Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, ed. 8-B
Bracken County

HON. JOHN B. CLARKE, lawyer, son of John and Mary (Blades) Clarke, was born
April 14, 1833, in Bracken County, Ky.  He was raised on the farm, completed
his education at Augusta College, and began the study of the law in 1852,
under Judge Joseph Doniphan, at Augusta.  In the spring of 1854 he was
admitted to the bar, and in the following year commenced practice, still
remaining in the office of Judge Doniphan.  But during this year he removed
to Brookville, in the same county, where he has since resided.  He has
represented nearly every criminal case in his county for twenty years; and,
besides being one of the most successful criminal lawyers in the State, his
general law practice has become large and lucrative.  In 1858 he was elected
county attorney, and held the position four years.  In 1867 he was elected
to the State Senate from his district, consisting of the counties of
Bracken, Pendleton and Grant, and held the position four years.  In 1874 he
was elected to Congress from the Tenth Congressional District, time expiring
March 4, 1876.  In the Congressional term he served on the Committees of
Revolutionary War Claims and of Patents; and he so faithfully and honorable
represented his constituency and maintained the dignity of his position
throughout the heated partisan contests of the House that, in November,
1876, he was re-elected to the same place, representing, as before, the
Tenth Congressional District.  He was chairman of the Democratic County
Executive Committee from 1862 to 1874, and was for eight years chairman of
the District Executive Democratic Committee.  He was born a Democrat; during
the war supported the South by his earnest sympathy, but took no active part
in the contest, yet was not without participating in the troubles of the
times; and since the war has been one of the most active and successful
Democratic leaders in his part of the State.  He is greatly devoted to his
profession, and is, in fact, an enthusiast in any cause he espouses.  He is
a man of fine literary attainments, and a ready and able speaker.  He is an
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the ministry would
doubtlessly have been a man of uncommon powers.  He is barely in the prime
of life, with a combination of splendid personal traits which would
distinguish him anywhere among men.  Mr. Clarke was married October 3, 1854,
to Miss Cordelia A. Robertson, daughter of Christopher Robertson, of Bracken
County, and niece of the late Dr. J. Taylor Bradford.  They have four living
children.

Clarke Blades Doniphan Robertson Bradford
=
Pendleton-KY Grant-KY 

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/bracken/clarke.jb.txt