Asahel Clark (1784 - 1822)

Born 1784 in Mount Holly, Rutland County, Vermont

Ancestors

Died 1822 at about age 38 in Glen Falls, Warren County, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Hal Smith [send private message]

Biography

Asahel graduated Middlebury College in 180 7 where he "stood high." He later studied law with Mr. Shepard of Granville, New York and afterwards at Vergennes, Vermont. Asahel delivered the oration of dedication at the Granville Academy in 1809 and was often a popular 4th of July orator. He was regarded as being an able speaker at political conventions and took an early and leading part in politics. He was a Republican and a tree mason. He held a Major's commission in the regiments of the Hudson in 1812-1814 for which he received a land grant.

Asahel was said to have dressed with scrupulous care and was man of distinguished handsome manners. A gentleman who was the warm and intimate friend of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton , who not infrequently dined at the Clark home.

In 1820 Asahel visited his family in Ohio where his family had been trying to convince him to also settle. But he chose to remain in the east where his reputation was well founded. He was already an eminent member of the New York bar and popular in politics in Warren County.

Asahel and Lydia's marriage was said to be one of those olden and most beautiful of love marriages. He was said to be a husband of unalterable and unequaled affections. A package of their love letters was retained by the family for a number of years and may still be maintained in the Library of Congress in the papers of Lydia Meech.

In the summer or fall of the year of Asahel's death he was promised by the leaders of his party the nomination for Member of Congress. Unfortunately, a man whom he had trusted and who had sworn to help him obtain the nomination took the nomination for himself when Asahel fell i ll for a few days after over working. Rather than attempt to have the nomination recalled due to this treachery, Mr. Clark calmed his friends and allies and requested no measures be taken. Shortly thereafter Mr. Clark fell victim to Typhus fever and died within a week. He was initially interred at Glenn Falls, New York, but later his ashes were removed to a burial lot of his brother, Dr. Russell Clark in the Village of Sandy Hill, New York. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ According to Mrs. Hemenway's account on p. 855-856

• https://archive.org/details/vermonthistorica01heme