The Letters and Diaries of Isaac A. Clarke

About the Book

The Diaries and correspondence of Isaac A. Clarke weave the story of education in pre and post Civil War Arkansas. Clarke, born in Tennessee in 1837, lived most of his life in Carroll County Arkansas, arriving at the age of seven with his widowed mother. Learning in subscription schools gave Isaac a thirst for both gaining and sharing knowledge. His early career as a teacher brought him to Cookeville, Tennessee and Maysville, Arkansas before he decided to further his education at the University of Missouri in the fall of 1860.

When talk of the South seceding grew, his correspondence documented opposition. But, when the first shots were fired, Clarke left school, returned to Arkansas, and joined the state militia, soon to become the Confederate States Army. Serving as Quarter Master for a Creek Indian regiment, Clarke's observations of his experiences highlighted fascinating interactions and insights. After the war, Clarke traveled throughout Texas and the Indian Territory, returning home to support his recently widowed mother. Once again, he turned his attention to education, founding Clarke's Academy, a coeducational school near Berryville, Arkansas. The time was 1867 and his eclectic student body hailed from Arkansas, southern Missouri, as well as Cherokees from the Indian Territory.

In 1873, the school burned to the ground. Even though he had no insurance, the value of school was such that the community helped him rebuild. Clarke's wife, Virginia Layton, assisted him in Clarke's Academy while raising three children. She was tragically killed by a falling tree in 1879, an event that haunted Clarke the rest of his life.

Although unsuccessful in political races, his writing about canvassing for voters during this crucial post war period is enlightening. Letters from former students highlight his influence and Clarke's impact on his time. Clarke's school closed in 1905 due to his failing health. He died in 1907 and is buried in Berryville, Arkansas. With this book Clarke's legacy depicts a critical time in the historical unfolding of Arkansas education during the mid to late 1800's.

About the Author

Wayne Clark, the son of Rex and Kathleen Basore Clark, was born February 17, 1933 in Berryville, Arkansas. He attended public schools in Arkansas and Missouri, graduated from Normandy High School in St. Louis County, Missouri and earned a B. S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1954. After serving three years as a pilot and Management Analysis Officer in the U. S. Air Force he started his banking career as an examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and then advanced in several Arkansas banks ending his career as .Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Berryville where he still serves as Chairman of the Board. He served as president of numerous civic and professional organizations, including the Arkansas Bankers' Association.

Wayne is married to Janet Clark, great granddaughter of Isaac A. Clarke. They have two daughters. After Janet's mother and father died, the papers of Isaac Clarke were entrusted to Janet. Wayne and Janet live across the street from the former academy in Berryville, Arkansas. As a history buff, Wayne took an active interest in preserving the documentation of a complex era in Arkansas history. He felt Professor Clarke's story needed to be told, not just to his descendents, but to those who might want to know how life unfolded in the pre and post civil war.