Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed.,
Harrison Co.

HON. ASAHEL R. CLARKE was born in Harrison County, Ky., February 22, 1844.
His father, John Clarke, a native of Ireland, came to America when a young
man, and in 1840 located in Harrison County, Ky., where he married Miss
Nancy Snodgrass; he was appointed to an important position under Gen.
Taylor during the Mexican war, but his death occurred soon after, and was
shortly followed by that of his wife, leaving the subject of this sketch
an orphan at the age of seven.  Asabel R. Clarke entered Millersburg
College, Bourbon County, Ky., but before finishing his course, enlisted in
the Confederate Army, Second Confederate Infantry; he was discharged on
account of minority, joined Col. Chenault's cavalry, and served in the
Confederate Army until the close of the war.  On his return he began the
study of law, and in 1868 was admitted to the bar.  In 1870 he married
Miss Anna Swope, daughter of Maj. Samuel F. Swope, of Pendleton County,
Ky., a lawyer and a member of Congress.  In 1876 Mr. Clarke was appointed
private secretary by Gov. McCreary, and in 1877 he was elected to
represent Pendleton County in the Lower House of the General Assembly.
In 1879 he was elected State senator from his district, and in 1883 was
re-elected.  He died in April, 1885.  His widow, Anna Clarke, together with
four children, survive him: Earnest, aged fourteen; Asahel R., Jr., aged
eleven; George R., aged nine, and Catherine M., aged four years.  Mrs.
Anna Clarke is the present postmistress at Falmouth, Ky., having been
appointed by President Cleveland in 1885.

Clarke, Snodgrass, Taylor, Chenault, Swope, McCreary
=
Pendleton, Bourbon, Ireland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/harrison/clarke.ar.txt