CALVIN P. CLARK

Was a native of Newbury, Vt., born March 5, 1826.  His parents, Jonathan and Martha F. Clark, came from Hopkinton, N. H., to Newbury, about the year 1816, and, after a residence of more than fifty years, died there, the father in 1867, aged eighty years, and the mother in 1871, at the same age. Their family consisted of eight children, seven of whom are now living. Calvin spent his minority mostly in Newbury, working on the farm summers, and, after he was fifteen, teaching district schools winters. In 1847 he went to Boston, and, after working three years in the brewery of Dea. John Simonds, in the year 1850 went into business for himself In January, 1851, he married Miss Sarah E. Martin, daughter of Peter and Catharine Martin, of Newbury. In 1857, by reason of his wife's failing health, and with hope that a change of location and atmosphere might prove beneficial to her, he sold out his business in Boston, and for a year or two resided in Newbury, their native place. The result was favorable, and in 1859 he moved to Bradford, and in August of that year purchased the store and goods owned by S. T. George, in this village, and formed a partnership in trade with Mr. John Bascom, under the name of Bascom & Clark. Mr. Bascom has since deceased. In October, 1862, Mr. Clark was called to part with his wife, a pious and very estimable lady, who died of consumption, after long feebleness and suffering. December 25, 1863, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Julia A.  Winship, a daughter of  Mr. Joseph Winship, formerly of Bradford. In March, 1868, he purchased Mr. Bascom's interest in the store, and thence to this date has continued business there, under his own name. In 1871 he built a nice house, on elevated ground, on the west side of Main street, near, the north end of the village, where he has since resided. But his pleasant home was again made desolate by the presence of death; his second wife dying January 8, 1873, of consumption, as did the first.  She left an only child, Mason Bowditch, four years of age.  Since then, Mr. Clark has done business still at the old stand, to the extent his health would allow, enjoying the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.  The following notice of Mrs. Clark, which appeared in our village paper, soon after her decease, is thought worthy of insertion here:

Died, in Bradford, Vt., January 8, 1873, Mrs. Julia A., wife of Mr. Calvin P. Clark, lacking but ten days of being forty-two years of age. Her maiden name was Julia A.  Winship. She was the only daughter of Joseph Winship and wife, persons of excellent Christian character, who for many years lived and finally died in this place. This daughter remembered her Creator in the days of her youth; and, being blessed with health and strength, and a kind heart, at the same time wishing to earn for herself a competent support, while doing as much good as possible to others, she accepted heartily of the position of a nurse in the female department of the Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, where, greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned, she continued ministering to the sick and suffering for some ten or a dozen years. The managers gave substantial evidence of their high appreciation of her worth, not only by their kindness to her while with them, but by a permanent liberality, alike honorable to themselves and to Her.  As a wife and mother, and manager of her domestic affairs, Mrs. Clark was the light and joy of her household.  Of fine personal appearance and pleasing address, prudence, and kindness towards all, she had no lack of admiring and steadfast friends.

But the crowning Excellency of her character was her decided piety. When young, she devoted herself to her Saviour, and confessed Him publicly, by uniting with an evangelical church in Boston, but for nine or ten of the last years of her life' had been a beloved member of the Congregational church in Bradford.  For several months immediately preceding her decease her health had been in a precarious condition. Still she hoped to live, and assist her husband in training up their little son in the way he should go. The thought of being taken away in the midst of her days and usefulness was unwelcome to her.

But when convinced that the time by infinite wisdom and goodness appointed for her departure was evidently near, the blessed Saviour gave her light, faith, grace and strength, equal to the exigency, and enabled her to de-part rejoicing in the God of her salvation. Dearly as she loved those whom she was leaving, she felt that to her death would prove unspeakable and eternal gain. With perfect composure she expressed her wishes in regard to her funeral services, which were accordingly performed, in the presence of a large circle of loving friends, when her precious remains were laid down to rest till called forth by the voice of Him who is the resurrection and the life, to a glorious immortality. Surely, blessed are the dead who thus die in the Lord. S. M. K.  I add in this connection a brief notice of Mrs. Winship, the mother of Mrs. Clark, for such a woman as she was ought to be held in affectionate remembrance.  Mrs. Nancy Winship, whose maiden name was Nancy Keyes, was born at Mason, N. H., September 30, 1784, but spent her youthful days in Milton, Mass. She there enjoyed the ministry of Rev. Joseph McKeen, D. D., subsequently Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard.  For that eloquent and good man she retained an affectionate remembrance and high respect to the day of her death. Impressions deeply fixed in the youthful mind are apt to be enduring. At the early age of about thirteen years she was divinely led to receive Christ Jesus as the Lord her righteousness, and to consecrate herself most heartily to His service. That the change was genuine her subsequent life abundantly proved. The principle of faith and love then implanted in her young heart was indeed a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting.

At the age of about twenty she was married to Mr.  Joseph Winship, then a young farmer, with whom she came to Bradford, Vt., and settled down in a wilderness place, in the deep valley of Waits River, through which, for a long time after, no road passed, though now intersected by a great thoroughfare. In that solitude they cheerfully lived and walked with God, until many years after he finished his course with joy, and triumphantly passed away, leaving one son, Mr. Warren Winship, now of Barnet, and one daughter, Mrs. C. P. Clark, of Bradford, both partakers of the same precious faith. At the house of Mr. Clark, enjoying the tender care of himself and her daughter, Mrs. Winship, full of sweet contentment, with every want bountifully supplied, passed the evening of her mortal life. That religion which amid the various changes and trials of life had sustained and comforted her and made her a blessing to all who came within her influence, in nature's last extremity, amid the infirmities of age and great bodily sufferings which preceded her final prostration, appeared in its strength and glory.

Her victory over death and the grave was complete, and most admirable. Surely such a religion is of priceless value. God grant that we may all possess it. On the 4th of January, 1867, in the eighty-third year of her age, this excellent woman passed thus sweetly away from the sorrows and joys of life, to her everlasting rest. Biographie Index

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