials for the Vindicator; sold interests in the paper in 1882; came to Cleveland in 1897, and entered the firm of Williamson & Cushing; firm became Williamson, Gushing & Clarke, specializing in railroad and corporation law; in 1898, appointed general counsel for the N. Y., C. & St. L. R. R. Co.; interested in other railroad corporations; in 1907, dissolved partnership with Mr. Cushing; prominent in state and national Democratic issues; three years trustee of the Cleveland Library Board; pres. of board last term of office; stockholder and contributor to the columns of the Youngstown Vindicator; member American and State Bar Ass’ns, Union, University, and Country Clubs, Cleveland, and the University Club, New York City.
