Windham

CLARKE, Ranslure Weld

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 74

Ranslure Weld CLARKE, of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont] was born 27 
January 1816 in Williamstown [Orange County, Vermont], son of Elam and 
Cynthia (LEWIS) CLARKE. His studies, besides those in the schools of his 
native town, were pursued at Black River Academy, Ludlow [Windsor County, 
Vermont], and at the Orange County grammar school at Randolph Centre. He 
entered Dartmouth College in 1838, and graduated in 1842. Immediately upon 
his graduation, he became principal of Black River Academy, which position he 
filled for three years, devoting his spare time to the study of law in the 
office of Gov. P. T. WASHBURN. On his resignation from the principalship, he 
lent his entire energy to his professional studies in the office of the late 
Hon. J. Dorr BRADLEY, and was admitted to the bar of Windham County at the 
September term of court in 1846.

On his admission to the bar he at once began the practice of law in 
Brattleboro. In 1851 he received recognition from the Republican party, and 
was elected state's attorney for Windham County, and re-elected for the years 
of 1853-1854. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1857, and 
one of the presidential electors in 1868. In the campaign of 1858 he was 
elected state senator from Windham County, and re-elected in 1859. Mr. 
CLARKE was register of probate for the district of Marlboro in 1861-1862, 
when he resigned to accept the position of assistant quartermaster of United 
States Volunteers.

Captain CLARKE received the appointment of postmaster of Brattleboro in 1871, 
and at the expiration of his four year term was reappointed and served until 
01 January 1879. In local affairs, Judge CLARKE has taken a prominent part, 
and among other positions of trust which he has held, is that of president of 
Brattleboro Savings Bank. For more than thirty years he had been United 
States commissioner and master in chancery, and in 1882 he was elected 
assistant judge of the Windham County court, which position he held until 
December 1892.

In May 1849 Judge [Ranslure Weld] CLARKE was married to [Miss] Lucy C., 
daughter of the late Judge John and Polly (WILSON) WILDER. She [Lucy C. 
CLARKE] died in 1864, and in 1868 he [Ranslure Weld CLARKE] married [Miss] 
Susan O. WILDER, a sister of his first wife. Of the first union there was 
one daughter, Mary W., now the wife of Hon. Milo M. ACKER of Hornellsville 
[Steuben County], New York, and of the second union one son, Francis E.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly