Individual Details

Census (family)

18, 18, Clarke, Joseph H, Head, WM, June 1853, 46 Married 16 yrs, Utah England England, Farmer, own free farm
, Annie R, Wife, WF, Mar 1860, 40, M-16, 6 children born & living, CA, PA, England
, Cecile, Daugher, WF, Jan 1885, 15, single, CA UT, CA
, Frank C, son, WM, Oct 1886, 13, single, CA UT, CA
, Belle, Daughter, WF, July 1888, 11, single, CA UT, CA
, Annie, Daughter, WF, June 1890, 9, single, CA UT, CA
, William, Son, WM, Sept 1892, 7, single, CA UT, CA
, May, Daughter, WF, Apr 1898, 2single, CA UT, CA

Death

Joseph Clarke Dies Following Accident

Prominent Pioneer Wool Grower Victiim of Fall from Ladder.
Funeral at Laytonville.

LAYTONVILLE, Nov. 15. --- Joseph Henry Clarke died at his ranch near Laytonville, November 14, from injuries sustained in a fall from a stepladder.
That morning Mr. Clarke told the family at the breakfast table that he was going to do some pruning in the orchard and his son Frank, went out on the range to look after the sheep. When Clarke, Sr., failed to return home for the noonday meal his wife became alarmed and his son Frank went out in the orchard to find out what was the matter. He found his father lying on the ground dead. He had been standing on a stepladder pruning and in some unknown manner lost his balance and evidently struck on his head when he fell for his neck was broken and death must have been almost instanteous. The news was immediately telephoned to Willits and Deputy Coroner L. P. Anker went out and got the body and prepared it for burial.
The deceased was born in Utah, June 16, 1853. His parents moved to California when he was but a few weeks old and settled at Bidwell's Bar, where his father followed mining and farming for some years. In November, 1869, Mr. Clarke moved to Cahto, in this county, and with the rest of his family started in the stockraising business. The family purchased 4,700 acres about six miles southwest of Laytonville and this ranch is considered to be the best sheep ranch in Mendocino county. It is located at the headwaters of the Ten Mile river and slopes towards the west and thus receives the benefit of the coast fogs and breezes.
He first started with cattle and then changed to sheep and for more than fifty years engaged in this business almost exclusively. He finally adopted the Rambouillet breed and the ranch is now stocked with pure breeds of that strain. He was a member of the national wool growers' association and also of the state and county associations. His sheep and fleeces have carried off first honors in both national and state contests, almost yearly, and the ranch how possesses numerous silver cups which have been won at shows and fairs all over the county.
Several years ago Mr. Clarke retired from the active management of the ranch since which time his son, Frank Clarke, has assumed the burden and he, too, keeps up the reputation of the ranch.
Joseph Clarke was married to Annie Fowzer, at Ukiah, in 1884. She and five living children survive him. The children are: Frank Clarke and Mrs. Mary Winchester, Laytonville; Cecille Clarke, a high school teacher of Eureka; Will Clarke, Covelo; and Mrs. S. D. Reilly of Willits.
The funeral services were held at the Laytonville cemetery Wednesday afternoon and a large gathering was present to pay their last respects to the memory of the deceased. There is no resident minister in Laytonville and Attorney Chas. Kasch, of Ukiah, delivered the eulogy in which he paid high tribute to the many civic and other virtues of the deceased. It was one of the most excellent addresses ever delivered in Mendocino county.
Among the outsiders present were Mr. and Mrs. Chas Kasch, C. M. Mannon, Will Bromley, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. R. D. McCain, of Ukiah.
Willits was represented by H. B. Muir, Mrs. S. A. Hamilton, Gordon and Will Baechtel, Ed Purdy and Fred Loring. There were others from Covelo and other neighboring communities.